It feels like yesterday,
when your tiny hand held my finger and ran.
You would steal my glasses,
wear them proudly, and say,
“Daddy, I look just like you!”
Between the pages of my books,
you built little homes for your dolls.
Whenever I left for work,
you stood at the door and whispered,
“Come back soon, Daddy…”
With the little coins in my pocket,
I bought you chocolates—
those simple days
were richer than anything I own today.
Yesterday, you walked holding my hand;
today, you walk your own road.
When I remember your mischief,
a smile touches my face,
while tears quietly fill my eyes.
My daughter, you have grown up,
but inside my heart,
you are still that little girl
running with her tiny braids.
No matter how far you go,
the sound of your footsteps
will forever echo
inside your father’s heart.
Are you always there for your friends
Can they depend on you
Or don't you care about others
When trouble and strife happens
Do you walk away, or stay
Life can get tough, we need each other
We need that hug
Be that kind of friend, who really cares
Unconditional love is the answer
World is crazy, gripped by fear
Friends need friends to stay near
We all need love, so share a smile today
you made it so
The shades that make
burgundy
demand attention
I smell Chanel
and learn to know you
I wish that every palpable shade
of memory
my son can record someday
(mixed with meaning while
primarily beautiful)
Dorothy Hanson,
grandma,
you are more than maroon,
more than somewhat burgundy
Your blazer sets my soul on fire
Shake your empty Manhattan
towards the waiter at Oak Hill
Another Manhattan
is soon to follow
The reason I write poetry
Is not because I love you.
It is because when you love someone else
And shed tears for that person,
I loved even those tears of yours—
That is why I am writing poetry now.
And my poetry exists because, when you love someone,
Right there for you,
I loved even the love of the one you love.
That is the reason I am writing poetry now.
Therefore,
Do not forget my love.
For I am already a being
Who has transcended my own love for you.
In the beginning, my existence was this:
When you so easily forgot my love,
I had to send my tears away upon the cold wind,
Shedding tears all by myself.
And when you truly loved someone else and wept,
I was a being who had to swallow my own tears in secret,
Watching your retreating figure from afar.
But now, I have transcended all such loves,
And I have become the light
That protects you.
Also, remember:
The reason I still write poetry to this moment
Is for you, and you alone,
Who are reading these very lines right now.
It's Self-Comprehending...
'In Love' Has Unconditional
Intentions... Where Is Its
Boundaries? Corrupted
Only By It's Isolation?
Identified, Enlightened,
Unjudged And Outcast
Into The Light Embraced...
Where It Has Been Isolated.
Yes....
It's Full Speed Light.
Unconditional.
Can Light Be Entrapped?
Find The Answer.
-Gray Squirrel
06-29-2026
A coat of light brown and a heart of thread,
Waiting for me on the edge of the bed.
So soft and squishy, a pillowy prize,
With quiet patience and brown button eyes.
With a black little nose and a bright red tongue,
To your comforting spirit, I’ve always clung.
I hold you close when the world feels loud,
Or wrap you in blankets like a terry cloud.
I hug you tight till the worries depart,
And feel your stuffing against my heart.
Sometimes I’m angry and toss you aside,
But Cushy, you never once leave or hide.
I smile at your face when the morning is new,
Finding a comfort that’s honest and true.
I share every secret, my thoughts and my fears,
While you soak up the laughter and dry all my tears.
From your fuzzy ears to your small scrubby tail,
A friendship with you will never pale.
When the day is finally done and it’s right,
I tuck you in with me for the night.
Under the covers, a snug little team,
Floating together through every dream.
Keep us cozy, warm till sun’s light,
My best friend Cushy throughout the night.
Marlboro breath exhaling frustrations
Struggling with the need of her
Drinking to the moment he lost her
Only to remember how things were
Her ghost haunts his thoughts
Flooding the actions he makes
The feeling of her smooth skin
Craving to be explored on dates
The way she rolled her eyes so loud
Made him fold over in giggles
Saying "I love you" under a breath
She missed all of the signals
Loving carelessly and unconditionally
They always fall into eachother
Friends to most that see them
Tis their eyes meet, lover
He looks at me with eyes so soft they speak a thousand words.
Words filled with compassion and tenderness,
What kind of love is this?
His promise is firm and His heart is kind.
What kind of love is this?
He is the perfect Father; indeed, He is.
What kind of love is this?
Self-sacrificing, yet so almighty, He gave his life on a cross.
What kind of love is this?
It is the kind of love that chases you down and leaves the ninety-nine.
It is the kind of love that fills your voids and makes your dull world shine.
It is the kind of love that heals your wounds and restores you just as new.
It is the kind of love that reaches out when all you have has abandoned you.
‘Unconditional’ best describes this selfless act of love.
It is the kind of love that only gives and expects nothing in return.
If I stand still long enough
Like a poet tree green tough
As does wind will you blow
Away my sins inspire hope
Will you tell me teal truth
How beautiful I am in youth
And when my trunk gets thick
Will you still love and care for it
Will you stand when I can’t bend
As a tree lacking flexible limb and
Will you still stay by my side
When winter comes chilling night
When I’m old and devoid of leaves
Will you still have love for me
Having a bad hair day?
You’ve gained a couple of unsightly pounds?
No makeup? Cats don’t care.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 3rd place 2025
Come on, Let's go
Don't give up, You're almost home
There's no need to hide
I'll be your guide
So dry your eyes
Please don't cry
You're in my heart, You're on my mind
Just take my hand, I'm by your side
Whatever you go through, I'll go through it with you
No matter what you do - No matter what you say,
I'm always gonna love you anyway
So, don't despair, if you get scared
Just reach out, I'll be there
And soon you will see
A place where all are welcomed
Every color, every species, every breed
Living together in perfect harmony
Peacefully - Blissfully
All you need is a heart that is kind
Once you're here,
Peace, love and family is what you will find
To everyone near and far
In this life or the next
Every person, every creation
Horns, wings, land, air and sea
No more hunger or disease
No more pain - No more rain
Every day is a perfect day
It won't be long and you will see
Just what True Love is supposed to be
Unconditionally, Without hypocrisy
The way it was meant to be
It's here in Bliss, you'll see!
MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTAR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
inside the closet
faded photographs
a lifetime etched on smiling faces
the echo of lives lived here
the weight of belonging
familiar ache in the hollow of my chest
place where I’m known and loved
imperfectly, completely
*Note: Poem originally published Poetry Soup in June 2025 but then deleted. (poetrysoup.com/poem/more_than_brick_and_mortar_1739868) This is my original poem.
I love you this day without condition
Or revision
For no reason
For every reason
For your tears
For your smiles
For all that you are
For all that you will become
For yesterday I loved you forever
For tomorrow I will love you eternally
I love you this day unconditionally
Today I’m grateful for unconditional love….
Love comes in many forms…
from uncommon to traditional
but perhaps the purest form of love
is the love completely unconditional.
As those proverbs say
That even a puppy can have a day
Making the dog proud of being a dog
A way of soothing any its outdate
I also have a day each year
The day that no one wants to claim
As on the 1st of April
I am often reminded to savvy
No matter how I am looked
Even if having a sound IQ
If I have nothing indispensable
Rather, be perfectly to be
Alike a fool facing everything with joy!
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