they say …
you cant take it with you
but you took so many little jewels
when you left -
your smile
your pure, unqualified love
your creativity and expression
your engaging mind
your kindness, your empathy
and your extraordinarily limitless patience …
but what I miss the most is
our talks …
about anything and nothing
and everything …
there was ne’er a doubt my heart was yours
and yours, of course, was mine
the truly ironic thing is
that we conversed SO much -
for many hours on end
when not a single, solitary word …
was ever needed.
I miss you, Mom ... like a clown misses tears.
Copyright © 2025 Gregory Richard Barden
( photographic art taken by my sister Terrilynn Dubreuil and filtered copyright-free by the author at Prisma )
September sunrays dart dancing playfully
we treasure every last glint of warmth
indian summer truly a gift
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Untitled
Life is a journey brief, a wondrous piece of art,
Let us treasure every breath and perform our part.
I’ll speak of me past of stories once told.
Of men that rode waves out in the cold.
Tales of the strong, the courageous, the bold.
Most of them died young, a few were quite old.
The things that they done sent chills up my spine.
They’d eat mush and swill and drink rum and wine.
When they were happy, they had a swagger.
When they were drunk, they could hardly stagger.
Over and over to battle they’d go,
They’d fight dragons and monster, toe to toe.
They faced their sure death with almost no fear,
They’d charge into battle with a loud cheer.
They looked for treasure, none was ever found.
Pirates ’til death, by their pledge, they were bound.
My blessings shine like pure bright gold;
they can’t be bartered, bought, or sold.
I value most what’s yet to be;
a place in Heaven waits for me.
I’m grateful I have love to share,
for time is fleet, I’m well aware.
One Year of You, Melissa
One year ago, the stars began,
And heaven said, "She is mine."
A small spark, a breath so new,
The world was brighter all for you.
Your giggles flower like morning sun,
Your eyes, two stars that brightly shine.
Each step you take, each sound you make,
Turns average days awake.
You've taught us love in its pure form,
In warm fingers and sleepy sighs.
One smile, a coo so soft,
The world seems new with you.
We have witnessed you grow, in wonder, in awe,
Each step taken in love and law.
From lullabies to weeping whines,
You've filled our hearts, you've filled our skies.
Here's to you, our birthday star,
Our miracle, just as you are.
May grace and happiness be with you,
With oceans broad dreams to chase.
A single candle today, but, oh, the flame
It shines hope, it whispers your name.
Happy birthday, little dove,
You are our world, our limitless love.
Ghanaians are beating
The drum of shame
For Nigerians
Which they will later dance to
Calling Nigerians in Ghana
All sorts of names, due to some misunderstanding
Now they're promoting hate just because of mistakes.
Ghanaians are on the street
Creating scenarios
Nigerians the villains
Forgetting they triggered it
Forgetting what their Ghanaians
Are doing to Nigerians as well
No country without a foreigner
There are also foreigners here in Nigeria.
See Ghanaians on the streets pretending
They're perfect and absolutely innocent
Because of the acts and misconduct
Of few Nigerians in Ghana
Now they're protesting for disunity
Your mind is the greatest treasure, work on it
If we can't unite and live in
Oneness, peace and unity within ourselves
Who or where else!?... Let love lead us.
I will forever treasure the two of them.
One was a homeless man I met when
I was in the process of moving.
He said his name was Sky. My
Heart feels warmth each time
I think of him. You might say that
Meeting Sky was a 'going away
Present from God.
The other treasure, I never met.
She passed by and obtained a tool box
While I was away. It was free, but she
Was very happy to come across the rusty
Old tool box. It wasn't free because I did
Not value such a tool box, but rather because
I no longer needed it and wanted someone
Like her to have it and fall in love with it. She
left a thank-you note with her name on it. Her
Name was Crystal. Her note on the little
Piece of paper she wrote on connected us.
Crystal and Sky. Great gifts from God.
To live in abundance and magnify your fortune you must DIVINELY work for it. The far measures of where man will go for an instant magnitude relentlessly disqualifies the thoughts of having abundant control over their own hearts with love and forgiveness. And in addition, the practice of satisfying skin compared to a clean heart, mind, and sinew is thoughtfully illogical. So in result, men must find true value worth more than gold. The treasure that rings so loud but a number undoubtedly and purposefully ignore. For the true measures of the world is written in the best history book known to mankind. The book that shares how to live. The book that shares how to obtain in a righteous way. The book that speaks of the dead and the only ONE to have walked the earth, and as well risen. Therefore, in an always profound and crucial manner it is the responsibility of this world to read, study, practice, pray, and liberate our hearts to The Truth and only Way of Light as we breathe his presented gift of life.
d
i
g
g
i
n
g
for gold . . .
I uncover treasure -
poetry gems
I fill my little treasure box
With things that people say
Each one a precious tender note
To bring joy to my day
And when life turns from friend to foe
When days are long and drear
I pull each little keepsake out
To fill my heart with cheer
The words you say, the words you write
Leave echoes in my heart
The sweet resounding dulcet chimes
From me will not depart
For I am one in love with words,
and what each one conveys
The ones that are so genuine
touch me in many ways
So thank you for you gift of words
wrapped up in bows of love
The blessings that these words impart
are what my heart dreams of
Eileen Manassian Ghali
My Treasure Box
July 4, 2025
In an old-time real-book-with-pages feel in his day,
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote 'Treasure Island',
in his own inimitable way,
and tho' I know I may be wrong,
he could not have been pulling Long John Silver's leg,
as John would not have had a leg to stand on,
for, with his crutch (plus parrot), and I quote,
'He had still a foot in either camp.'
is that which, in 1883, Stevenson of Silver wrote.
Was it black (spot) humour to write of Long John so,
as I dearly need to know,
and it clearly goes to show,
we need much more input,
with that said, putting my best one forward,
it begs the question, 'What's afoot?'
measuring
masking
duct
Scotch
painters
carpenters
tape
tapeworm
tape firm
tape recording
tape rewarding
wordplay
word say
tape
A good wife is the best treasure to own~
Gemstone none can detest,
A light—darkness can't arrest,
Peace she brings none can contest.
(Checked by Syllables Counter: howmanysyllables.com)
Juneberries
sweetish juneberries
grow where wildness softly weaves
awake summer scents,
hidden treasure amidst leaves
wholesome bounty of nature.
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