I’d follow in Dad’s footsteps, he presumed.
Post-college, I would join the company
Great Grandpa founded. As the future loomed,
I had to drop the bomb: “Dad, try to see
it's MY life; I have chosen forestry."
I still recall his vitriolic rant:
“You’ll be a dismal failure, wait and see.
Succeed without MY leadership? You can’t.
You’re going nowhere fast. Someday you’ll be
rock bottom. Don’t come crawling back to me!”
Dad can’t believe I’m happy with my life.
He sees me as a failure to this day!
Perhaps he thinks I hide heartache and strife,
results of having chosen my own way!
September 18, 2020
Poetry Contest Title: The Fourth Floor of Nowhere
received NA on September 21, 2020
Date: September 29, 2020
Contest Title: Second Chance
Sponsor: Chantelle Anne Cooke
October 1, 2020
Contest: Your Best Unacclaimed Poem
Sponsor: John Hamilton
May 2, 2021
entered in Carolyn Devonshire's Footsteps Contest
Hidden in spaces of my heart
Are your charm and eyes that glow
Knowing I can’t be apart--
From all that gives me fire of life
But now those glances turn away,
Turn away, when morning breaks
No, no, our times won’t delay
This grim pathway of nevermore.
~ Chorus:
So for once, let’s embrace a dream
To find white roses in the sky,
To hold vows through days supreme
And waste not fate calling…for once.
Then let our yearnings be the light
Believe in us , rain or sun
I’ll promise you, a love so right
My ardent need…for once, be mine.
----------------
Your Best Unacclaimed Pom Contest
Sponsor: John Hamilton
Written 9/10/2020, Submitted 10/1/2020
You slipped away
leaving me stranded
in the windy cold; lonesome,
feeling not a smidge of warmth.
I waited for you, and waited...
thinking you'd return
Oh, you did know?
Then why didn't you come back?
You left me
beneath the moon
we used to dream under
taking all the stars
in the midnight sky with you...
and you won't even tell me why?
You gave me not so much as...
an intimation! I implore you, please...
tell me why!
Your best unacclaimed poem (Winner: 4th Place)
Sponsored by John Hamilton
Date written: 12/08/2019
STRAND SPECIAL 4, any form, any theme(N/A)
Sponsor by Brian Strand
Contest judged on 12/18/2019
From this heart, a vision of compassion
glistens through my open window;
as scenes across a half-lit room
play like endless vignettes when eve softens:
Withim my gaze, I trace each act unfold
frame by frame,
the interludes of kindness between strangers
and beggars...lovers and children, allowing
each other this warm exchange blessed
by grace--a nod, a tender hand folded
in prayer for safe journeys, a quip of goodwill--
For this is life's purpose, an earnest zeal
to accord little gestures kindling peace
in a world which desires tranquility, not
rancor. Then to come from 'I' to "We' makes
this soul understand how through everyone's eyes,
I see mine.
Your Best Unacclaimed Poem Contest
Sponsor: John Hamilton
Originally Written 6/22/2019
Reposted 10/01/2020
The unacclaimed poet broke it down like this: if your words cause their eyes to fill with tears and stretches their imagination beyond comprehension; if it promotes a desire to love as if they're carrying a Christ like burden and still makes them want to nail themselves against all that is wrong just to make it right; if it creates a tingling way down where the soul sits snuggly on top of all that matters, then write. No other recognition is needed. Many books are written, but few words are shelved on the hearts of those you love like your words.
~~
At a particular time of each bright, cloudless day,
throughout bitter winter's cold weather;
close to three in the afternoon or very near to that,
my bedroom is transformed into a magical place.
Penetrating the quiet dim bright sunshine pours,
light streams in from many stained glass windows;
in hues and tones of color that dance on my walls,
sunbeams swirl and twirl touching everything.
I love to lie upon my bed as the light embraces me,
the colors wrap around this girl's very soul;
oh the joy of being caressed in stained glass light,
and I stay until the last ray has fallen away.
_______________________________
February 6, 2015
Poetry/Verse/Sunlight Bliss
Copyright Protected, ID 02-638-766-06
All Rights Reserved, 2015, Constance La France
Submitted to the Standard contest, Your Best Unacclaimed Poem (2015-2020)
sponsor, John Hamilton, Judged 02/2015
Third Place
Trite foot soldier status lacking
Pedigree earned by under stress not cracking
Anonymous ward of the state with little backing
Nameless face sent into the infernal abyss hacking
On unstated mission sent packing
In an unknown, unfamiliar field bivouacing
An amorphous, invisible foe tracking
Without reserve an unidentified conscript attacking
On an obscure plain flailing and whacking
Unseen rifles and cannons above the tumult clacking
Unnoticed, soldier falls during the shellacking
Body hurriedly pushed into unmarked grave after the sacking
Unacclaimed minion; no metals racking
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