My dad had thirteen siblings
worked for every thing he ever got
many hand-me-downs but no handouts
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
standing still ~
a one-legged flamingo
thinks he's a rose
Oak Tree Hiku 46
lonely oak tree
battered by storms and men~
nature`s grace standing tall.
~
~ o ~ ~
~ y ~ a ~
~ l ~ ~ k \ \
~ e ~ t \ \ s and m>e>n~
n r \ \ \ m
o e \ \ \ r
l e \ \ o ~
\ t ~ i ~ n
s –h –a –t –t –e –r –e -d by s ~ d ~ ~ g
~n ~ t
a a
t l
n-a –t -u –r -e`s g –r –a –c -e s l.
there is a light that lights the sun
that which exists beyond space-time
with this source when we become one
there remain no mountains to climb
prior to thought and heart’s intent
playful spontaneous instinct
to the will of God grants consent
that the light of Self be love inked
attention thus focused within
power held at a stillness point
breath by breath anew we begin
that light of Self God may anoint
we are the Self, we are God’s light
nothing more on this need be said
poised in peace, feeling bliss delight
standing erect, we’re by love led
pain is like a storm
rivers of tears overflow
with cold chill and flood
sharp arrows from the dark clouds
pierce into my hope for joy
strong wind whips my heart
hurting my spirit and soul
but not my firm faith
spiders have eight legs
insects six — most mammals four
humans mainly two
some think they walk on water
and like slugs — leave slime trails too
By David Kavanagh
When the Language Merge**
I walked into Bobby Department Store and yelled, “Where are the Jamaicans and Barbadians?” This might sound a little strange to most people; however, it’s that time of year when all the languages and dialects merge, accompanied by the authentic accents from their respective places. Plus, there's always a bit of rudeness as people wait in long lines. Yet, amidst it all, the joy of Christmas still shines through in their voices.
Christmas is that one time of year when you can be happy without needing a reason. I could hear conversations like, “I want to mail this barrel by next week, but I know they won’t get it before next year.” As an outsider eavesdropping on these conversations, I sometimes think, “What is this barrel they are talking about? A barrel of rum? A barrel of Jack Daniel’s? A barrel of monkeys? What barrel?”
Yes, Bubba! That barrel is filled with gifts and food for their families on the Island of Brim. All I’d like to add is that I’m reminded that while New Yorkers say “standing online,” the rest of the English-speaking world says “standing in line.” - Jeffrey Stein Garten.
Hunger sleeps standing,
leaning against time,
Its door is ajar,
wanting and waiting,
for the fast to lift.
Can't miss the hand-out
when it comes,
from one hand held-out giving,
to one hand held-out receiving,
both awake and aroused.
step stones across stream
look easy to pick and tread
some were raised upright
wanting to be idolised ~
as landfall stands for the soul
Riding on a highway,
As the cars go streaming by,
I notice varied brands and styles
I can’t identify.
To me, they mostly look the same,
The SUV’s and such,
With different shapes of taillights
Which don’t really matter much.
The vehicles are mostly dark,
Though quite a few are white
And sometimes there’s a burgundy
Or red that one can sight.
Yet once in a great while,
There’s a sports car or a jeep
In a neon green or orange
To which every eye will leap.
That attention’s what the owners
Wanted, like a little spark,
But it sure must come in handy
When in crowded lots they park.
WILL YOU BE STANDING NEXT TO ME
When this world is finally done,
will you be standing next to me?
When all humans reside as one,
no violent colors left to see.
When every evil is all gone,
will you be standing next to me?
When nothings left to fight over,
will you still want to take what's mine?
When the wild beasts will do no harm,
Will you dare to reach out your hand?
When the false prophet is no more,
Will you be standing next to me?
When corruption and greed are gone,
will you rejoice and jump with glee?
When the Lord says welcome home son,
will you be standing next to me?
For Rob Carmack's contest
June 13,2025
corners
i have walked around corners
when i should have stood still
driven fast in slow zones
and sat at the apex of silent
stone walls
i've said words i meant when i was high
and regretted when i was low
twisted sentences until they were wrung
too dry to matter
and left paragraphs drowning for want of a word
my soul aches at midnight
and burns at the zenith of emptiness
crunched and crushed like flattened cardboard;
my shelter from wind,
my home under the dry blanket of arizona dust
i’ve looked into the eyes of a broken old man
seen the sadness built around his journey
and the hopelessness erected
like a still-empty cross,
awaiting his outstretched hands
i have watched while he dries tears
from the face of humanity,
saddened by the race of mankind
scratching to get to the same corner
i walked around
when i should have stood still
tolbert
Standing in someone's heart is important
But if it does not exist
I better stand on my own
Each person's point of view is different
If you don't want to suffer
Don't compare yourself to others
It's better to be alone
That to be with someone else
Compromising your relationship
And not happy to live life as you want it to be.
Is persecution a sign of weakness
prosecution a sign of strength
To the victors go the spoils
from might makes right
the world recoils
if i read you my poem
silently
will you hear all the
dumb dumb
in between the spaces
where the divine
touchés
amusing you, telling you
to share
what you saw in the dark
believe me
there is always more
and those aficionados
who believe
blindly
that their words belong to them
only
how blessed we are
to be almost
remote
and to spin our wheels
within
and without each other
and yet
we pay each other a debt
as we turn over
Spring seeds of poetry
hand to hand
i’ll digress
while standing on my hands
my fingerprints
in beach sand, in primordial goop,
on the moon and sun,
on everyone
if you read me your poem
silently
i’ll hear all the
dumb dumb
Related Poems