Easy-going Edwin, the engineer, always had an excuse
Too hot, too cold, too short, too tall, coils in the oven are loose.
Chipper, animated, hard-working and lively at his work
But a sluggard, sloth, lazy bones at home; sort of a jerk.
There is no denying the power of love.
It is a splendid teacher
Quite adept at instructing us
In ways that completely alter our character,
And telling us how to be what we never were,
Or never even imagined we could ever be.
In certain individuals
Its transformations are frequently nothing short of miraculous.
It breaks down all our natural barriers,
And in the blink of an eye
Can turn a niggardly pinchpenny into a philanthropist,
An obsequious milquetoast into a courageous and gallant knight,
And make a paragon of "politesse" out of an absolute boor.
The inveterate sluggard becomes a captain of industry,
And the most innocent of dullards
Becomes a wellspring of sagacity and worldliness.
What a marvelous whetstone for sharpening wits
And honing the senses is love.
Even its most hardened critics…
Those victims and casualties who proved to be intractable and unteachable…
Find it difficult, if not impossible,
To deny the power of love's ability to inspire
The most truly amazing things in a human heart.
Shep was a slug-a-bug, a sluggard, a sloth
A do-little, do-nothing, man of the cloth
He cancelled more sermons than he ever wrote
This lazy lay-about did not fool this old goat.
He was a goldbricker at my church too said Lou.
Why do you think I recommended him to you?
ant* colony reigns
buttressed by food fortress
conquers hunger strikes
The Creator cares
even for ant colonies...
let's trust* God always.
*Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
**Proverbs 3:5-6 Proverbs 3:5-6 King James Version 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
August 13, 2024
7th place, "Collective nouns" Senryu Poetry Writing Premiere Contest
Sponsored by Suzette Richards; judged on 8/15/2024
(Second verse added after contest was judged.)
An out-of-money experience
Is almost like existing without an essence
This period is one so awful
No money, no elation, just doleful
The money in your bank is broke
The money in your hand is nil
Who to call that is not broke?
Who would give without being left nil?
One too many is the responsibility
One too many is the workload
Little to nothing is the payload
Little to nothing is the mobility
A sluggard off another's dough thrives all good
A bilker thru' bilkering gets all rich good
He, a worker, gets less luck and cash at a distant range
Why should this be? he finds so strange
Should the reward for a scammer be being rich?
The scammer ought not remain being rich
Should the reward for a worker be being broke?
The worker ought not remain being broke
Why expect a lot from A sluggard:
A trim look, not seeming haggard
And easy win of high regard?
You'd make much of A sluggard
A Great story from Great Harvard
Upon him wait with a staunch guard
And the often - praised by A Bard...
Then, you never knew A sluggard:
From Laziness to Prison Yard
After nice crimes testing, no Yard
Next lazy jailbreak and Graveyard.
For a security slot, A Sluggard,
For a praised company, rather haggard:
From long unemployment a drunkard,
Full tankard draining after full tankard.
Also, a listener at nights to Bard
And could Security suspend for Card,
Still, hopefully, he seeks to be her guard:
In many circles this fulfilling dream bared,
Most likely to collapse, if he is barred…
But a company won’t have things snapping
Through a guard sure to be caught just napping!
You tell folks you’re as busy as a bee,
but I’ve been watching you. Here’s what I see:
you, sitting on the porch with book in hand
and dozing off. Is this the “work” you planned?
When I fly by your windows, I peek in.
Neglecting dirty dishes is a sin!
I’m shocked to see that messy, unmade bed!
You’re busy—like me? This is what you’ve said.
When you compare us two, I feel distressed.
Thus, in the name of fairness, I suggest
“I’m busy as a sloth” is apropos
for those like you. Let this be your motto!
June 13, 2022
entered in the Bee Creative Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Matt Caliri
When we don’t a lunatic fetter,
Sanity does not look quite better;
When A Sluggard is The Pace Setter,
Things begin to happen much later:
An Aquarian Chosen Go-getter,
A lot tend to be rather wetter;
Everyone A Well-Trained Sharp Shooter
Exchange of Gunfire The Redder;
One deciding to be A Looter
Many Shaky Accounts The Redder …
I’ve told you what usually follow
And why my laughs are sometimes hollow.
Ants exemplify diligence
With their labor-propped persistence
Smiting attacking indolence
Amidst united resilience…
They don’t starve when there’s pestilence
Since they work against virulence
Warning laziness’ insistence
To flee from crises’ prevalence…
Learning from insects’ competence
Rebukes me of my negligence
I confess industry-pretense
“Help me, Lord, to fight impotence.”
*Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Proverbs 30:25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.
January 19, 2022
1st place, "A STRAND (1057)" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 1/22/2022.
He slept under the moon
He basked under the sun
He lived a life of going to-do
And died with nothing done
The spring well and root of all vice
The canker of the mind
An appendix to nobility
The only refuge of weak minds
Discontinued labour is dangerous
They labour to kill time
And labour dire it is, and weary wore
The worst of all unrealities, an idle man
Man, the only being that can properly be called idle
But woe to the shepherd that left the flock
Go to the ant, thou sluggard
Consider her way and be wise
To do nothing makes one nothing
For an idle brain is the devil’s workshop
Life is full of care
We have no time to stand and stare
To do something- man’s inherit power
Absence of occupation is not rest
A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed
Why is man idle who can do something better
I am happiest when I am idle though
For it is well to lie fallow for a while
The lazy man gets round the sun
As quickly as the busy one
Eschew the idle life
Flee, flee from doing nought
For never was there idle brain
But breeds an idle thought
The Sluggard
Written: by Miracle man
September 15, 2020
A lazy person only does
what to him is found pleasing.
Opportunities come and go
without any attempt at seizing.
* The Bible calls him a sluggard
who doesn’t think past today.
He makes a bed in poverty
thinking there’s no other way.
He often makes excuses
when he don’t get things done.
Blaming something, or someone
when he alone is the one.
Most times he feels entitled
often questioning, “Lord, why me?”
But when things don’t come easy
he’s content to take a knee.
Many are born into poverty without hope of escape;
and many are impoverished because they’re lazy. It’s become easier to depend on someone else to do the heavy lifting.
Tom
* 1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Look at the ant, don't be a sluggard
They are small but lift many times their weight
Pursue your biggest dream, no task is too small or large
Put in your best effort,
Being organized helps you recognize Your goals and achievement
Constantly prepare for the FutureNow
Plan well in advance to reach your target.
Ants not strong individually but they work as a group
Working as one unit to fulfill their dreams
Ants never give up--they work hard and keep trying
Till they succeed
Ants do whatever it takes to accomplish
They are ambitious--working on the solution
instead of the problem
Take a lesson from the ants, don't be a sluggard
Consider their ways and be wise
Tell me what you think.
Observe tiny insects, lazybones ; Draw lessons from their diligence
06/09/18
Proverbs 6:v.6 New International Version (NIV)
Go to the ant, you sluggard;consider its ways and be wise!
Amazing indeed are God’s marvelous creatures
Showcased in the Bible with their wonderful features
Serving as good examples
Against slothfulness’ ripples…
I salute the ants* for their great service-gestures!
*Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
August 31, 2018
2nd place, "Any Animal or Creature Limerick" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Charles Messina, judged on 9/12/2018.
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