I arose at the very moment
You were about to destroy
Our eyes met
You knew, I knew
The blame you assigned
To the one who responded in disgust
Knows your plan, knows your game
You believe the "little ones"
Belong to the one who takes life
But today...at the precise moment
You encountered TRUTH
She didn't bow
TRUTH stood in her fullness
And I released all debt
Previously assigned to a goat
I AM HUMAN
And you...you are a thief
Written by Trudy Schrader on 01-26-2026
In
other words
don't settle
with words~
not even
these words~
and the kicker:
there is no
you to settle
or not settle~~
No
arguments to
win or lose
with words~
words appear
as nothing appears~
and you tap tap on my leaves
high tide descends shipshape as
wholesome as can be brought forth
from the gale force fete relief
oh the hamstring you do hug
taut grasp relieves danger from
belt strap as it leaves beach plank
so the treetop perch easing
soothing dry tides of the wind
cool-charm in a household sigh
bluebirds in their enchant chirp
with their hip-hip-hurraying
The headline read: “Low deposits and fair repayments!”
The offer of a lifetime, the promise of a lifeline for you and those you love.
But “deposits” aren’t just in money when we’re low in depositing care,
“repayments” still reek of capitalism when many don’t see their “fair” share.
The advertisement seared in bold font and burning lettering,
reminding us to always want more – there’s nothing worse than settling.
we are not perfect but we're perfect for each other
AP: 1st place 2022
He was a young old guy.
Rode hard and put up wet.
Life under the bridge was tough.
Oh, man, if I could just get housing...
Sleeping with one eye open
Preyed upon by the youngers
on those days after you got your check each month...
Oh, man, if I could just get housing...
Lunch at the mission was a hefty walk.
Long way to carry beer back to the camp
Laundry day at the outreach center, once a week
Oh, man, if I could just get housing...
They set him up in an apartment
Across the street from the mission and the store
No more long walks, no more fights
He took a sack of belongings with him
His demons hitched a ride
Drank himself to death that first week
Being part of the solution
is to follow the procedure.
Respecting the right restriction
is to like the safety measure.
Being part of the remedy
means winning the biggest battle.
Never changing the frequency,
remaining in the same channel.
Being not part of the problem
is breaking not the checkpoint rule.
The threat fills the road with mayhem;
making the virus very cruel.
Being not part of the trouble
is letting the puzzle be solved.
Making not the death toll double
by letting oneself get involved.
Quarantine teaches to stay home
and to sanitize the doorknob.
Never to wander, not to roam;
letting lockdown finish the job.
Binge watching TV
A death by tranquility
Unstoppable hearse
Oh, Lord, this is the worst thing
that we dot!
We will be lost at Sea, with
the rest of mediocre humanity.
Grousing, day and so hopelessly.
Why this and why not that?
Because we made decisions that
left us avoiding all spiritual growth,
challenges and avoiding the mat.
That leaves ourr souls, lifeless, void
and horridly flat!
August 13, 2019
A simple golden band that he wore upon his hand
Didn't seem to matter much to him.
He had a rovin' eye and it settled by and by
On a woman at her best when lights are dim.
The gossip got around in this little western town,
And it came to roost for good with his own wife.
She knew his kind of man and she made up her own plan
To settle once for all his sorry life.
She waited until June - a Sunday at high noon,
And fried some chicken bought right from the store.
She said ,"Your time is short, if didn't know you ort,
"When you spent my egg money on a whore."
He was chewin' on a thigh when she shot him in the eye,
And finished with about a pound of lead.
She ate up all the chicken gave the dog the plate for lickin',
Then made sure one more time that he was dead.
Well the sheriff came around from that little western town -
Said he hadn't seen her man in quite awhile.
She had said,"Me neither and I'm thankful for the breather"
And the sheriff tipped his hat and winked a smile.
11-28-18
For Brian Strand's End of November , 2018 contest
you viewed my profile
you have added me to favorites
i ve responded to this
we spoke over the phone
we met
we drunk
i was put of your vomiting all night you looked like skeleton so unatractive
i thought ok he is is definitely out
but somehow we kept going on this for 3 years.
i loved you loved you not
we broke we made up so many times
now we apart again
and dont know what will happen next...
Soft skin like a petal, long after butterflies settle,
a shoulder against my lip,
in such fine fettle, and testing my mettle,
my palm naturally finding your hip.
My breath in your hair, as my loving stare,
takes in the beauty you are,
if this love is rare, I'm a millionaire,
with currency of elegant stars.
My side of your bed, no longer need to be led,
a small space for some of my clothes,
our future ahead, you listened, I pled,
on a wet sandy knee my betrothed.
A smile from your face, every part I can trace,
in homage to someone so kind,
in honour of grace, with no chance to debase,
I could sculpt you if I were to be blind.
Some stages have passed, adoration amassed,
I am eager at the phases to come,
from stone we are cast, for now we are classed,
as two people who's one life has begun.
Settling is a disease of the mind
It declares that it’s okay
To remain on standby
Live life on rewind
Because we are so afraid to move forward,
Move on
From the idea of forever
Settling is a disease of the heart
Love so manipulated, uncontrolled, undefined
But we are blind
Settling is a disease
That forces us to believe
That better does not exist
But i persist
That the cure to settling
Is the battle within
The piece of you that recognizes
The difference between
What is love
And what is comfort
Settling will never work
Don't rob yourself of true joy
Because you have become complacent with being hurt
there’s nothing in my head.
there’s nothing in my head.
why don’t i care about the right things,
and leave every word unsaid?
i wear rose tinted glasses,
carry petals in a basket.
looking to buy a tiny house,
but settling for a casket.
there’s nothing in my head.
there’s nothing in my head.
my eyes are opened
but my mind is dead.
Dusk
settles
once again
mind ready for
rest -
the
soul too
seeks zen to
renew self each
day
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