Rephrase Poems | Examples

to paint with words

to paint with words and colored phrase
          we breathe new speech and set ablaze
               the hearts once cooled bereft their fire
     now brought to life through told desire
and splashing verse in poignant praise

our canvas aches to speak the ways
          we'll shape the bourgeois to amaze
               and through our poems we thus aspire
     to paint with words

we fill our nights and start our days
          by finding tropes to bright rephrase
               the common things our lives require
     and if we're blessed perhaps inspire
another soul that greets our gaze ...
         to paint with words.




Copyright © 2019 Gregory Richard Barden

( photographic art by Donatella Marraoni taken from public domain files at FreePik / Flickr )

This Probably Isn't For You and You Don’t Have to Answer

You don’t owe me anything.
That’s the difference now.

You're not asking.
I'm not hinting for less.
No one is dressing it up
as metaphor.

But I did leave something
where you’d see it.
Not a trap—
more like a record that could be
interpreted as invitation.

Of what?
Of how long the echo held
after your part went missing.

That’s all.
I won’t chase it.
I won’t rephrase.

But if something in you
tightened—
if you paused longer
than the line deserved—

then you already know
it was yours.
And you already know
I knew you’d look.

Unintended Innuendo

Line of inquiry:
“as we passed her she did wilt
which caused in us sense of guilt
since our stance perhaps did cause
to put her heart’s joy on pause

though we’re gentle, not hostile
we diminished her soul’s smile
since our aura as she viewed
scent of love did not exude”
                - by Unseeking Seeker

Amidst our laughter and great fun
She calmed down with a frown
As if a ghost was climbing down
To turn her back, leave and shun.

Did we express things harshly or rude?
Which word has implied something broad
We only meant just one thing
So kindly from our heart that morning.

Do we need to clarify, rewind or rephrase?
We’ll do with sincere apology and embrace
Unintended innuendo comes fortuitously
As abrupt blow while playing smoothly.

Extra cautiousness cries all the time
To make our lines go on perfect rhymes
Words must be melodious to all ears and heart
Well thought with love and care from the start.

Politically Incorrect

Answer my call to arms patriots all
  and rise up with blunt collateral force -
rage against the culture wars that we stall
  the Neo-Left tyranny at its source.
Return fire on who rephrase and revise -
  rage and be politically direct!
On these New Age wingnuts upon them rise,
  rise up till no longer are we “Correct”.
Oppose their mad spin and liberal plot,
  let not the herbal tea Nazis prevail -
remember back that which old sense forgot
  and ally our true selves that we not fail.
Speak the truth these lentil eaters betray
and be not a pawn to what fools obey.


          Written: September 1995


Wrote this piece nearly 30 years ago but
sadly it is more relevant now than ever.

Melanin Melancholy

The spices release their scent to ease my heart,
numb ~ yet tracing glasses brimming with tears,
aching for a touch of chamomile wisps,
beneath a sky that reeks of regrets
and words unspoken ~ too afraid to rephrase,
   like smoke incensed with sulfur,
   like blue cheese and old pickles,
tickling the curves of this melanin melancholy,
urging these fingers to purge forgotten rhymes,
as if there is no ingredient for healing,
when loneliness creeps like a slow poison…

But must I thaw the ice within cups of compassion,
infused with clovers of peace,
when I am a mere reflection of your mistakes,
a table adorned with plates of bitter weeds,
listening to the sagas of the rain and sun?
They taste not my pulse of patience,
as I remain, the feeler of phasing appetizers,
rotting in ruins ~ objectified and rejected,
by the twisted tongue of vanity and silence…

Act 1

I think I deserve a ‘Best Actor’ award
For my performance as the Hopeless Romantic in the One Sided Lover
Although it’s more my life than a role
I was given a script but once I saw you I forgot my lines
You being the female lead that I was destined to fall for but never get
How cruel this production can be
They told me to act helpless
But I didn’t need to act
I was already helpless enough
Couldn’t get through those eye contact scenes without my mind blanking
“Cut! From the top, and for Godsakes remember your cue”

My cue?
Right this is a production
Nothing that happens here is real
We’re just characters on a screen
But are we?
Are my feelings for you not true?
But I can't lie that when I look into those eyes of yours
I feel like Jack from the Titanic
Sinking into icy waters
Let me rephrase that
Sinking under this immense pressure of professionalism that remains unspoken between us
I have to keep this act going just a bit longer

But can I?
Can I make it through my scenes without tripping up?
Can I remember my lines?
Will I be cut from the production?
Will this One Sided love story have room for two?

Glassy Heart

Dear readers,
i now recite a tale, a poem,

aviothic wishes, made from the glass
to hang in the hall, where peoples dance
if i rephrase it, i'm a mirroball
i carry the weight of my emotions and thoughts

the moon dancing around blue earth,
a mirroball in the space
shinning bright till the eclipse hit it
i'm fine till the mirroball breaks

i know i'm in pain but i'll still smile
shine like a star that never turns dark
you know,
the star has a work to do,
because down there somebody is looking for 
something to look at
to calm their inner storm & be at rest
ssad

One Wish

One Wish 
I was young 
I was stupid 
If i had one wish  
i’d wish to undo it 
but i’ve realized i can’t spend my time 
dwelling 
on what could have been 
and what wasn’t all because we couldn’t 
fix our communication 
he is the one boy i would have loved 
and if you’re reading 
All we needed was trust
I have loved you 
no
let me rephrase that 
I would have loved you 
more than the sun loves the sea 
If only you had let me

Neurospicy

i have never not 
thought this much
about everything
all the time 
all at once 

i have never known contentedness
     as i imagine it
     is everyone’s perception the same 
     am i presumptuous 
if not worry
consideration
if not weighing
contemplation  
if
     am i taking it too far
     have i stretched the limit 
     of their assiduity

let me rephrase:

i needn’t. 
i meant the first phrase 
merely feared 
miscommunication 
     as if it were mine to contain
     i f’ing ooze responsibility 
     for anything meaningless 
take my word
my word?

My word,
aren’t we getting big
for the britches 
they hemmed us into?

Hopeless Hero

His blood wasn’t red
At least in my head… that is what I said
To myself, believed, accepted
As fact – absolute proof that he was better
Than the mere human, the simple man
The one who took my hand when I needed him

His sweat didn’t smell
But, oh, my heart did swell… never would repel
This heart who loved him so
Knew he was like the sainted ones
Despite his addictions and secrets, the darkness
That whispered doubt from his soul when I prayed for him

His light wouldn’t fade away
Never giving in to dread or delay… a soul who would betray
Reflections of kindness and grace, inspiration
Faith that soared over the hesitation, the suspicion
To make a way through each conviction, 
Destroying the grief that lives inside bitterness and resentment

His life wasn’t honored by praise
There were worries and tears to rephrase… they amaze
Bold fears who haunt like dog days, more than just a phase
They left my spirit gloomy and breathless
With the feelings that bled dark red, crimson stories
Reminding me he died from his revulsion to hope

Diamonds and Stones

Some days are diamonds, some days are stone
Wish all the bad stuff would leave me alone
Let me rephrase that
I'm a real happy cat
Some peeps are never satisfied, get off your throne

Let Me Rephrase That

First Corinthians
chapter twelve verse twenty-five:
Care! (undivided!)

in tilling a field,
there's as much dignity as
in writing a poem!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Adapted from quote by Booker T. Washington:
"No race can prosper till it learns that there is 
as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem."
With reference to 1 Cor. 12:12-31
As noted in the Bible commentary entitled,
"AFRICAN AMERICAN: The Body of Christ"
in The Catholic Youth Bible

Dark Ivory Tower

Hey Academic,
throw me some facts
Explain to me clearly
each thought you attack

Dear Intellectual,
restate and rephrase
Your version of truth,
empty words in the fray

Hello Professor,
is the poison pill done
Refilled with your venom
to spread to the young

And lastly the Critic
who stands by the wall,
Humpty Dumpty awaiting
your push to then fall

While open minds sit
in the cold and the rain,
Your cowardly torrents
bring nothing but pain

To all those so cloistered,
divorced from what’s real
Perdition your tenure
—inflamed to repeal

(Beaupre: November, 2020)

How Many Phases

Confronted with this year's grim virus scare
our spring was lost to common joys we share-
new hope with summer rays?

But summer came, and much remained the same;
death numbers down, but normal, cannot claim-
perhaps by autumn's blaze?

Now heading there- though, little progress made;
most schools and other start-backs, still delayed-
will wintertime amaze?

How many phases must we end and start;
or will poor headway keep our worlds apart-
will then- next spring rephrase?

The cycle of this virus is unknown;
into the realm of guesses, we are thrown-
with this pandemic craze.

Told wearing masks could be for many years;
not good to hear, as true hope disappears.
God, please send brighter days.


August 1, 2020

Premiere Contest: Tail-Rhyme Stanza
Sponsor: Emile Pinet

An Adonis Like Me

Just because every woman that looks at me
Wants me to ravish her, take her over my knee
Well let me rephrase that
Ninety percent is more accurate
It's quite a challenge even for an adonis like me

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