Unmanageable Poems | Examples

Baggage

Like ghosts in my pockets, weighing me down,
burdens echoing with quiet sorrow,
coiling tight around the soul in silent pain.

Some weights like umbrellas cast aside after storms,
others iron shackles, rusted, locked in permanence—
all carried unseen, but deeply felt.

Knots in the spine, scars engraved on the mind,
tangled threads, riotous roots of clinging shadows—
held tight, wrapped in sorrow and guilt.

The weight of unspoken words,
unfinished tasks, unkept promises,
and unmanageable memories—
all soaked deep in regret.

Letting go is not an option
when remorse is all you have,
and anguish your only friend.

Pagliacci

Of course, a clown
is always clowning
as poets paint their write -- 
before with pen and ink

dip we nibs wells of performance

transforming dark ink
to colorful spectacle in showtime
spot of light -- like the pancake 

our many harlequins, 

like Arora, a rainbow
after cloudburst
real tears or daisy squirt?

we apply our big-top makeup

to cover-up and hide

otherwise unmanageable crowds

of deeply incised hurt --

Children of the Parade

Snot nosed, barefoot
Chanting, walk the streets
Spit flies from mouth, food on cheek
Green, ripe, and free
Dirty and unkempt
Unbridled and unmanageable
Wild child

Dolls and toy trucks
Mudpies and hopscotch
Bugs and jump rope
Torn clothes, holes in socks
Scraped knees and mud on shoes
Marching on, they're marching on
They're marching on

Drums rattle, off beat
Out of tune flutes, cowbells and slide whistles
Ringing bent triangles while singing loudly
Songs without chords
Melodies without rhythm

Games without rules
Things without reasons
Love without need
Enjoyment without thought
For the sake of it all, I guess
Enigmatic thinkers, unfamiliar and strange

They're marching on, they're marching on
They're coming here and soon
They've got a lot to say
They're coming out to play
Their voices cannot be drowned out
For nothing else is louder

Boredom

Boredom.  B O R E D O M!
It encompasses the brain and swallows it up.
Your vision becomes altered, 
you imagination takes control 
and the world becomes an unmanageable mountain 
of wet clay.
Unable to be delt with, the boredom lies heavy over
your body restricting you of any logical function.
T.V. commercials have newly discovered depth,
and Pop music lyrics swim uncontrollably 
through your head: "do you want to ride in my Mercedes boys?"
Gravity becomes magnified, 
the weight of your own body is pushing you 
through the floor, and the thought 
that Elvis may still be alive breaths hope 
into your lifeless world.

Haunted heart

You leave my heart 
haunted 
dismantled like a train wreck
 broke and unmanageable
 left to decay
 As time passes I have no feeling
 everything remains numb 
void
 lost 
your heartless in your love
jumping from one to another 
leaving a trail of dismay 
and many more haunted hearts
 In trainwrecks

Lead Or Desist

I know you both 

Want and so too should wish

To expect a response

From all the other people

Apart from yourself 

Even if that response be

The merest tiny 

Subtlest of nods or blink's 

Hiding behind a smiling blackened eye

Because they are simply unable or lack 
the inner strength or stomach for the fight 

To stand up or speak for themselves 

In order so they can show you the pathway 

But yet then again aren't you just 
so to the problem as well 

If you yourself expect others to do

Something you have yet yourself

Seemed unable to accomplish or do

Because that offers others 

In similar powerless unmanageable situations 

Surely no solace or form of help

In fact makes matters way far worse

If other victims don't seem to care neither

Pink Flamingos

on her lawn
four pink plastic flamingos 
                 peak above a March snowbank
twisted forms caught in forlorn evasion
beak-body contortions like wrestlers resilient
                                         in pretzel formation
unmanageable remnants of warmer days
denied the dignity of upright
plastic muck ups, a nostalgic weep of summer
wishing a solar Florida footing
their caught spirit of iced- playfulness
         a pink flamboyance
         teasing an icy surface

four plastic birds, frozen status
                                kitsch defensive
misplaced images like on-line love
wing swept longing
          to flee this barren snowbank
          nudging a tardy spring's erosion
          with its courtship fringes



Poem posted April 13, 2023

Giddy-Up

Ah, to write
to gather random thoughts
corral them
Giddy-up….whoa….style.
Chase down those tumble weeds,
itinerant thoughts
blown by the whimsical winds
of imagination
into ever unmanageable
clusters of confusion
straining at the painful restraints
of barbed wire freedom.
A delusional state of self imposed
unconscious conformity
ever alert for the “rustlers”
who would cut the wire
breech the delusion
change brands
claim victory.


John G. Lawless
©12/19/2021

Insults

Utterances offering the wrong ideas
Like murder-planning spears:
To their recipient an enough sting
But to the source songs to freely sing

The seventy-two teeth of crocodile,
Together jammed and survival is for a while;
Participating voices ascending mountain tops
Like they are sure there should be no stops;
Their height a far cry from teaks;
Path the resonating bellows and laughable squeaks

A rivalry of cacophony
And festival of polyphony;
Rude demonstrations of rude interruptions
And recreation of volcanic eruptions.

A contradiction of the other voice is a goal,
The longing for it, down the soul;
The gentle questions for trickery,
The applauding hands from mockery.

Insults first fruits are slaps unendurable,
Their predictable lasts, blows unmanageable.

Spiritual Immigrant-

Equation invasion pilot light;
Substance abuse out of sight;
Bargain donors Delight;

Quantum disturbance;
Humanity really hurting;
Relying on physical denying the spiritual;

Unmanageable 
intangible 
Spiritually ignorant

Disloyal spiritual immigrant;
Work and toil;
Loosen soil;
Help me Lord;
For I am more solid and spiritual;

Table mound of dirt and clay;
With the breath of God in Me;
Unimaginable
 unmanageable
 intangible 
spiritually ignorant
 I am chosen
 I am a 
Spiritual Immigrant

2/29/20
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr  2020

My 37th Anniversary

MY 37TH ANNIVERSARY

After years of inebriation
My life was just a mirage
My friends had lost all favor
Communication was all nonverbal

The smiles were no longer dulcet
My diligence to be a model employee
Had become a delicate affair

The allure of a promotion vanished
My life had become unmanageable
Then, I hit a pivot point
I finally came to my senses

Like the Prodigal Son of Scripture
Who returned home to his father
I returned to my Heavenly Father
And now live a life of serenity

On January eleventh 1982
I lost my desire for alcoholic brew
 I now have the consolation
Of living my life anew

23 February 2019
For the contest sponsored by Michelle Faulkner

My Most Intimate Friend

Streams of purple flow on your skin, 
While waves of white stamp your smile,
And your top is a choppy ocean of love, 
An unmanageable free sort of wild,

Then you create a beautiful soft and a smooth, 
You create a bubble so clear,
You create a tender all over my skin, 
With your perfectly colourful sphere,

And the fragrance you leave, aroma of pure, 
The perfume of absolute clean,
Leaves all of me feeling honestly new, 
Like a candle lit night of serene.

You’re my perfection of soap, my most intimate block, 
My closest to being a flower,
That I hold close to me, my most cherished of moments, 
Whenever I’m having a shower.

Unmanagable

Shine, cats-

that which is to disdain for having life is no...

Gritted teeth,

grind'd mind,

hallowed speak,

hind benign...

She told too much about the little things,

dice-
mice-
china-
advice...

The creepy carry of device,

often called social spice.

No spine now,

all is tight,
tingle-
height-

nothing chooses what,

resides-
confides-
exemplifies-
co-enterprise's-

it's all-

sight,

mighty,

teedy,

divine,

light,

grit-
signs of fit...

White-
bite-
light-
benign,
benign!

Like in your holy land where there is an ancient church standing tall over a hill, your good work shall find...

Swipe-
saunter-
disaster-
shallow hunter-
callous...

Immaculate palaces,

and unmanageable addictions.

Why Me Lord, Part 2

WHY ME LORD? PART 2


Why did you choose me Lord
To carry Your Word to others
My life was so unmanageable
How could I convince my brothers

Not to choose the path I had taken
Leading to death and destruction
But to one day suddenly awaken
And serve Christ through His resurrection

Why did you choose me Lord
To be like the men of old
To stand unashamed of Your Word
And speak in a manner so bold

I just don't understand it Lord
Why choose the likes of me
To tell others about the Perfect Man
Who walked by Galilee

Seeking twelve to follow Him
And serve Him as He taught
To shine a light that would never dim
But cause His life to be sought

Well, I may not know the answer now
But one day I'll plainly see
Why my life suddenly changed somehow
Because Lord, You chose me
	

	Curtis Moorman
	21 May 2017
	2:30 a.m.

Rest In Peace, Son

Twenty-five years ago
you were placed in my arms
My first child and my only child
Truly, the most wonderful gift I have ever received

A beautiful boy who made my life worth living
and whose smile will forever remain etched in my memory
A boy who grew into a man
and left this world a better place

Tears of memory slowly roll down my face
as I remember your engaging sense of humor
and how you loved to make others laugh

Never did I imagine
after twenty-four short years
that your life would be so quickly taken from you
My heart and mind are still not able to grasp it

The pain that I felt on that day
continues to tear at the depths of my soul
and although time does have a way of healing
it also leaves one with an unmanageable, unending longing

I will carry you with me
deep in my heart
until the time comes for you
to fill my waiting arms once more

For the first time, son, I say rest in peace
You’ve earned your place in glory

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