Short Refrained Poems

disdain
deep
deep
within my brain
how to
get to
a place
without peril
I look
I look
for shame
I look
distain refrained
poor poor brain...

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A young man in overalls 
remarked to me: 
"How 'bout them Redskins?" 
I couldn't think of anything 
worthwhile to say, so 
I refrained from speaking....

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I lick it, therefore it's automatically mine
Intentionally covered it with my DNA divine
A trick to cause alarm
Growing up on the farm
Siblings refrained from food stuff that I was assigned...

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When I woke up this morning, I had a good feeling
For fear of broken bones I refrained from cartwheeling
Instead I uttered a tiny yee haw
And a very tiny happy guffaw
At eighty-six years old, it takes longer, the healing<>...

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I tried to light a candle to reach you...
but the wind blew it out...
I tried dancing in the rain...
but the rain had stopped...
I tried looking for the pot of gold...
but the rainbow never came...
I tried loving you...
but you refrained....

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Spilled 
between 
the lines of 

a
lyric, 
it almost 

slipped
from my
thought, yet, I

found the way to reflect

it, 
and must 
have been the 

art
of my
guiltless brain

that 
alas, 
I refrained…

from anomalous wine!...

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A book with no cover,
  a man with no name

Vowels dormant and muted,
  as consonants reign

A plot with no purpose,
  an ending refrained

Its message in conflict
   —with footnotes of pain

 
(Villanova Pennsylvania: December, 2015)...

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Listen to poem:

Hi, butterfly,
Hi, mister moth,
I singed my wings,
Close to the 
           ~~~flame?

You hate the light?
No, mister moth.
Love the light, but,
Sun is too 
        ~~~far!


Date: 08/31/2019
howmanysyllables
4444, 4444....

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I saw your face

God, how you've changed!

I saw your eyes

Somehow, that spark's refrained?

I see your pain

I see your loss

I saw your smile lose height and mass

I see the man I used to know

Under there somewhere with a broken soul....

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For humans who, from the beginning
Were first originated,
Degenerate into sand,

It is known not,
Of their creator’s whereabouts,
And knowing is further refrained,

Though it is not entirely known,
That he exists,
Though few find him,

Worth sparing,
A secondary glance....

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Yesterday,
I brushed a rose across your stone
the wind refrained- in fragrant moan.
Today, a sad clump of crimson petals
pressed between wax sheets
into long shadows of memory...
This wayward heart drifting about
like a famished gull 
over the landfill of living....

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Your skin like leather 
my bulletproof vest
inkling tubes 
tuxedo of flesh 
harness me
hand on chest 
in between sheets 
stringing me along like a kite 
refrained from taking advice 
whistle and jolt
the casual bubble bursts 
bleeding love
and
quenching thirsts...

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When I woke up this morning, I had a good feeling
For fear of broken bones I refrained from cartwheeling
Instead I uttered a tiny "yee haw"
And a very tiny happy "guffaw"
At eighty years old, it takes longer, the healing


© Jack Ellison 2015...

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I am a man kept by disdain , pelted with dismay . I still see a strain so which keeps me refrained from blatantly blasting off my aim . I'm a man so I maintain though I strain sustain . I'm a man so made to reign . I reign so ready , I'm better . Men reign when it rains , pain is all that remains ....

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Emptiness, fatigue, a preconception of suicidal indentations.
While an incredulousness lack of faith dragged me under.
The undertow pulling me down, pulling me in towards a downward spiral.
Pulling me into the fire.
No humorous satire to ease the pain.
No more, “I love you(s) all now refrained....

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He grew his own food,
And sewed his own clothes,
He owed no one,
But shared with everyone.

He rejected larceny, 
Refrained from intrigue, 
Spurned lust, lies and malice,
Spoke only kindness 
And practiced but prudence.

He was a modest man… are we?


All rights released into Public Domain...

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Contemplative, taciturn
Willing to commit
An immutable zeal to learn
Endowed with acerbic wit
Endless potential
But having few outlets, to express it
Seemingly aloof or deferential
Unintentionally causing pain
Coming off inconsequential
An indelible stain
Easily misunderstood
Without composure refrained...

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Elevated intentions are futile in an attempt to hold your heart close to my own.

Could you see beyond a lie that was told with the best of intentions?

In between the war of the sexes is an ecstasy that could warm the coldest of hearts.

Jealousy shall be refrained until all other options have been exhausted....

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I was a freshman at wellington and wise 
when a sure footed poet pulled out her knife 
 
my head was split open and locks spread foursquare 
my flesh cut to servings and tongue sliced de jour  
 
the high poetess then clawed out my heart 
before she devoured me bite after bite 
 
the freshman departed, the poet refrained 
with a big wet smile from verse to verse...

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Listen to poem:

Out of Season
David J Walker

When the wind wakes 
In the morning
Of uncertain timing
 
When the day is delayed 
Before a sedulous dawn  and

Dreams reclaimed 
	Memories refrained 
From waves of warning 

When the sunshine is weak 
and out of season
Mother always said 

	Something bad
 is going to happen
and something bad
		always happens
when she says...

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This day the relenting Lord
Has stuffed in my head
A ‘ Heavenly Bliss ‘
And got me out of the woods------

-----Of  the weird mirages,
-----Of cardioscannings and cartographies
-----Of illusive chelations,
-----And of dreadful,deadly ozones!!

He refrained me from committing sins
And from earning the wages of sins
To Him, my sanctity, I dedicate,
With a pious heart,  Him I venerate!!...

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Liberty, freedom, unchained
Plenty, riches, love sustained
Repentance,Forgiveness, not stained
Abiding, sheltered, in safety contained
Faithful, fruitful, on the right path remained
Knowledge, truth, wisdom, attained
From sin, self, and evil refrained
True Love, delight, joy, unfeigned
Heaven, eternity, eternal life, gained
...

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Through the glass thin pane of the window,
I knew the refrain of your voice.
I rejoice in the choices I have made,
Walk down the drive, on past your home.

Through the thought of glass so thin
Come in, come in, but I refrained.
I stand in joy outside the glass
Wandering off as your voice sings out.

Wandering is now for me a way,
No more glass, staring at pleasures
I could not have nor enjoy.
The smell of your fire follows after....

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Amidst misty atop hidden
alluring patches, flouresce dales
unfolded boons, fizzy dazzles
euphoric birds my pursuit gladden
re-seasoned seasons arise in
arousing spirits adore our hearts
abundant thoughts enshrine our tots
astounding nature erases sin
astonished I alone wandering
aloof found enriching meadows
energized plans, aglow of pleas
emotional haunt refrained resting
a noble deal to undone rest
with awesome zeal and wow full of zest...

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Beyond The Nothingness

If the Universe vanishes
music remains
Each note but a memory
—forever refrained

(Dreamsleep: December, 2023)


The Treasure

Life as a system
sits proudly alone
Unlike any other
secure on the throne

Not physics mathematics
or music can steal
What living the treasure
—of nature conceals

(Dreamsleep: December, 2023)


Amor Est

How can you know it was love
—how can you not

(Dreamsleep: December, 2023)

...

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