Short Battle Lines Poems

they shout from the hip

   truth gets clipped

    slogans exit lips...

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Yesterday my attorney once again patiently reminded me
Legal battles are not fought to win,
they invite us to not lose any more than we already have,
now that the battle lines are so impatiently drawn....

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Your love is scored with lines:
The thin one of a bitter smile,
Loosening after while,
The legal ones you sign in ink,
Those ‘round the tub and in the sink,
The battle-lines you draw in bed;
Lastly, lines said in your head....

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Your love is scored with lines:
The thin one of a bitter smile,
Loosening after while,
The legal ones you sign in ink,
Those ‘round the tub and in the sink,
The battle-lines you draw in bed;
Lastly, lines said in your head....

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He was vulnerable
 only in the present
The past and future self-deposed
their fantasies atoned 
Moments claim unto themselves
a singular refluence
Strength unnumbered past the count
—battle lines rezoned

(Dreamsleep: August, 2022)...

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In anger things are said
And battle lines are drawn
There’s wounded on the battlefield
Leaving you not knowing where you belong

Then when the smoke finally clears
And there’s a retreat to both sides
From the devastation of the battle 
The scars you can never hide...

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the war is waged,
around me and within me,
the flavor filtered in the air, lilac,
battle lines drawn, us and them,
no middle ground,
in bloom at the fringe of a field of wild flowers, lilac,
salvos cease, aggressions abate,
as the priority of meadow usurps the importance of upheaval,
the flowers bloom....

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I took a good look
In the mirror yesterday
While I gazed into the eyes
Of my younger self
With delight, seeing my face
Filled with fire, passion, and 
Hunger again, at first glance
I was ready to take on the world
That imagine suddenly changed
Into my grandma's 
Whose face and body 
Showed the battle lines of life...

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It was the war of the cookies, battle lines were fiercely drawn
Dipped versus no dip, diagonal frosting turned on
Sprinkles versus non-sprinkles, arguments about a treat
Dipped cookies bringing in generals, all kinds of heat.
Pure breads adamantly denying that icing was any good.
Causing a huge daily skirmish in our confectionary neighborhood....

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This is one fight you must face alone
the battle lines you have drawn 
the secrets you keep bought this conflict
no one can save you from what must be done
prepare yourself for it is at your door they will come
mercy they know none
your chance for espace has passed
lay down your arms
for no single person can fight an army
my hands are tied 
you must do what is right...

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Tug and pull
Spit and spat.

The battle lines 
Have been drawn.
This war will be over.
Before the next dawn.

“Stop!”, She shrieks
Loud and eerie
Her eyes full of tears
And very bleary.

How can I choose a side.
 How can I fight in a war,
I did not start.

Each side
A worthy cause.
The narration of each story.
Make you swing from side to side.

Stop! This battle can’t be won.
I declare each side wins.
All be it by half....

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Experts summoned
  War whoops drum on

Speculation ramps up
  Excitement amps up

Convoys move out
  Generals air doubts

Battle lines drawn
  The conflict dawns

It does not go well at all
  In the end heavy losses fall

The ground reeks of sweat
  The rivers unusually wet

Even the winners groan
  Misery's echo moans

Need I still divulge
  Only losers win the Battle
    ~ of the Midriff Bulge......

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That day the army came to our village
And ravaged every part of it with terror
I held my baby sister, blood soaked,as she took her last breath 
Dad died in the battle lines trying to protect our family 
Mother and my two brothers managed to escape
I was recruited into the army with many other boys my age 
Eventually I got up the ranks of a captain 
I still fight the war that I don't understand, I still fight the war that's me

August 20 2015...

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