Hanging 'round down Trenchtown
Bob and me we had a yearning
he only had to signify 'Rastafari'
soon Bob and me we were a'burning
jamming the live-long day
reggae music was a'fire
wasting the night away
as the moon looked on
playing on the waves
Bob and me we were free
he and me we were a'flying
while the world was turning
no woman no time for crying
no disturb Bob and me
it's only the midnight 'erb we're burning
Full circle may not signify completion.
You know why I don’t like your game?
It doesn’t allow for evolution.
I’ve outgrown you, learned on my own.
I feel like I’ve aced the uneven bars.
ln the beginning we were like magnets,
it was an endless loop trying to get to you.
Words on repeat, songs on repeat,
our late nights left me exhausted at work.
Now I am forced to walk on egg shells,
the behavior appears to be never-ending.
It’s a constant state of changing places,
we are always moving but never in sync.
When are we going to both hit clockwise,
unify and again accelerate forward?
Vesica piscis would be better than this,
at least then there is a common thread.
Completion may be accepting uneven,
walking away could bring you full circle.
The catch is what is left incomplete,
maybe the endgame is initial connection.
Frustration
Moody in its own reflection
Confusing to the inner mind
Bubbling thoughts of strained distinction
Bold and soothing, equal measures
Ferocity and shushing sounds
Thrust from mouths in contemplation
Syllables of three marcations
Peaks and troughs sequencing structure
Signify ensuing fervour
Consumed by anger, filled with fear
A burning sensation deep within
Erupting like a fevered lava
Unperturbed by prevailing circumstances,
Untroubled by gnawing situations,
The tempest does not hinder the ship's voyage;
There is something to understand about the sea's rage.
Darkness does not shut the door to the day;
The eyes see the approaching ray.
Even when the walls are falling apart,
Every day offers a new start.
The dark clouds signify an approaching rain,
That’s what the mind tells itself amid the pain.
Even though the treasure is taken by the night,
The despondent soul still seeks the light.
Inside the chamber lies a seething cauldron;
It's a journey across a shrivelled meadow,
Though the unknown ravages the inside,
Glow and grace envelop the outside.
July 28, 2025.
The echo returns not when light in the darkness is sought
the darkness will mute life sounds as it shrouds
the life within, but the light will attract viability and motion
while the sounds within the light will echo and ring true
Light within darkness can signify hope to someone who
clings to it and the echo of life can be the sweetest sound of all
While hope does exist in darkness, it often presents as light
or sound or even touch. Hope is hard to see, hear, or feel
in darkness because the senses are dulled in dark situations
but when light emerges, sounds are more vibrant and the echo
will ring loud and true with the sound of hope
The winter snow and freeze killed everything
I planted in the spring,
Rhododendrons, roses, Hawaii hibiscus
And the bougainvillea orange king.
Parsley, sage and thyme are gone,
Peony and pansies too,
The daisies died and I still sigh
For the loss of primrose blue.
No more azaleas or alyssum,
Passionflower or peppermint,
The coleus did not last nor sassafras,
And goodbye to rosemary’s scent.
And all the leaves on the lemon tree
Look more like a weeping willow,
Sagging sadly as if begging madly
To finally let her go.
But Spring is looming ‘round the bend
And new seeds await good earth,
To come alive in sun-filled skies
And signify life’s worth.
As all things come, and all must go
In a whisp of place and time,
Like flowers and plants in a cosmic dance,
The seasons of life are Sublime.
© Terrell Martin, 01/27/2025
Forgetting Christine
As a thorn would pierce the skin
And bury there, deep within
Childish was my love for her
Caught was I upon that spur
Was it but, her air of grace
Or that she was fair of face
Beauty with a sense of plain
Earthly built in every grain
As she passed the flowers dim
Grew brighter round her every rim
Their blooms alone to signify
An angel there was walking by
Her rebel spirit could not hide
The joy she brings upon her tide
A crest of wistful whisperings
From deep imagination springs
Still she lives there in my muse
Pouring thoughts, that refuse
To let her go from every scene
I’ll not forget my sweet Christine
art
attracts
artists
beauty
brings
bliss
inspiration
ignites
imagination
colors
communicates
complexities
exhibits
evoke
emotions
canvas
conveys
creation
designs
demonstrate
diversity
fashion
fosters
fascination
gems
glimmer
gallery
paintings
project
passion
photographs
picture
precision
sculptures
signify
skills
visions
vie
value
I can come across as confident,
Always known for being too loud,
Sometimes struggle to cope with noise,
Become overwhelmed in a crowd.
Anxiously bite the skin from my lip,
Frantically fidget and tap my toes,
Can even have a sneezing fit,
From a nervous twitch in my nose.
At times can suddenly burst into song,
Even randomly scream and shout,
Nervously talk at some speed,
Or silently struggle to get a word out.
Tried my best to hide it all,
Hoping that people could not see,
All it did was make things worse,
So I gave up and let it be.
Then I started to write my poetry,
Owning the quirks that signify me,
No idea how healing it would be,
Bearing my heart for all to see.
The Vine
The first day love climbed
Like an invisible green vine
Into me
From Aphrodite's crimson tree
My life changed
Haunted forever by
My old history
(C)
Copyright John Duffy
Foundation of the piece.
Can you remember when you first fell in love, and did that moment signify a significant change in your emotional mindset?
Daystar points the planet Venus.
Also called Morning Star seen before sunrise, to be luminous.
Yet known as Evening Star as seen just after sunset before all stars.
Seems to be a star but not to twinkle having no light of own : oblivious.
Truly speaking all stars are present in day sky but not visible by us.
Again Daystar is poetic name of star Sun : For Earthly life, most precious.
Ra to signify Egyptian Sun God, the chief deity to focus.
---Pleiades
Picture stars staring sparkle ever so brightly in yonder galaxies
Portrait signify slight drop of creations spots natures pious breaks
Pondering sweet influences sparkles nature’s essences of this world
Pleasant gatherings fires ignite universe prominence angers are the flames
Present heat bitter anger and stubbornness worldly nature sorely insists
Pleiades constellations planetary stars clusters of Taurus seven-sisters
Protect those the sisters for the wrath and of hunter Orion, carry on...
6/14/24
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2024©
School, something I kill myself even more for.
Staying up late hoping to get all A's.
Who knew a letter from the alphabet could signify a person's worth.
The weekends go by fast,
Finally sleeping because I didn't get the chance,
Finally breathing because I couldn't catch my breath.
I used to love school.
I loved the words of affirmation and encouragement.
Now that I'm older I don't get that anymore.
Wallowing in my tears,
Hoping no one hears.
If only they knew,
If only they knew,
That's really the only thing circling through.
But I must keep going,
To satisfy them all,
I'll keep going I Guess.
Maybe one day my blood with show through.
Today I’m thankful for metamorphosis
and all the changes in us that signify…
when we’re ready to take our rightful place
among the butterflies
A soundless clamor in my brain
Imperceptible of ear
Yet loud – as of an avalanche
That gathers mighty speed
Punctuated by the stillness
That breathes within the room
– A gale wind at its climax
Could signify such doom
Minor dins have surfaced
Have sounded and have passed
Have left a hollow legacy
Of weighted emptiness
Reverberates their echo
Mad breaking at the shore
Whose pounding sure, persistent
Still beats upon my door –
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