whooshing winds use trees to shout messages
leaves flutter down like dying moths landing at my feet
sparkle of day feels like a tornado warning
I sit under my tallest oak
expecting her limbs to crack and hit me in the head
on my tombstone you have my permission to engrave
Risk taker from Kansas who should have known better
Like a storm in a teacup, You turned nothing
into something blown up, from a small thing.
Everywhere's your ground to pick up a fight.
You should know war is not won by might
But by great strategy and clear planning
not just by being pretty and enchanting.
Stop just being a mere trouble maker.
Rather, try being an active parttaker
Who is ready for a positive change.
Even when done in ways strange.
Your real worth still no way lost.
Nothing much will be the cost,
Still, no day pass you don't doubt yourself.
Yet you've all it takes, there on your shelf.
With an oar and a long boat
Down river goes the deal maker,
Ferrying another soul afloat
... For I am their taker ...
Black cloak 'round my shoulder
Two coins in my bony hand,
I bring the younger or older
Off to a more distant land
Paddling waters, still and gray
Done a million times or more,
Candle and lantern to light my way
Back and forth to each shore
My fee is due on your funeral day
Not long after a warm body dies,
So your spirit will not have to pay
May someone lay them on your eyes
'Tis no easy, nor grim task ...
For two thin coins of solid gold,
Death wears no ghoulish mask
Draped in peaceful shrouds of olde
Entrust unto me, the so-called reaper
Sent on down here by your maker,
Fear not me ... a gate keeper
This olde ferryman ... the taker.
Gather children
family and friends
this is not What It Seems
~
know how it is
to be social part such
as the Gathering
group together by genetic code
Side hustle mighty and bold
~
Environmental left alone
hope and cast over
the Horizon rest laying down
on principal s standing on the Promises
Seed of Abraham
~
We foremost perfected caretaker
... of The Promise Land
What's yours, what's
mine we're caretakers of the Promise Land
Amen
4/10/24
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2024
It happening again
I see it
Even with me
eyes closed
I talking about my
sister Brenda
you know.
I wanted it
many times.
Jerry first than mom.
The shortness
of breath.
That feeling of
what next.
Standing behind
her walker
Oxygen hose
It all the same
you know.
Brenda fell down
yesterday
It all happening
the same way.
I want to crawl
into a small hole
and just peek out
now and than.
Until her or my life
come to that very end.
If it was not for God.
To walk us through
I don't know what
I would do .
Because
It happening again...
Promise is a mind-gladdening assurance
That sets one thinking it an insurance
Also,heart-quickening,
Until its non fulfillment makes it sickening...
Either of two things is sure to befall it:
The second by all means hurting a bit;
The first, of course, its redemption by maker
The second, unforeseen circumstance snatching it from taker!
With made promises are a suspension of bustle and bustle
And relaxation of every body muscle;
A gratuitous delay in getting into ones stride,
A female hopeful soon thinking herself a bride.
Rarely for broken promises people hang;
Just fleeting glum looks inviting no bang
Or inner battling with inglorious shame
And reasonable belief it should never be the same.
Giver gave meals, desserts, gas money, love
Taker took them all gladly but demanded more
Giver tried to please. Gave a car and a home.
Taker made fun of giver for being a chump.
Giggling with friends about how easy giver was.
Giver heard but did not believe for she loved taker.
Taker claimed home was not good enough, hurting giver.
Giver helped taker paint and remodel the home.
Taker was pleased but not wholly satisfied. Wanted a better car.
Giver gave taker her own car. Taker loved it but could not afford insurance.
Giver could not afford it either thanks to giving too much to taker.
Asked taker to be really careful and always drive alone.
Yesterday taker drove past with six others, going way over the speed limit
Giver spoke to taker again, making taker really angry.
Taker wrecked the car to show Giver how angry she was.
Giver could not afford a replacement car so Taker has cut off ties
Looking now for a new giver as Giver stares at Taker’s photo
Lamenting the loss of her best friend.
Some shout no to corporate welfare
And spit on those who say otherwise.
Tax loopholes seem unfair,
To those who minimize
Their day-to-day and scrutinize
The monthly budget.
The craftsmen yowl this advice,
Be a Maker, Not a Taker.
An artisan lists out what's true and fair;
A list of various jobs and supplies.
To complete his family's share
Of fruited endeavors reprise.
The labor like clockwork unifies
The sons and daughters sextet.
The craftsmen sing a fanfare to canonize,
Be a Maker, Not a Taker.
The effort rolls on in splendor
Fulfilling and occupying their lives.
Each embraces the craft and takes care
To improve with each enterprise.
They learn new ways to devise,
A trio rhythm to the minuet.
Until their breath greets sunset,
Be a Maker, Not a Taker.
Years hence others apprise
The fruits of their labors sweat.
Finished works inspire others to reprise,
Be a Maker, Not a Taker.
Here
You May
Have it All
I am glad to
Give
What?
Again?
You’re always
So willing to
Take
Written 03-02-2019
Contest: Light Up The Page - Lanterne
Sponsor: Joseph May
Pain Taker
It pays to dance through the moments
That bend and break our souls,
To give our souls to freedom
And to let our pain go.
It is healing to cry through your pain
To unleash its holding beast
The salty tears, are rivers of freedom
That flood the broken face.
It pays to break the silence
And scream aloud the pain.
The crying and the dancing, the screaming and the fears.
Unleash your ugly feeling and free the hostile smears!
When life paralyzes and freezes you on pause
The very energy that you would rather deny
Waits on the shelf like a healing balm
That you refuse to apply.
It pays to go the medical doctor
Because medical help you might likely need.
But don’t forget your Maker
Holds the feeling better deed.
As my blade cuts deep in to your silky white flesh.
Your blood pours like Niagra Falls on a hot summer day.
Blood flows down between your a-cup breast as you
fall to your knees.
You grasp the open wound that runs from ear to ear.
It does no good, the cuts to deep.
You try and scream, but nothing comes.
Your eyes tear up, sadness begins to fall.
I hold my blade to my side, blood drips from the tip.
I run my hand through your silky black as a moonless night hair.
As you fall to your death, your hair is pulled from my grasp.
Killing the angel before me was a quest so easy.
I will loose no sleep tonight, fore tonight I dream of the next
angel to come.
Shawn Gardner 10/11/'17
falling leaf takes stand
what the hell! both sides showing
humane perspective?
Brian Johnston
November 19. 2015
He snatched me, cuddled me,
A straying lamb in the wild.
I peeked into his eyes; a flame danced.
I cupped my mouth, mumbled:
In love with me!
He pressed me to his heart;
Kissed my boney cheek.
I stink, don't I? My lips trembled.
He whispered: To clean you up,
My love; that's why I came.
My love ... Me! I began to shiver.
His face gleamed, You're mine.
I, a hostage! My eyes bulged.
I wriggled, tried to get off him;
His arms tightened, nestling me.
I wanted to cry, my voice vanished.
Giant eagle clutching a prey, he lifted.
We soared, I dizzied, the wild receding.
Still dazed, I clung, clenched my eyes
Till we punched through the clouds.
I peeped, looked around; dark cloud below,
The blue above. I squinted at him. You, saved me!
He smiled: I've searched for you!
Warm tears crawled down my cheeks.
© 2013 Celestine S. Ikwuamaesi
Spent a little time in a world so right
Thousands of words filled my night
Met a little filly, I would call my own
Casting my fears into the great unknown
I heard her unique beat, saw her dance
We started our own poetic romance
Two hearts, one voice, singing in unison
Sipping the same soup, we dived right in
She's a mover, a shaker.
A real risk taker
A diamond, an ace,
She rocks this place
Wonders never cease, she's the one
Many duets are sure to come
No drama, no games, she's insane
Her rap is better than Lil Wayne
She'll cuss like a sailor, rhyme like Seuss
She'll give you love and take your abuse
I found an angel, she found a friend
This connection is without an end
She's a mover, a shaker.
A real risk taker
A diamond, an ace,
She rocks this place
A hundred voices, a thousand choices
The bowl of soup fills, with all styles and skills.
Two peas in a pod, too alike to be odd
Sharing this with you, our soup is not stew
Casarah Nance
Tim Smith
06/03/2014
some have a grim
and pretend
to be a friends
theyer to win
and big faker
theyer
TAKER
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.