Vexations after vexations file on
In this temporal succession here;
And even the best zeal and effort
Meet cold uncertainty and fear.
Petty foes give way to petty foes
In strenuous strivings here below;
And even the soberest of hours
Is fraught with sorrow and woe.
And no new joy that melts here
That’s not with fresh sorrows dealt;
Till the merriest hour in this sojourn
Is as close-punctuated mourning felt.
So now let every minute go
And every new hour emerge;
This soul shall no joys expect
But will silently mime its dirge.
Reflection in a Phial
I look at my hands, they are as brown as a farmer`s, this pleases me,
although I have no land to plough, a tractor or a mule, or
a workman`s sturdy hand; all socialists should have hands that
have harvested potatoes or carrots.
I flex the muscles in my upper arms and see a faint movement
like a mouse moving under thawing spring snow.
Glorious vanity, I used to do a hundred press-ups a day in the hope
of looking intense and furious. I think of sex sadly. I wasn`t any good
at it. After the act, I looked for a book to read.
The squalid side of life has always mystified me. Why does
a person choose a path that leads to moral disgrace and ruin?
I have always been lazy; strenuous effort will not touch me,
but I would like to pull up a few more carrots.
Cartoon Character Clerihew
12.8.25
Popeye, the Sailor Man
a confidence trickster who always said, “I can !”
he could do any strenuous task when at sea
on land, he follicked with Queen Bea !
Life is fascinating all the time
Your good aura saves the day bright
Like the dawn dispels the darkness
Each of us is radiant when we smile.
Sadness makes our heart pure
Move out old tears to have a new one
Like the strength of inner self
A quite moments ease a gentle smile.
Love always has overdraft limits
What is too much is sorrowful
What is lacking comes negotiation
That value a good relationship.
Seeking justice is strenuous
It requires bravery and a gentle talks
Decisive show of force but open to legal remedy
Love to accept peace but hate oppression.
Laboured breaths
with each strenuous uphill step,
taking in the ancient spirits
from an ancient world
when the earth was venerated.
Every stride taken prompts visions of
the Chaquis who journied this
rigorous passage.
In an empire of siwi, corn and orchids,
rock etched with lichen, sweltering heat and winds that bite;
a worn path of rugged stone and steps
rises then falls through the damp cloud forest
on Pachamama's curves
leading to primordial sacred sites.
Tasting the victory of reaching
that final destination evokes
emotions of gratitude, while honouring
a vanished civilization and those who perished
defending their ancesteral province.
Amid the ghostly essence of the terraced terrain
a lone condor circles above-
A painting on my easel…
a portrait of ultimate truth.
at twilight, the setting sun glimmering
onto the sapphire waves of the ocean,
the gossamer light
of the melting rays shimmering,
on the dock, gray and cracked!
at dawn, the sun will bring back the warmth,
for all creatures to rise and soar!
Life is a cycle,
a wheel of existence!
Birth, Youth, Death -
an eternal journey from beginning to end,
ultimately blending with the universe!
in the middle, joys and hopes, sorrows and cries,
carry us through the strenuous paths
of the darkness in the world!
A baby’s birth, most delightful event
in human reality, our path leads
us to either success or failure,
but we are not defeated!
we walk many miles
throughout our life,
to find happiness and peace, envisaging
children follow our footsteps,
when we cease to exist,
we pass the torch to the
next generation who carries
the legacy, the strength, the courage
to fight, to declare - life does not
stop, it continues to move on to
everlasting goals !
"Referencing an old poetic imagism sort of poem I wrote some four years ago--almost to the day---wherein lies a paradox," ... by The Poet.
MIRROR, MIRROR
I was in a room,
there, I saw a mirror,
and then I saw him,
I told him to get out,
and he did,
and he took the mirror,
and I was no more.
--The End--
Albeit, natheless
of no consequence
admissible ... thing
humiliating
how now brown cow ... speak
named ... must be unique
imagination
generalization
easy, perspective
yours or mine, fictive!
that stretch, what is there,
images ... despair
strays loss memory
rare remembering
instantaneous
matter strenuous
reason of drainage
mayhaps some carnage
yes answers reason
purpose--intention
... a dreamer affects
... or schemer effects
telltale prophecy
image precisely.
Cid once said that I was his Final Fantasy
Cid lied...or did he?
I am thinking of all the sweet cucumber melon frits I have eaten.
And as a strenuous Soul once said to the Earth Goddess, "I am impeccable.", I roared back, "Impudity."
For I once was a seagull, high in dementia. Now I'm a porecilan pear just barely stinging TO dementia; my collar bone has no quarries. I am alone in this vast world unraveling, unwavering itself as a steady snail's pace at me, unto me. Unto ME.
For why in the world am I in such worry, Fizzle-Mc-Drizzle? Why am I seeing myself grope and sweep and sweat the night away into musty odors fit like a king of Barnaely?
Have I no compassion? The voice I hear as my echoing consciousness from Spirit World seems to think so.
For what world have I come from, strange inaudible Titan Atlas and Atticus still murmuring over the book, "To kill a Mockingbird?" Am I THAT preconscious?
Have I no compassion? The voice I hear inside my echoing head seems to think so from Spirit World.
Oh! Spitit Word...! Oh, of WGAT?
Your index is still in grip than your appendix.
Your words are still in repulsion of mirror, consciously.
It does kill, I think, both ways. indecision as a pill cutter and anti-cutter
Three subjects wide ruled lines, even though
the very first one did not melt, so far.
Yet, these days, they do come again, as long-lost sun lights.
Once a study table with a glass top, used to believe that.
there was a student.
sweating to study,
harder and harder in watching lives, passing by, finetuning and fines and dues.
and tuning in the farthest try than in nearer sigh,
happening democracy in the pressing opposite
cramming the fine paper space in an obscure awkward offset
Where words fall short to heed or hide
or make a duo in understanding altogether.
Looking inwardly, I am too
Or else, it is better to let go
Truly it is far better to let go
than to hold back a strenuous good bye
That should end at least half an hour ago
Peculiarly, blossoming at the doorstep, once again!
Written: September 08, 2023
Bite Size Poem No71 Sponsored by: Line Gauthier
________________________________________________________________
On distant coasts, oceans often rise and flood.
Every wave abides by the route of the prior one.
Squat idle loops on sere soil of whale crimson blood
Every strenuous stride is brisk and deftly done,
A foggy crawl on a dreary, windswept cruise crud.
lacksidasical larry leaps lovingly through the air
making mincemeat marauders truly want to care
nine nefarious nigglebuns are trying not to stare
outrageously outstandingly outrunning marathon mare
providing pristine plots to princely priestly pree
quizzing quality quails wondering why I am free
resident ruffians reaching residual responsibility
stressing strenuous starlight studies under thee
tricky trustworthy triple treats tripping up and down the bay
understanding understudy underlings trying to have their say
visualizing various viillains we often meet along the way
‘xoecting ‘xact ‘xasperating ‘xersizes to save the day
zany zigzagging zealots zipping into the fray
I am a descendant of the earth
I was built to shoulder
Wide range of forthcomings
To stand tall
When situations lower heights
Employ strenuous efforts
To guide and protect
Smile when numerous demands frown
I give out my all and expect
Not less than an appreciation
I am emotionally sensitive
But supposed to endure
Even when it hurts to the core
I barely sleep
My nights are full of mind travels
Cohabited with heavy traffic
I shed tears within
Which embolden me to strive
And to never give up
I go through a lot
I am a human too
But one thing for sure is
I was built for this
I am a man, A poet .
Grandpa tomato worm was once again sorry today
That he had switched to apples last Thursday.
Tomatoes were easy, you could chew them up fast.
Chewing up a hard apple is a strenuous task!
I wish I had stayed around to get my raise Grandpa worm said.
His old boss was holding a grudge; her face got all red.
You were the one who left, she said. Have a great life!
It got worse when he got home, for she was his wife.
Fieldwork is stellar, sexy, or strenuous and sad
Talking values, prolonging childhood
Is not for the faint hearted among S. Africa's "Coloured"
My "township" boasts about acting backward
Using walls for urination, or there on streets
Many walk all day long with beer in hand (never discreet)
We reward bad for good; kindness is meekness minus Jesus (equals: simple weakness)
Abusing drugs, kids, partners - "street privacy"?
Is the only "rule" respected by all and sundry
II
Shall I report these abuses, "shebeens" next door?
But the policing is poor, revenge usual & more
Or should I show the other cheek, God's love
Shall I continue peacemaking, or reward shove with shove?
Since Middle School I struggled with moochers, "the lazy"
To accept them, help, yet teach a better way
Humans seek peace, routines, "order" in some way
But competition fir resources, conflict
May be the real order of the day
Hence wars are welcome for profits, bottom lines!
My question: Love or lecture "them" is as old as Time
In my "coloured township," there is no "time" for both
I'm more pessimistic about human nature now, sad truth!
Miles are traversed,
The mind takes flight,
It goes on a voyage,
Places beyond sight,
Away from its chamber.
All of the sky,
Where it’s gone across,
Beats the imagination,
It amazes the being,
It pushes beyond obstacles.
It’s a tussle,
It’s a strenuous fight,
When the thoughts go on a spree,
When they go on a wild chase,
The chamber is in a tumultuous moment.
Like as birds take flight,
The mind navigates,
It goes beyond boundaries,
It connects with people,
It spans unseen worlds and galaxies.
December 5, 2022.
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