Willfulness Poems | Examples

The Songbird Still Sings

2025 Poetry Marathon Mile 14  Contest // Sponsored by: Mark Toney
( 1st Place )

Written: September 04, 2025


They said the songbird
her wings twisted and torn
should quiet herself...
that the sky held no place
for the fragile or the worn.

Yet she kept a sky tucked inside her - a 
place untouched by any hand.
At daylight she let her voice rise
and though her body stayed earthbound,
her song lifted past the edge of flight.

The wind slowed to listen,
branches bent nearer
and the horizon seemed to pause,
stirred by her willfulness .

Each note unlaced an old wound,
each chorus pushed against the walls
of a world that once turned her away.

Her feathers never mended,
yet her dream grew wide enough
to shelter every broken one who followed.

From her we understood:
reaching the sky
was never about wings at all.

See The Summit

"The summit cannot be seen",
what possibly can this mean?
There's always a certain goal;
vivid visions all should see
mere high bows to certainty.

Climbing for a brighter day,
will we likely lose our way?
This summit seems but a dream;
insights hit a sudden stop
finally finding the top.

Together hearts beat as one,
getting closer to the sun.
Truth in the heart, our best guide;
freed from fears of "I" and "mine",
ego takes a steep decline.

Blinded by sheer willfulness,
longings towards consciousness.
We will cling to what is dear;
our soaring spirit shall speak,
when we stagger up this peak.

Emerging through clouds on high,
new vistas to mount nearby.
Victory's a fleeting flame;
inner thoughts fade in thin air,
as one arrives, nothing's there.






25 lines  rhyme  130 words
catalectic iambic tetrameter
Zen koan, Moshan monk phrase
"The summit cannot be seen"
from the Hidden Lamp book

PRAISE BE TO GOD WHO EXHORTS US TO SUPPORT THE LORD'S ANOINTED

April 4 Praises to God Bible Meditations Based on 2Samuel 1-3

Key Verse – 2Samuel 1:14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?

PRAISE BE TO GOD WHO EXHORTS US 
TO SUPPORT THE LORD’S ANOINTED	

Praise be to God for exhorting us to support the Lord’s anointed in:
Bravery along sin-anguish to overcome temptation
Battle against unrighteousness toward triumph
Best awakened from tests for thanksgiving  
Business around ministry-toils  
Blessings amidst trials

2Samuel 2:6 Praise be to the Lord Who helps us
to show kindness to others: 
Strengthening faithfulness-fervency
Settling fellowship-friendship 
Subduing foolishness-failure
Smiting frustration-fright 
Sharing faith-fervour
 
2Samuel 3:39 Praise be to the Saviour for
rewarding everyone well according to His:
Wisdom to correct wickedness
Way for checking willfulness
Word midst compassion for the weak
Work that cares for the weary
Will commending the worthy. Amen!

April 4, 2024

In Their Mothers' Eyes

We've come to pay our last respects -
So hard to know what to say next.
It's just harsh truth that we excise
As we convey our last good-byes.

When words alone don't help us grieve
We search for what we can believe.
While facts can foster dissonance,
Emotions field a false defense.

When hate and willfulness combine
Coarse words and actions fall in line
And set the stage for tragedy -
No time to think with clarity.

Teens roaming free with time to spend
Devised a "hit" - with guns from friends;
A drive-by aimed to score revenge
For some "wrong" pride pledged to avenge.

As neighbor's child went out to play
Stray bullets took its life away.
The "mean streets" were its enemy
But grown adults refused to see.

The tales that trend the evening news
Do little more than to confuse -
With homage paid to ad hoc views
They paint a scene with changing hues.

But, we see in their mothers' eyes
An anguished look - they realize
Such grave events can't be reversed;
That day relived as truly cursed.

Kestrel

What seems an impossible feat
of forte and noble resolve
to boldly face the bitter gale,
a smallish bird feathers the wind.

His wildly beating wings afford
what seems an impossible feat
of willfulness against his foe,
as he hunts for suitable prey.
 
He hovers so he can find his 
preferred meal scuttling around in
what seems an impossible feat
to escape the eyes of the bird.

Such beauty in nature is rare
and one should be awed by the sight 
of the kestrel’s stamina in
what seems an impossible feat.

Shooting Star

man-child used to being a shooting star
drinks always came for free at the cash bar
full to brim with urges and willfulness
left wondering alone in wilderness
not quite able to keep up with himself
loss and wanton desires ruin mental health
focus gone, became another lost boy
"Aw shucks" demeanor his major decoy
not understanding skill in scoring points
a lifetime of pleasure does not appoint
Johnny was after all his father's son
truly did not seek to hurt anyone

like so many others, gone way too soon
leaving the rubble of legend he'd strewn

Discovery

Willfulness releases and often are dismissed from one's mind, step aside from trials and
tribulations. One's survival  taking ones time, rushing not to get older, options, preferences 
oft-times are unlearned lessons. Discovery seems vague little too soon or little too late and on occasions ones tends to wander in the
wilderness  recurrences holding on guarding
one's misery, resentment and torment.  Let it
go, Let it go, Let it go. One's  life of discovery
is so precious  trust and believe in one's own
Discovery and well being.

Bids Thee a Night of Good

*Image of A Good Night by Pixabay.

Bids Thee A Night of Good

O' fairest maiden, thy vaulted domain art free,
Doth fleeth from thy bonds of horizons hold,
Cast thyself, and claim your superb crown to be,
Thy willfulness causeth favor amidst the bold,
Luminescence shewn thee that thou hast donned,
Transcend and traipse be thine eternal realm,
Behold the arrested eyes blessed beyond,
Whence cometh a melody beseech thee a psalm,
Surrendereth my soul, albeit, attune suite to calm.

2022 February 26
*1st Place*
The Night Sky
~~Anna Marie Kaianah: Judged 2022 April 30

Sherab Baby Rabbit Sitter

SheRab was the logical choice to watch my kittens
Born in the Year of the Rabbit. 
Highly intelligent, she understood their immaturity
Mistakes they might make before becoming hares

But what kind of a doe goes off and leaves her kits? My man asked.
He has no idea that I am terrified of my baby’s willfulness.
They can be destructive and vengeful.
Born in the Year of the Rabbit.

Three lucky days each month, and if I am fortunate
They will appear on weekends. 
The rest of the time I am trusting them to SheRab
For she had a similar kindling.

She will treat my kittens as if they are her own baby rabbits.
I leave them eagerly, knowing she will be affectionate and kind
And she can match their intelligence with her own.
The wisest choice a mother can make 
When she is born in a different Zodiac sign.

Baffling

supple body in a white nightshirt
          that slips from a round pink shoulder
          caressing the sweet willfulness
                                   of a plump waist
her peasant face shining, over stimulated
          full cheeks that cushion light
          mud brown eyes, ornate longing
lower lip near quivering
          silent fear or wicked curiosity?
breasts expansive
          yearning flesh
          delicate seduction
soft hand reclaiming a goblet
          yielding obedience

telling me, "I was fully alive once too!"

note pad away
what melts into me?
that goes outside the frame
that ought to be known

Rubens' painting
          uncommon intimacy
          tucked into dark corners
          beating heart heavy
          like my stroked steps 
          that whisper to the ground
          eager to learn her mystery
          






Poem composed: February 4, 2021
Revised: April 15, 2021
Sensual Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Charlotte Puddifoot

Brave Beginnings

'Encourage' Contest 
Sponsored by Regina McIntosh
Older poem of mine (January 2021)

BRAVE BEGINNINGS 

Brave, beautiful girl
A New Year has emerged 
A fresh, clean slate 
Perfect for growth and new beginnings

You struggled
You persevered
You overcame 
You conquered
A restoration of health and healing awaits, but fear not!
Everything you need is already inside of you
You are strong and courageous
You are capable 
You are resilient
And you are not alone

Every challenge you face, you willl confront 
And your struggles will turn into strength
Remember this when your faith falters or your willfulness wanes
You can do this
Persevere
One more day
One more hour
One more minute
And then repeat
Keep taking those sturdy strides
Don't worry if you backtrack, or even retrace your steps a hundred times over
Be patient with yourself
Make it part of the dance!
Forward is forward, no matter the speed 
Or how tiny the steps ??

January 1, 2021

Conscience of a God

Looking back on life, as I go forward
tripping over, what’s missing, 

Not love or loss, a divine exclusive experience,
Contentment mere blissful contentment 
baby suckling at mother’s teats,

Blind by ignorance now I see it,
aloof of desire, in symbiotic willfulness
Bridging a song, with choral angels
invisible transcendence, threads of virtuosity 

When reason feels the suns surface,
reason will be sustained, 
Infinite vacuums of containment,
everything else in nothingness of space, 

Immeasurable incomprehension 
supplied on tap, to our basic intelligence 
Surreal questionable answers only to be found,
they made no mistakes,

Impotence feeding omnipotence,
omnipresence giving out rain checks
Cooling off periods never happen,
a torrent of ice comets burnt them away,

Spare a thought for the mindful,
let the human burden, carry that cross 
Give them one atom, and our conscience
everything else belongs to the gods. 


PODIUM PLACING PROMISE 7
Sponsored by Brian Strand 

12/01/2021    25 lines

Bid Thee a Good Night

For I see thee fair maiden free,
Escape the bonds of horizons hold,
Set claim to your majestic crown to be,
That willfulness that causeth bold,
Luminescence thou has donned,
Traverse traipsing your eternal realm,
Beholden to thee cast our eyes bond,
For if I am a melody pray thee a psalm,
So that I may rest, sweetly to calm.


2020 January 26

A B C D E F G Etcetera

Awful avocados always
Breathe bitter blue breaths
Craving cardinal’s Christmas carols
Ditching deliberate dungarees during
Elusive extraterrestrial escapades.
Forsaking fitful Floridian flamingos,
Getting gaudy, gratuitous gnarly gifts,
Herewith having hilarious hefty hallucinations,
Imagining India’s illustrious indigo ideologies.
Jackals jerry-rigging jealous junking jackalopes
Kangaroos kissing kindly, 
Lamenting lovebirds likely leering 
Meandering muddobbers making merry,
Nevertheless necessary negotiations 
Ostentatiously overhauling orange ostriches
Private parties practically prancing,
Quiet questions quickly questioning
Ripe red russets revolving rapidly
Sensing secretive shadows shyly
Traveling through trickier times, 
Underlings ultimately understanding
Variegated virgins vitality
Waxing willfulness whilst
‘xacting ‘xtra ‘xciting
Yarned yellow youthfulness yipping young
Zesty zipper zings zealously, zapping zebras.

Stop the Clock Part 2

Looking back on life, as I go forward
tripping over, what’s missing, 

Not love or loss, a divine exclusive experience,
Contentment mere blissful contentment 
baby suckling at mother’s teats,

Blind by ignorance now I see it,
aloof of desire, in symbiotic willfulness
Bridging a song, with choral angels
invisible transcendence, threads of virtuosity 

When reason feels the suns surface,
reason will be sustained, 
Infinite vacuums of containment,
everything else in nothingness of space, 

Immeasurable incomprehension 
supplied on tap, to our basic intelligence 
Surreal questionable answers only to be found,
they made no mistakes,

Impotence feeding omnipotence,
omnipresence giving out rain checks
Cooling off periods never happen,
a torrent of ice comets burnt them away,

Spare a thought for the mindful,
let the human burden, carry that cross 
Give them one atom, and our conscience
everything else belongs to the gods.

• Short Willfulness Poems
• Famous Willfulness Poems
• Best Willfulness Poems
• Read Willfulness Poems
• Long Willfulness Poems
• Willfulness Quotes