bear sweet my coat and wear it best
its arms from me around your chest
don’t weigh my spirit dark and dead
I’ll be e’er-woven ‘tween each thread
its bound’ries bind you deep the night
those shimmered stars your only light
so when you ache for cold’s reprieves
my love waits warm within its sleeves
time might have brought a fade or stains
but years will show that warmth remains
left o’er from times I’d claimed it’s clutch
when we’ve shared hugs or just a touch
you’ll know I’m there and haunt it still
soft scents ‘just mine’ deep in its twill
to knit your thoughts to our dear start
like charms have knit you to my heart
our ‘goodbye’ words I’ll make my last
but hold me midst this frock, and fast
when mem’ries fail to shape my face
saves sweet, this coat, our last …
embrace.
Copyright © 2025 Gregory Richard Barden
Categories:
reprieves, analogy, death, goodbye, leaving,
Form: Rhyme
bear sweet my coat and wear it best
its arms from me around your chest
don’t weigh my spirit dark and dead
I’ll be e’er-woven ‘tween each thread
its bound’ries bind you deep the night
those shimmered stars your only light
so when you ache for cold’s reprieves
my love waits warm within its sleeves
time might have brought a fade or stains
but years will show that warmth remains
left o’er from times I’d claimed it’s clutch
when we’ve shared hugs or just a touch
you’ll know I’m there and haunt it still
soft scents ‘just mine’ deep in its twill
to knit your thoughts to our dear start
like charms have knit you to my heart
our ‘goodbye’ words I’ll make my last
but hold me midst this frock, and fast
when mem’ries fail to shape my face
saves sweet, this coat, our last …
embrace.
( photographic art of watercolor by Angus McEwan taken from public domain files at FreePik / Flickr )
Categories:
reprieves, analogy, clothes, loss, love,
Form: Quatrain
THE GRANDEUR OF FALL
It is not disappointment that Fall brings
But reverence for its maturity
Leaves flutter slowly down as if with wings
And the cool autumn air suggests purity
With leaves of royal red and princely gold
One almost feels humbled in their presence
As trees are poised for winter to unfold
Their life cycle is their very essence
Some fruits are late in this cooling season
Yet can fall to the ground, lost in the leaves
But left undiscovered, there is a good reason
Grateful for warmth a late summer reprieves
Yet there is grandeur in the season’s end
A wonderful message autumn can send
Categories:
reprieves, autumn,
Form: Sonnet
These ideas are seduction for words as said suction is lucrative/
It frees high fees for reduction when he sped to a junction too seductive/
It’s an additive like a sieve to sift that’s imperative to give/
Bliss will relieve anything negative accepted to live/
Clips of passive aggressive will be inactive to a reflective motive/
It’s so graphic how elastic I am to aghast a trick/
Pits grow as it’s tragic burning plastic that lasts to stick/
Strict flow is magic churning illicit to depict/
Slicked so is this static yearning dim wits to inflict/
His flicked ardent flow fits a tactic to reminisce/
Wicked grants from God sticks this blend of coherence/
My rigid cadence will dance in a trance stance/
A dry cascade spill to prance without instruments/
Fly by or retreat to advance and get out of the sin strum pants/
He’s no treat for a trick or no trick to cop a treat stance/
Ease to a complete foundation found to cease and stop evil plans/
The feat was a defeat as the found foundation reprieves slop and defiled demands.
With my foundation found it’s like 5th down/
A gift of salvation as a second round/
I can’t miss now with all filth drown and my foundation found
Categories:
reprieves, angst, blessing, character, community,
Form: Rhyme
Never have I felt the sun shine
Or heard blowing wind speak
Within this cavern I align
Frozen in stalactite confine
I dream drips of dew drops unique
Formed by the sun I seek
One of the countless stalagmite
Protect the cavern floor
Facing our northern brothers height
Waiting here unmoving, my plight
Made of their drops, solid to core
Yet I want to be more
Not to be still rock formation
Dependent of their scrap
To grow on in bright elation
Not in this darkest damnation
Not to feel like nature's mishap
To feel caught in a trap
I could be flora lush and green
Pure dew on fragile leaves
Only my wildest roots unseen
Branches with elements convene
Reaching for solar rays achieves
Reprieves by shadow thieves
I’ll wait for giving’s from above
Fall to our rounded tops
Our centuries of growth thereof
To petrify, not push or shove
Wishing this muddy water swaps
With fresh gleaming dew drops
Categories:
reprieves, nature,
Form: Rhyme
People tend to respect, respect,
both given and received
The dignity of every life,
in one-on-one reprieves
People tend to share the joy,
while closeting the pain
Humanity as best displayed
—when we are all to gain
(Austin Park: March, 2021)
Categories:
reprieves, relationship,
Form: Rhyme
I’m waiting to get the vaccine
But the info I’ve managed to glean
Tells me I am too young
To be counted among
Those who’ll pass the requirement screen.
Of course health care employees go first
With the rest of the shots then dispersed
To those residents of
Nursing homes, hand in glove
With wherever the germs are immersed.
Distribution’s a problem because
People fear that the shot has its flaws
So some outright refuse
Causing others to lose
Opportunities stopped by the laws.
In the meantime, the virus will spread
With more joining the list of the dead.
If we roll up our sleeves
There will be some reprieves
But we’re waiting for full steam ahead.
Categories:
reprieves, health,
Form: Limerick
How Fate And Time Decides Our Lives And Our Final Endings,
Lind-Sonnet and One
Earth, its mysteries oft lays deadly shadows at our feet
World, its greatest histories, shows man's many sad defeats
Seas, their fathoms deep waters- gathering sailor's remains
Down deep, in spiraling abyss echoes of dying pains.
Universe, galaxies and stars bow to that of divine will
Modern life, airplanes and cars, horrific dark wars that kill
Nature feels humanity's horrors, its barbaric threats
Destiny, hands of Fate, complete with deep, savage regrets.
Skies, sending thunderstorms gifting softer, beautiful blues
As responding winds, oft brings rains that needy life renews
Its nights, give to us twinkling stars and romantic reprieves
Despite reality shows, Fate births many heartless thieves.
Down deep, in spiraling abyss echoes of dying pains.
Destiny, hands of Fate, complete with deep, savage regrets.
Despite reality shows, Fate births many heartless thieves.
Robert J. Lindley, 12-23-2019
Lind-Sonnet And One, ( Twelve rhyming verses and a three verse summation )
(4,4,4,2,1)
Note: Edited to create a uniform syllable count- 12-24-2019
Categories:
reprieves, creation, deep, fate, humanity,
Form: Sonnet
Snow soaks the stuffing out of leaves
Like all the frigid, no one grieves
Like any broken heart
In Spring leaves fall apart
For Nature never gives reprieves
Categories:
reprieves, life,
Form: Limerick
She saw the train as she stepped out her car
Then ran like hell to board before doors shut
She flailed her arms and legs like crazy, but
The station proved to be a bit too far...
Her thoughts turned dark; she'd be let go for sure
What should she tell her kids about her job
She bit her lip to think of how they'd sob
How would she make ends meet, she'd be so poor
Just then she smiled and suddenly snapped to
This was a special day that she'd forgot
A holiday for which she'd so long fought
Reprieves from fate are often far too few
A Merry Christmas in July to her and you!
Categories:
reprieves, holiday, jobs, smile,
Form: Enclosed Rhyme
Earth's Porch, Beyond Its Fallen State
Sonnet number III of XII
Bright the hopes of dawn's new reprieves
blessing some days with so much more,
World rebels, with its lies deceives
all of man's weaknesses explore.
Not enough, earn ones daily bread
world adds, vile insatiable greed
Darkest paths it promotes instead
selling such false steps as great needs.
Warmth, flickering flames oft inspires
gluttony of flesh and dark acts
Wanting much more, greed never tires
black-trails made into virgin tracts.
Earth's porch, looking into abyss
Humanity begs more of this.
Robert J. Lindley, 4-10-2019
March 12th, 1989
Sonnet in eights.. ( Earth, Mankind And Deeper Thought)
Note: Brought from my private journal.
Today seemed a good day to give it new life and light...
Categories:
reprieves, art, creation, deep, earth,
Form: Sonnet
Like a sweet child in ballet
toe steps glide across the archway,
A graceful pirouette holding breath and heartbeat
balanced then suddenly rising like modern athletes.
A rhythmic cadence hustles across the days
when life is simple and living all game play,
Then the day waltzes methodic 3/4 weeks
sashaying manic tango pause then slips away piqued.
The merengue drags bodies closely touched
sweeping lags across the room in two quarters clutched,
bolero sharps and turns spinning like the fading years
lost in the frenzy of living fast and freely shed tears
A twisting stomp to slap the earth
quick tarantella wild winds giving birth,
a shuffle into polonaise gentle and lullaby eyes
slides to rest in minuet reprieves and haunting cries.
Too soon the days are months turned to years
and decades lost to the aging cheers,
gone is the youth of preset times
lost but not forgotten holding their prime.
Like the dance that stirred our spirits long ago
dream and memory holds steady in life's shows,
there is no end for life's pawn,
the dance lives forever a youthful swan.
Categories:
reprieves, dance, life, , Lullaby,
Form: Rhyme
I pity when the poetry runs dead.
When paper's not around.
When thoughts and words are all we have
and feet are on the ground.
When nature's made in all emotions
and records fallen leaves.
When nothing more than art in Heaven
should bring about reprieves.
A world where only Father knows
it's beauty to an end.
Where all might be apart of it
and have it whole to mend.
Categories:
reprieves, absence, abuse, conflict, introspection,
Form: Quatrain
The Job of President
By Franklin Price
10/30/2015
The job of president in the Constitution is defined.
He really has no others except within our minds.
He is the commander and the chief of our military force
Commissions officers therein to be in charge of course
Can grant reprieves and pardons for crimes against the U of S.
Signs treaties agreed by the Senate sometimes that's such a mess.
Appoint our Public Ministers, Ambassadors, and members of the court
On the State of the Union to the Congress give report
See all laws are executed their consequences to maintain
Can suggest to Congress other things but in actions must refrain
If I have missed anything I must apologize
I read the Constitution and I came to realize
The President has little power to affect us over all
The Senate and the House are the dancers at the ball
Brought up to the surface by the current President
Through inaction by the Congress he's just the White House Resident
Think hard the next election for whom you plan to vote
Both the President and Congress and anyone of note
Without cooperation of all when said and done
Nothing good will happen they'll represent us again for fun
Categories:
reprieves, political, , cute,
Form: Couplet
LUCY
Born on ‘break dawe
Amber seeping across
Eyes th’were slumber behold
Her rise slow from dep’s azure
Pregnant buzz, breeds through chill moss
Brims ‘vr damp leaves
An unchasten world longs
Amber seeping across
A dilute earth humming
Awaiting warm release
Anticipation
Brims ‘vr damp leaves
Aware…There’s something coming
Slow spread of sparkling teardrops
Dancing at ease
Captured by richness
Awaiting warm release
At once cyan erupts!
Beauty blinding, she reprieves
Dominating clear sky
Warmed teal ‘wash moves spry
Dancing at ease
Evermore affords her lucent centre, underneath yarely
Here, she comes beam'ly
Glow, rising warmly
My divine… Lucy.
Categories:
reprieves, beauty, desire, environment, imagery,
Form: Free verse
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