Short Bootstraps Poems

I flap, remembered
through treacherous gusts:
freedom dismembered
by old bloodline trusts

assuring collapse
with floods of treaties
prompting a relapse
of diabetes

bursting the synapse
in chemical sway,
tightening those bootstraps
till trust fades away....

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Shocking, those stockings, suspenders and all.
In old days, told to pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
These days, old man, you just don’t want to fall.
And truly you’ve had your share of mishaps…so
Go forth, adventure, into the old age zone
Put on your thick glasses and disposables.
And for goodness sake, don’t go it alone.
It is not yet time for condolences!

6/3/2023...

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Dangling; from the ledge of impervious fate
Blindfolded; step beyond the intangible gate
Blunders; veer around deceptive curves
Pull up those bootstraps; then tighten those spurs
Rely on the inevitable; oh, fools beware
Oversights and cover ups; but who will care
You thought you'd taken all your hits 
Indiscretion; missed purpose just by an inch 
And the cliffhanger still awaits
 






10/17/2013...

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Caught up in broke and broken
operating on what we can; 
Ready to rise by your own bootstraps? 
Or fall, never to be reimagined;
No answers with a diagnosis 
ask if humanity is worth saving;
Vitamins flood a prescription we should know ;
It’s a dangerous money making machine;  
Redefining lifestyles can change everything;
Understand you have a choice to stand up;
Stop feeding pharmacies instead of yourself....

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hands tied to trade overseas
the sands, in time, taking their toll
cracking cuticles of overreachers
while nations shake in anger

an explosive declaration
missiles making patriotism fly
white elephants lead the stampede to war
their endemic tactics failing the front

a fox-faced woman's ruse
railroading objection to crude comments
drilling deep in the peoples' psyche

bootstraps their sole possession
a road to hope paved long ago...

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Knocked down

When I’m down I’m miserable,
But that won’t do at all,
Reef up yer bloody bootstraps, boy,
Walk tall, don’t bloody crawl.

Depression black has arrived,
Kick it up the cods,
Don’t drag yer feet, tiptoe n jive,?
And rise above the odds.

Let the mighty spirit in you surge,
Feel it’s strength and power,
You are more than mortal, merge,
Gods will and strength is ours.

Don Johnson 14-july-11

Brian Strand
Contest Name	A POETES any theme@form max 14 lines...

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