Not every blossom greets the sun,
Nor every triumph shouts it's won.
Some flowers bloom in silent grace,
Unseen by crowds, yet touched by faith.
They grow in corners most forget,
Where pain and prayer and love have met.
And though no stage may hold their name,
They burn with soft, eternal flame.
So let them bloom, those quiet souls,
Unpraised by fame, yet deeply whole.
For heaven sees what earth looks past—
The unseen bloom, the ones that last.
Father I'm your Son
lately I've been lukewarm, though
please forgive me Dad
I am unspoken
sometimes it's hard to cry those
the tears do subside
as I open mine
eyes I'm blind by your Glory
please forgive me Dad
for being lukewarm
for being unpraised worthy
I am unspoken
3/10/23
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr.2023©
The tall veteran
wears a camouflage faded cap
and dark shades to hide
his smooth, scarred face: doesn't he wish
that somebody shook his hand...
ah, unpraised soldier!
Written on 6/10/2017
Stepping onto foreign soil
I take my first newfangled breath
"Here skies are blue
And dreams come true" -
They say, this is success.
With every step I take, I see
My peers ten steps ahead of me
They all began
Where I now stand
Much earlier than me.
Every time I try my skills
They say I must conform my ways.
My mother- tongue
Is here, unsung
My culture in this land unpraised.
I now must renovate myself
Must keep the stars I long in reach,
So let me paint
A new constraint
Upon my heart as they reteach
My actions to be like the "norm"
I feel a new identity!
At first averse,
But now immersed,
I start my walk in novelty.
The path I trek is frightening!
No matter what, I need to fight -
I trip and fall,
With demons, brawl,
Torn to pieces, move in fright.
But now I stand upon a hill
And now the fog has cleared a bit
I stand achieved,
But soon I leave
To conquer mountains greater still.
Oh "Great Spirit" hear my words of truth and prayer
Long life for this child, breathing the earths fresh air
Teachers were given this precious gift, from your guiding hands
My grand-daughter they named Mali, who has all the lesson plans
So, that all may learn your lessons and the wisdom of your word,
to her parents you gave choices, instead of following the herd.
To choose the best for Mali, with all the fear and doubt you raised
Is a challenge to the best yet, they completed it unpraised.
They overcame each obstacle and hurdle that you made
With fear and doubt they fought so, she won't be dismayed.
I know life is Yours to give or take, anytime you choose,
with that give her life, on earth, and put mine as a muse.
This world no longer has use of it and I feel its course is run
So let, your child, Mali live the life, that Liam had begun
I see she has much to give this world, that it could surely use
My plea is that her life be renewed, before you must re-cuse
I SEARCH THE WORLD,
TO FIND EARTH'S MOST HEROIC NAMES,
I SCAN THICK HISTORY BOOKS,
AND PROBE VAST HALLS OF FAME.
I PONDER MYRTYRS,
BURIED BENEATH CHURCH SPIRES AND STEEPLES,
AND I WEPT BY SHRINES OF FREEDOM,
WHERE PATRIOTS DIED FOR PEOPLE.
UNPRAISED,
MOST HEROES OFTEN LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES,
WITH NO ONE TO NOTE THEIR DEEDS OF BRAVERY,
AND DAYS OF FACING STRIFE.
YET I THINK GOD,
STILL TAKES NOTE OF THOSE WITHOUT PRAISE,
THOSE WHO STOOD AT THEIR POSTS OF DUTY,
AND THOSE WHO STRUGGLED THROUGH LIFE'S DAYS.
SOMETIMES I THINK I FOUND SOME NAMES,
WELL, AT LEAST MOST OF THEM,
BUT THOSE NAMES ARE KNOWN TO GOD,
AND ONLY KNOWN TO HIM.
Tonight
when I come back
clad in wounded memories,
one seed deep
the pod would lie in the forest of hands,
I will wake you up in between
the kisses of moon.
The hawthorn lamps –
let me light the last unlit
of empty night, for a farewell
to a black rose, who had collected
the unpraised thorns.
The fugitive wind shuts the smart tears.
SATISH VERMA
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