Part of my inheritance I did receive,
Though unworthy was I that gift to conceive;
Younger in mind, and wilful in thought,
I went to a distant land and squandered what I brought.
I wasted my Father’s gift in a wanton way;
From Grace I departed, and fell far astray.
Then, passing into spiritual insensibility,
The husks of the swine I desired to share,
Whose keeper I was—yet none would spare;
I longed to eat what they were given,
Yet no man gave me aught, though I was driven.
Thus was my soul perishing, bereft of all answer,
Having lost the dignity of sonship I bore;
Not merely as a hireling, for some wage,
But even as an unworthy slave.
How shall I return, when I have no boldness to plead?
I see how my brethren thy commandments heed;
Their obedience they keep, without blame,
While I have cast away my sonship and name.
O Father, I have sinned; I have gone astray—
Yet behold my repentance, and look on me, I pray.
Justice or JUST US -
It seems to be - that this is NOT -
Just a trend, but a common thread,
To how things seem to work -
And no I'm not being woke,
Us Black people just seem to know,
How -
This world works.
We see with our eyes open,
They see with wilful ignorance,
Double standards become the white man’s self fulfilling prophecy,
A legacy -
Created to keep Black people in a state of misery,
In a state of unwanted complacency,
In a state of anxiety -
Of an unknown future,
Where self defence is a life sentence,
And being attacked is a death sentence
Justice was never for US,
Just for U -
Who?
Non Black people -
They get excuses,
We get damnation,
Their violence is proof - of abuse,
Our innocence - twisted to fit the narrative,
Damned if we defend ourselves, damned if we don't,
Either way we don’t get to go home,
A body bag or a prison cell?
Either option is a different version of hell.
Justice is not for us -
A Black person.
We do not get the privilege of impartiality,
Just the label of guilty,
Where the colour of our skin -
Meant justice was a case we would never win.
Once again, I hear the wind howling like a baying wolf!
with voice high pitched, relentless as it cries.
Circling around the trees in search of prey
pushing aside the leaves, rattling its chains.
Competing with the rain, but the wind will take control
whistling in jest, as builds and gains more strength.
Boosting momentum with wreaking havoc as its goal
oblivious, to those scared and hiding under cover.
Watching and listening to this awful roar
as it quicky sweeps away any object in its path.
Relentless now, its laugh is evil and loud
Swirling, and sashaying down every path.
Gaily painting pictures of devastation
relishing in its strength and force of destruction.
A brutal force that no man can tame, once released
running amok, as it has its wilful way.
Yet, once winds force is spent, it will cast off its demon.
cool down, taking a gentle calming breath.
Return to its former welcoming breeze.
Pleasing and refreshing as it sweetly sighs.
Wilful wounding
by shrouded diktat
caging vision
in scarlet pangs.
Numb to lamentation
silver and gold chink.
Amid the rustle
of lamé gowns
silence is nailed
secure.
LISTEN to the wind, howling like a baying wolf!
With a high-pitched voice, relentless as it cries.
Circling around the trees in search of prey
Pushing aside the leaves, rattling its chains.
Competing with the rain, as it takes control.
Whistling in jest, as builds and gains more strength.
Boosting momentum with wreaking havoc in mind
Oblivious, to those hiding under cover.
Watching and listening to its awful roar
As it sweeps away any object in its path.
Relentless now, its laugh is evil and loud.
Swirling and sashaying down every path.
Gaily painting a picture of devastation
Relishing in its strength and force of destruction.
A force that no man can tame, once released.
Running amok, as it has its wilful way.
Yet, once winds force is spent, will cast off its demon.
Cool down, taking a gentle calming breath.
Return to its former refreshing breeze.
Yes, LISTEN to the wind, as it sweetly sighs.
Killick
Sailing across the voyage of life
Amidst witty wilful waves of trials
Often subdued with wicked wily spells of pains
Buffeted below the belt by wild woeful winds
Faith ever serves me as my killick
Never lets my boat run astray
Day and night holds me to the shore
Averts my drifting against rocks of despair
Holds me firm during tempestuous gales
Secures me during winters of distress.
When darkness of night veils my life
When hands of fate deal me massive blows
When clouds of loneliness enrol me
When the low tide subdues my spirit,
The killick, as a guardian angel,
Softly whispers in my dainty ears
To gaze at the heavens with flame of faith high
Comforts me its vigil will outlast my breath
And it will keep me company till judgment day
When my soul reaches the celestial sky.
The rush of emotion stilled
The air once consumed by an undiluted energy
Now eerily quiet
Something lingers in the air
Justice?
No something louder but hidden
A violence so silent
It could go unnoticed by those who don't care to see
Those who choose wilful ignorance
The streets once crowded by protest
Now sits empty
Brought down from the high of purpose
Now left with an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness
The stench of death plagues the streets
Where once voice and life used to meet
Now only emptiness you will greet
Only thing left is failed legacies and echoes of long gone feet
The people who assumed these spaces
Just like the streets now empty
The promises of a better future
Dead like the movement
Despite having enough strength in their bodies to go on
Mourning takes their time of what's lost
Hoping to gain the strength to march again
But as the world continues to hate instead of help
Slowly losing their joy, the best parts of themselves
They are tired though not from the burning screams for justice
Nor the tiring marches
But through a slow realisation that the world they live in may never change
“With patience and perseverance
We can win the hardiest race.”- By author
**************************************************************
Patience and Perseverance
On the journey of life when we embark
Let patience allied with perseverance
Be the lighthouse, our path to lit with spark
And permeate our spirit with endurance;
When wilful whirling winds waft down our soul
Let us not yield to dark clouds of despair
But forge ahead steadfast towards our goal
Without a single shaggy seam of scare;
Let`s not try the hilltop at once to clinch
As we may tumble down a dizzy slope
But, move forward step by step, inch by inch
With patience and perseverance to cope;
With patience we earn the Lord`s divine grace,
With perseverance we win the tough race.
A little baby dear Daffodil
Teasing me with her fiddle
Robbing my heart, in my mind
Dancing free, an angel find!
Beneath the way, I belittled shackles
Closing near her, fingers crackles
Alas! A bee, a wilful warrior
Driven me back, a startling barrier.
"Around a month, about an aeon
Waiting for this bud to be born
Away you go, alone that way
The flower is mine, let us play."
Wush! A wind flush my foe
Swirling like a cotton fro
"The flower is mine, away you bee
Longing for the fragrance flee."
While we three, averred free
Behind the tree, the daffodil plea
"Let the wind cuddle my fragrance
And you bee, taste my joyance."
And then the beauty gone with me
Back to home, we walked in glee
Heavenly souls, leaves their virtue
In their kindness, we hold life true.
Glenn Hughes Poetry Contest - Robert James Liguori
TOUCH MY LIFE: Glenn Hughes: TRAPEZE - MEDUSA (1970)
---------------------------------------------------------
I've been waiting
For so long
For Lord for you My lord
To touch my life
Now I feel it inside
Lord, stay with me this life
All of my life I’ve been running away
Around and around
Never turning inside
You are my soul, my voice, my life force
Lord, stay with me this life
I can’t wait
To embrace you like a child
Feel your love, Lord touch my life
Without your grace, I am empty inside
Oh this wilful life
I have lost much time, I now
Need you more Lord,
I want to feel your grace
Touch my soul
Touch my life
Dear Lord, I feel blessed
Now that I realize I need you
I need to visualize
I have got to have some
I’ve got to feel you Lord
I kneel and bow to feel so
The touch of your hand Lord,
I feel, I feel, Oh the feeling’s now inside
Can all hear destiny call?
How many frustrated friends keep cheers at your hearth?
They all know your pain and smile for your strength; it is their loyal pain too…
We all hear destiny equally; what causes you pain is wilful ignorance to her voice…
by D.N. Read2024©?
Eerie
Witches
Ugly
Creepy
Freaky
Sneaky
Floating
Chanting
Cackling
Laughing
Broom sticks
Flying
Moonlight
Passing
Shadows
Waving
Witchcraft
Praying
Evil
Lethal
Hexing
People
Wilful
Wanton
Values
Rotten
Cats and
Magic
Crazy
Manic
Fear and
Panic
Wicked
Antic
Spell cast
Spoken
Lotion
Potion
Hocus
Pocus
Witchy
Slogan
17.10.23
A Vacant Mind
Does not a vacant mind breed wanton thoughts
That may lead to wilful, wayward actions?
Can we let our precious life be a nought
And to be ever marked with dreary spots?
Can we let it be tied with teething knots
Or rather pull up our dull distraction?
Does not a vacant mind breed wanton thoughts
That may lead to wilful, wayward actions?
I'm afraid O world of Verse!
From hands of wilful callous death
It may be so that I may cease
Before I render thee my breath,
Thou stand and look at me in awe
With wonder in thy wild wild eyes
I am more saddest than thou art
In pain my painful soul heaves sighs
O may that with the hand of chance!
I could paint thee on the leaves!
O thou verses of the Eden!
In my heart thou breathe and heave
O thou muffled face of Joy!
O thou muffled face of love!
O thou mystic laughing goddess!
O thou silent peace , O dove!
All of you in mist of winter
Far in Ocean, in hill yonder
Murmur, whisper, Mumble,shower,
In the dewy hour of evening
In the morning rosy bower
Talk of candles, talk of summer
In the gales of scent and wonder
I'm in a dale of sorrow
In the autumn leafy chamber
Muffled in the fog of time
Painted face of Thee on water
O thou love, O bird of passage
I look at thee and I wonder
Thou are but a pain, a sorrow
That in hearts of people linger
Vanish thou , O peace and Joy
With The Love of world thou all
Words are Holy , Books are Holy
Holy is The love of Lord
Lingers it in hearts of ours
When vanish, vanish they all
The beauty of nature
Free and unrestrained
No rules or restrictions
No binding chains
No regulations
Or permissions to obtain
No number in natures hand
No forms to fill out again
Nature requires no consent
To do as it may
No-one is knocking on natures door
Dictating what happens today
Nature is independent
Confident, wilful and bold
Mother Nature rules her land
Never to be told
The sun will shine anytime
Rain will fall without warning
Thunder will clap
Lightning will crack
Sky alive and storming
Winds blow soft and gentle
Or howling and untamed
Nature makes no apologies
Steadfast and unashamed
Flowers bloom full of grace
Trees grow robust and proud
Oceans lie calm and still
Or rage wild and loud
Nature equates to freedom
No chains bound tight
No rules or restrictions
Nature a gift of pure delight….
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.