Toilsome Poems

SOUL'S CRY

Pleading for redemption delight
Toward heavenly peaceful light
My soul’s cry … the Saviour did hear
Granting freedom from hell-propped fear.

For gift of life indeed precious
Packed with compassion* so gracious
My soul’s cry of gratitude-zest
Praises God Who answers request.

Overwhelmed with guilt’s misery
Drowning in bitterness fury 
My soul cries for pardon’s fullness
With Christ’s sanctifying pureness.

Midst grief in toilsome hardship
Distracting my earnest worship
My soul’s cry asks for joyous gain
Vanquishing torment, woe, and pain.

When pride attacks, inflicting doubt
Hindering faith of truthful shout
Soul cries for illumination
To conquer creeping deception.

When triumphant stewardship zeal
Bears fruits along prayerful seal
My soul’s cry exclaims thanksgiving
Prompted by the Lord’s sweet loving.

*Luke 7:13 - And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

March 13, 2024
4th place, "Pick-A-Title, Vol 42" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh; judged on 3/19/2024

The Lynx

THE LYNX

That black cat, I spy - he licks the puppet all over.
The fox’s red fur feels not the imposition nor
the puppetmaster’s paw,  but the red fox,
my prey, feels the crunch of its bones, insanity bleeds,
after the toilsome run from my teeth.
My teeth chatter, cold and cruel, terribly hungry
to rip up a carcass, to chow down
a soul. I eat the meat raw.
Its blood is my foundation -
I powder my nose. The cries of my prey
with stuffing and gravy. Yes, let’s do
Thanksgiving. Like me, the black cat
defiles a fox. We are both satisfied.

What My Name Reverberates

MY NAME MEANS BLESSED

For gift of life indeed precious
Packed with love and care, so gracious
My heart exclaims praise magnitude…
Blessed, I give God my gratitude.

Pardoned against guilt’s misery
Rescued from bitterness fury 
My soul exalts grace-abundance…
Blessed, I gain peaceful assurance.

Cheered up to face toilsome hardship
While ushered for earnest worship
My faith beholds miracles' might…
Blessed, I pray to God with delight.

Striving for sublime contentment
Through my heavenly engagement
My spirit trusts the Saviour's Word…
Blessed, I conquer by divine sword.

With triumphant stewardship zeal
Bearing fruits midst prayerful seal
My service seeks God's approval
Blessed*, I share kindness' revival.**

*Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”
**Last two stanzas were added after poem was judged.

August 27, 2023
Honorable Mention, "ETYMOLOGY - the meaning of your name" Poetry Writing Contest; Sponsored by Suzette Richards; judged on 9/6/2023.

The Road That Weve Been Looking For

Life is occasionally called a "Rat race" for a reason...
There are times we need to step back
from life's ubiquitous and toilsome menageries
reflecting on where we are in relation to
our hopes, dreams, goals, and plans.
In sum, we need to refocus
to understand.

And remember
who we are deep within our own skin, 
hearts, minds and souls
or whatever it is we think of as being 
a meaningful member of this universe
with an incalculable multitude
of thoughts and memories  
to have and hold...   

While having to decide which road to take 
when there's a fork just up ahead 
we ought to take a deep breath in 
and feel the wind
as it begins to overtake
tension deep inside our minds, seeking
a new paradigm  
and letting go of what we know 
or what we think is true...
and closing our eyes to realize 
the road that we’ve been looking for
is right in front 
of me and you.

Life Is Not So Tough

Life is made,
but it's not toilsome, unless
we perform weakly...
life is fair,
if we offer it fair value...
We serve and we are served,
we live, and we are
lived... !

A Cry From Far

Hopeless cries maybe but from far away
I'm lolling in the lap of luxury
So why do I care if they eat but whey.

Desperate parents sighing all the day
Living a life of toil and drudgery
Hopeless cries maybe but from far away.

Poverty-stricken, none more poor than they
While I fun and feast, they eat shrubbery, 
So why do I care if they eat but whey.

Kneeling down unto the Lord they did pray
Every breath unkind, a toilsome journey
Hopeless cries maybe but from far away.

It is the rule of our fate, none can sway
There is no escape, no recovery
So why do I care if they eat but whey.

While they subsist on handouts, sleep on hay
They but reap what they sow, in summery
Hopeless cries maybe but from far away
So why do I care if they eat but whey.



Contest: Say It Again
Sponsor: William Kekaula

Dad's Cowboy Tales

Remembering Dad’s animated Cowboy tales
Along lyrics, bearing words, “My pony and me”
I would imagine his youth's toilsome farm travails
while making the best of life midst struggles and glee.

In our place where Cowboy lifestyle means “hard, yet free”
we’re trained to be tough when difficulty assails
overcoming shyness against arrogance spree 
staying honest upon what truthfulness entails.

Such is Cowboy perspective that my father hails
leaving us his legacy, trusting God* we should be
celebrating past triumphs though memory fails
sharing down-to-earth experiences, with learning as key.

*Psalm 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

January 30, 2021
4th place, "Cowboy Poetry" Contest
Sponsored by Line Gauthier; judged on 2/3/2021.

Winds of Change

Like a reclusive boat, I remained there,
discerning the prevailing winds of change,
which many a time, made me embrace fear,
by surpassing the stipulated range.

When winds of change blurred the light house's light,
I blanked out and forgot my wonted route.
Struggled, wiggled and jiggled without sight
amid the sea, and there a hope sprouted.

Even when vigorously slapped on face,
and ruthlessly elevated mild tides,
it's a toilsome task to shudder ,sea base
and that's why I endorse her as a guide.

She persuaded that it's not writ large force
that help us win; it's just our inner source

Nov-17-2020

My Heart's Revelation

For gift of life indeed precious
Packed with love and care, so gracious
My heart exclaims blest gratitude…
Thanking God* for supplies’ magnitude.

Overwhelmed with guilt’s misery
Drowning in bitterness fury 
My heart seeks pardon’s certitude…
Expecting peaceful solitude.

Midst pain in toilsome hardship
Distracting my earnest worship
My heart reveals meek attitude…
Gripped with courageous fortitude.

Against lurking discontentment
Of delirious disengagement
My heart needs divine rectitude…
To share kindness-filled beatitude.

When triumphant stewardship zeal
Bears fruits along prayerful seal
My heart shows "reach-out" altitude
Prompted by love’s grand latitude.

*Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

November 3, 2020
6th place, "No 1296" Poetry Writing Premiere Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 3/27/2024

I Wish To Be

I wish to be the gentle breeze
Sweeping tearful eyes
Of the weary midday flower.
Or to be the horrid shadow
Casting fearful darkness
For a passer-by to rest.
A rippling river of white
I wish to be the one
Drenching thirst of arid earth.
Or to be a dancing wave
Of the mighty sea
Playing with a child.
A guild of fleeting clouds
Hiding splendid sun
For a homeless soul,
Or the canopy of green
Thwarting rain for a home,
I wish to be the one.
I wish to be a cresset
Guiding glimpse of hope
In the prosaic paths of pangs
Or to be a firefly
In the dim toilsome journey
Of a soul to his divine home.

Intrusion and Coercion

Is the memory still alive?
Creaking bed, bottles of wine
Your toilsome heft against mine...
We were both boozed up
I stumbled on your lap. 
Is the memory still clear?
Overthrown pillows, a stained sheet, 
Visible marks and entangled feet--
We were both consumed by fire
Ablazed by the need-- urges and desire--
Is the memory still there?
How my scream broke the stillness of the night
How my fingers dug vertical lines, as hard as I might
How you coerced yourself into mine
And the erratic whisper that I will just be fine.
Is the memory still present?
When the rain pattered and all we shared was a raging storm
Got lost in nirvana-- savored its tangy form--
Shall we hearken back to the intrusion?
Or shall we consider it a nonsensical hallucination?

Emotions Vs Rain

Lack of rain 

Will lead the soil

To Roughness



Greenery will die

Ponds will finish

Climate will be ruthless. 



Overflow of rain

Will turn the plains

Into horrible ocean



Toilsome to handle

Nature will be intimidating

Climate will be in annihilation. 



A needful rain

Is a reason behind

A balanced nature



A perfect ratio

Of water and land

Is giving life to every creature. 



Just as the rain 

Emotions are working

For the humane race



Lack or excess

Will lead you

In self-destruction phase. 



Slay with calmness

Peace and Wiseness

Reconstruct your pure soul



Cut off your mind

From Dubious thoughts

Discard your overthinking ghoul.

Experience With Life

There is a day after every night,
For every darkness there is a light,
Each success ensures a chuckle in face,
Toilsome effort helps always to win the race,
An illiterate became prudent Kalidas* and
A defiled burglar became Valmiki** sage,
It is clear, failure is the pillar of success.

We can harvest unity from the field of diversity, 
And a strong camaraderie from brutal animosity,
Positive attitude helps us to march ahead,
Honesty can ensure a better & nice bread,
A nervous boy became our father of nation***,
A newspaper vendor became missile man****,
It is clear, nothing is impossible if you work hard.

The journey from fire signal to mobile age
And ancient sledge to modern jet plane,
It is possible because we work hard
And today we are flying like a bird, 
It is clear; after every morning there is a noon,
Time will come very soon; we will be living in moon. 
===============================================
Note :  Kalidas* - A great poet of India
           Valmiki** - Author of Ramayan (A holy book of Hindus)
           Father of our Nation (India)*** – Gandhiji
           Missile man of India**** – Abdul Kalam

Believe

Beholding Truth with great assurance
Essentially claiming its reality as my own
Life becomes more clear and focused
Intentional security as I live, learn and grow.
Even when trials and toilsome troubles come
Voices that cast great alarm and doubt
Ever that foundation go, BELIEVE throughout.







Written on 3/8/2019

Amaze

Wonder works well
Taste touching tell


Live lasting lot
Tease tender thought


Wander words way
Sense success say


Love lingers long 
Set succinct strong


Welcome woos will
Twirl toilsome thrill


Lift lavish lore
Prize profound pore


Wake wisdom wild
Cast cheery child


Last lull learns list
Grace gathers gist


Wise words work well
Time tussles tell


Apt answers ask
Bright blessings bask


Worry works waste
Hurry heaps haste


Glimpse gaudy grooves
Mind motions move




Leon Enriquez
22 December 2018
Singapore

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