Broad in the beam
not much of a looker
this crusty rust-bucket
of nuts screws and bolts
is a crabby old hooker
as luck would have it
dolled up trolling for supper
at any port in a storm
she still gives good service
tho' down on her uppers
now showing her years
deep in the scuppers
yet still on the game
fishing by night for a living
not to sully or bruise her good name
tho' one might unduly call her
a 'Cruiser'
this goodly vessel is truly a trawler
Categories:
vessel, boat, fishing, fun, humor,
Form: Rhyme
the possession of a vessel
a cradle call
a steady fall
a empty cost
and all's lost
a candle care
a random share
a fullness last
and all's cast
a constant claim
a longing name
a least of more
and all's before
a costly care
a vessel rare
an emptied full
and all's pull
a cradle claim
a constant name
a candle fair
a vessel care
cradle candle
constant cost
care and cast
and all is last
alex e nelson
ohio
Categories:
vessel, absence, brother, confidence, dedication,
Form: Free verse
She’s at it again.
Wasting my ink
staging yet another death.
I draft her crimson melodramas
with third-hand metaphors
as she sips on ‘hope’ like tonic
laced with rust
and wears ‘moor’ like thrift-store perfume.
I thread her June into
forced sonnets (poor things),
before her gin drowned the meter
in proofed regret.
Even a pen gets impatient.
Sometimes she pauses,
as though it might save her—
I rooted for her to mature
but talent won’t bloom from
immature theatrics.
Still, I ink her curtain call—
the curse of being a vessel.
Categories:
vessel, depression,
Form: Dramatic Monologue
broken vessel
(autobiography)
older than even yesterday
i wonder
if today i were to write my life’s story
on the back of a brown paper bag
leaving out no important details
would i have room for doodling
and daydreaming?
i am a broken vessel
so many parts and pieces of my life
now discarded
yet those that remain are a shelter
a safe harbor against winds of adversity
casting light, creating warmth
i have returned, i have become whole
older than yesterday
younger than tomorrow,
positioned in today
still broken
yet it seems
someone lit the candle
© tolbert
Categories:
vessel, christian,
Form: Free verse
My heart is a vessel filled with the ocean of endless love for you,
but when your screams shatter the silence like relentless storms,
when your hand rises like a cold shadow on my skin,
and your words strike like lightning across my furrowed brow,
I sink into the scorching memories of past traumas,
red nightmares like blood, nails of abuse digging deep,
the gray ghosts of anxiety dance around me,
pale and cold hands threatening my fragile neck with a deadly grip.
I wished to stay, to hope you would be the miracle of change,
but my nerves cannot bear to relive the terror again,
my bones are broken, I can no longer carry the burden of disdain,
no more drops of abuse and raw blood can be sipped.
So I leave now, leaving behind a silent goodbye,
whispering my peace like a prayer in the quiet of the night.
It's a retreat into a long-desired sanctuary of tranquility,
where words are no longer arrows and shadows no longer lurk,
where each day is a dawn of calm and every breath,
a new beginning, freed from the chains of past suffering,
like a butterfly lifting its wings to the clear sky,
seeking the peace promised by the silence of the eternal.
Categories:
vessel, fantasy,
Form: Free verse
My heart is a vessel filled with an ocean of endless love for you,
but when your screams break the silence like relentless storms,
when your hand rises like a cold shadow on my skin,
and your words strike like lightning on my furrowed brow,
I sink into the scorching memories of past traumas,
red nightmares like blood, nails of abuse digging deep,
the gray ghosts of anxiety dance around me,
pale and cold hands threatening my fragile neck with a deadly grip.
I wanted to stay, to hope you would be the miracle of change,
but my nerves cannot bear to relive the terror again,
my bones are broken, I can no longer bear the burden of disdain,
no more drops of abuse and raw blood can be endured.
So I leave now, leaving behind a silent farewell,
whispering peace to myself like a prayer in the quiet of the night.
It is a retreat into a long-desired sanctuary of silence,
where words are no longer arrows and shadows no longer lurk,
where each day is a dawn of calm and each breath,
a new beginning, freed from the chains of past suffering,
like a butterfly lifting its wings toward the clear sky,
seeking the peace promised by eternal silence.
Categories:
vessel, fantasy,
Form: Free verse
The bright in the daylight beacons shine;
Beating hearts no longer a lined;
The doctor M.E. has pronounced the vessel dead;
Sorely he bled out after being pierced in the head;
Now a corpse no longer shall he rise
His spirit now with Father-God
04/03/25
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2025©
Categories:
vessel, analogy, anxiety, death, destiny,
Form: Elegy
Living in a world, I know I don't belong.
Wondering if I did something, to cause this wrong.
Feeling deep inside, my life was never meant to be mine.
Always searching for answers, I cannot find.
Living 61 years, upon this beautiful earth.
Learning recently, my life was blessed since birth.
Fighting strong feelings deep inside, I know now I cannot deny,
Knowing I have many guiding Angels, upon which I can rely.
Never knowing what tomorrow will hold,
Ready to go, to help, I must always be bold.
Saving and changing so many lost lives,
I know I'm high, so God takes the wheel and drives.
What should have made me feel so weak,
Just put me on a long winning streak.
My faith, my honesty and my strength,
Can always be described in long length.
Recently finding those many answers I seek.
Who knew Youtube, would be my missing link.
To know I've lived the life, God meant for me.
I'm now free to live my true destiny.
Categories:
vessel, blessing, courage, faith, inspirational,
Form: Rhyme
That's not your father lying there.
That's simply a temporary vessel from the Lord, a spare.
His soul is in Heaven with his lovely wife.
He's no longer in pain in this worldly life.
He's risen to Heaven to be with our Father.
His blindness and weakness no longer a bother.
He's made new again; he can see, he can run.
I promise in Heaven, he's having way more fun.
He was a blessing to many here on this earth,
and he loved his family for all he was worth.
We will laugh, we will cry remembering his many years.
We will mourn and shed all of the emotional tears.
We thank you God for his time here with us.
But, we know you now need him more than us.
We will see you again, only next time will be greater.
We'll not only see him, but also our Creator.
Categories:
vessel, bereavement, death, family, father,
Form: Rhyme
A weir holds back the river
against the flow of the morning tide
I wonder how many thoughts,
unspoken, lie behind its barrier-
ponderings of love, turmoil, betrayal
obstructed by the dam of emotional blocks
struggling to break free from their confines.
Like silent storms beneath the surface,
they swirl in the depths of the mind,
the dam of fear, of shame,
keeps them hidden from the light.
moment a potential release,
each breath a reminder of restraint.
The heart, a vessel so full of longing,
yet bound by invisible chains,
craves the freedom to flow unbound,
to speak the words that have waited too long.
But the weir stands firm,
its stones like the weight of doubt,
the water rising higher,
pressing against its edges,
until one day—
will it break, or will the river flow in silence forever?
Categories:
vessel, day, imagery, metaphor, morning,
Form: Free verse
In life’s great vessel, we sail on the sea,
Do you trust in wealth that is fickle and free?
False praise surrounds you in your time of cheer,
But when you are gone, your name disappears.
A young man with virtue is cherished and bright,
His knowledge and wisdom will lift him to a height.
Why dwell on deceit or petty affairs?
Let’s cast off the dirt, shed the weight of our cares.
Categories:
vessel, drink,
Form: Free verse
Remnants remain, of a once vibrant passion
Scars bear witness of the abrasion
The cracks are but an indication, of the wars fought
For a quest to find that which was being sought
Ruins still stand of a majestic castle, that which was a haven of loyalty
The echoes from these rusty arsenals, proclaims the souls that fell casualty,
From the silent wars that claimed a pound of flesh.
Categories:
vessel, emotions, endurance, heartbreak, loss,
Form: Free verse
"Beyond The Vessel near me first out of my shell
you too shall see my flesh that's not us nor me
I am on the inside spiritual
energy light and mine eyes closely bright
on Fire shining pleased so bright
and those retrospective perceptive Realm
my inner self needs no trapping
so no physical Bliss or materialistic possession
I am content in myself before and now instill
I am in myself for we are I am but we are one with Him before energy is only free with it Holy-Happy-Healed
Spirit first not Material encased in a vessel temporal
I am more than just Flesh and Bones I am contented myself before any I am is the only freedom
with it I am beyond the vessel for I am we are
Spiritual energy I am we are first liberated
We be will be that I am and you we are first free
Fire Source The Light Within so shines we burst more
of you less of me O' God all you have all we be
as one together Father and as I am we're Humanities hope Deeper in you
You O' Father and you we are and you are in us
beyond the vessel God We Trust you're the aur we breath and our beating hearts"
-------James Edward Lee Sr 2024
6/23/24
Categories:
vessel, analogy, appreciation, devotion, god,
Form: Dramatic Monologue
In my heart it sees presently
My eyes beat silently;
My brain energy;
My soul cries, laugh ps and sighs
I mutter by
Vessel encased in a glass suit
5.28/24
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr © 2024
Categories:
vessel, abuse, anxiety, confusion, life,
Form: Dramatic Verse
Yon naked spirit encased in vessel bright
She was naked her shadow shown
She was covered in a vessel her spirit moan
He was naked the rolling hills in his mountain was gorged
We are naked spirit encased in vessel forged
the grass is covered the land his silhouette was textured it was grand
He was fashioned and molded and formed
Birth in heavenly places
Placed in vessel spaces
We are naked spirit encased in vessel forged
Dawning flesh suits
Seeds are planted
Spirits ignited
Brilliant lighted souls
Encased in a vessel body made of the Father ever more
We are naked spirit encased in vessel forged
1/4/24
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr © 2024
Categories:
vessel, baptism, birth, blessing, dedication,
Form: Rhyme
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