Short Reproof Poems

When facing the fire,
Save your face with humbleness
Admonished reproof....

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A dressing-down's full of hauteur 
    Persuasion comes not easily
  
  Instead of rebuke, employ kinder reproof
    a velvet hammer, wield congenially...

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A Gentle Reproof

For want of good sense and probity
It seemed logical for me to offend him
But upon closer examination, the need never 
Arose, for his sin was no greater than mine...

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You can burn a book
but not its truth
Flames no match
for time’s reproof

Planted deep
below the lime
Its seeds will flower
— where light to shine

(West Campus: May 6, 2024)
...

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In mischief, kicks patties with hoof.
The slope of his stinker on roof.
The chimney down smokes
And presence did choke. . .
Deers believe in Santa’s reproof.

11/17/2019
Holiday Themed Limerick Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Tania Kitchin...

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Faulkner's letter to
Hemingway discovered God
in time ~ ere souls wrote
formed their clays ~ victories and
defeats ~ fought they their reproof
now loves and pities
proud catch lost at sea old man
lands the best that seldom's me...

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Oh my word, another written spoof
about a fine poet who needs no reproof.
Yes, he writes with finesse, style and grace.
Is that green jealousy I see on your face?
Why must you bark at him,  WOOF WOOF
and make yourself look like such a silly goof?...

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Give no accolades to the man so sly

To avoid some blame by telling a lie.

But he earns respect if he takes reproof

And the risk of shame by telling the truth.

(Let me remind us all to be more truthful, then we won't have to remember what we 
say.) James...

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Spill Ink—the poets’ timeless warp and woof;
Signifies our mantra beyond reproof;
Late at night as poets struggle to write;
Our Muse enchants poets to such delight;
Poets seek tone and tenor for a splash,
And images and nuance for a dash.
"Spill Ink!” Poets cry seeking perfection!

Gary Bateman, Copyright © All Rights Reserved 
(October 18, 2014) (Rhyme Septet)...

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The staff lounge had a posted sign
Hung prominently, by design.
It said, addressed to you and me,
“This room is for light drollery.”

I did a double-take and laughed
And wondered if I’d get the shaft
Or what reproof they might just levy
If my drollery got heavy.

Shakespeare would feel right at home,
Perhaps to rest or write a poem,
In such a place where to amuse
Too much is one of its taboos....

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He wears, with me, the charms of love, 
exchanging gentle whispers in storms 
of fascinated, trembling union.

He shares with me blue velvet nights
of careful and unmeasurable bliss,
and titivates modest morning rebirths.

He cares for me, reproof us not, we make 
no show of virtue, or counterfeit innocency,
but partage, in comfort, this open honesty.
.
.
titivate: make more attractive, improve
innocency = a show of innocence
partage = share...

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A droplet or two surprises your face,
           Misty, liquid-like lace...
             Early Spring shower, heavenly dew,
             Softens the earth, revives anew.

           Machine-gun bullets tempering a roof,
           Tempest's reproof...
             Torrents of memory cascading down,
             Drainpipes alive, gushing sound.  

           Trigger for sky-werks of lightning and thunder:
                  Prelude to awe and wonder....

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No stain no smudge no worldly wrong
Can silence the sound 
of children's song
No Power of money nor chains of might
Can hinder our journey into the light

What rulers power or Tyrants reproof
Can silence the voice that sings the Truth

For love is my Lord and light is my king
Eternal the one whose praise i sing
By whose authority and power
You cannot impede the growth of this flower

For that which is stained
This will remain Pure
And this  is the Spirit that will endure...

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My respite,
is clearly laden
with strife.

Yet, You strive,
to give me,
constant grief.

It’s my belief,
that i,
will still rise

to the skies,
in spite of all
your reproof.

i am bulletproof 
now. I left my stress 
on bed rest.

Amidst the unrest,
under duress, watch 
me chill, in repose.

I won’t even oppose 
your outpour of
nasty-nice chatter.

I’ll bolt tight, my shutter,
before i drift away 
in my little bubble 

my only hustle 
will be
staying afloat...

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