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Best Poems Written by Robert Temple

Below are the all-time best Robert Temple poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Road Sixteen Hundred ( Alexandrine Villanelle)

With no idea none at all of what to do,
were sixteen hundred soldiers counted newly dead.
Ask sixteen hundred Pennsylvania Avenue,

How many more to muster, murder; though untrue
the reasons given?  Gone where angels fear to tread,
with no idea none at all of what to do.

Unconcerned for what is lost or even who…
just "Collateral Damage"... that is what they said
at sixteen hundred Pennsylvania Avenue.

From hollow oath the young men follow through
as "Cannon Fodder"… aren't they "lives" instead,
with no idea none at all of what to do,

What loss of value, freedom.  Dressed Red, White, and Blue
now shades of ghostly grey except where they have bled,
Tell sixteen hundred Pennsylvania avenue.

We waited as if deaf and blind to what we knew,  
Now sixteen hundred to untimely death have sped
with no idea none at all of what to do.
Tell sixteen hundred Pennsylvania avenue.

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Haiku

airplane overhead
snuggle remember far places
under the blankets

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Assembly-Line Infix

we crimp
we stamp
all

bang bang

day

putting parts
to

bang bang

gether

thinking only
of our

bang bang

coffee

break

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Paean To the Press

When David McDee read the news on TV
There never was murder or stealth
Just birthdays and weddings (new recipes, too)
And people inheriting wealth.
	
How Mrs. McDee's flower bed came along,
How neighbors had torn down the fence.
Such positive bits of informative news
To David, made imminent sense.
	
When David McDee read the news on TV,
The weather was sunshine and warm.
The sports casts concerned only games that were won;
All losses considered bad form.
	
When David McDee read the news on TV
Pure innocence lighted our eyes
There were no surprises or odd little wrongs:
All greetings and never goodbyes

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Worship (Barthalomew Sonnet)

The task today is how to carve a tree
our solemn way:  make totems of a tree:
fox shapes, crow forms, wise masks.  Just any tree
won't do.  In storms, look for a dancing tree;
in calm, go seek a stately, whispering tree
that, like a church, holds quiet.  Hear that tree--
unguarded conversation of a tree
is worry about squirrels, bird nests.  
                                                             Tree 
of Life, of beams, the Balm of Gilead--tree
that sways, and dreams of sails.  A secret tree
with beauty hidden in growth rounds of tree
for lumber.  
                                  If you find the proper tree
the first sun catches golden on that tree
while lasting rays cling longest on that tree.

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Words To a Plant

How have you been,
Greensleeves.
You've had water, old Barkfingers,
Good soil around your roots,
well-potted, Sun-Reacher.

Time, blush, to flower
maybe seeds, huh?
I'll bring a butterfly
or a bee, Twig-Rustler

This spring, I'll see to it
that you have a nest,
not a robin's nest,
built in a week, a throw-away.
Oh no, an oriole's nest,
that marvel of a purse they weave.
I'll get you one, if I have to go
without theater tickets, 
or give up ice-cream like for Lent.
A guy  needs a friend.
and, Plant, with your second flower,
if it comes, I'll make tea
a superb infusion to drink
with crackers from London
with cheese from Finland
and open the window.

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Mask

because the kid without a mask was told
perhaps in earnest more likely though in jest
the problems all seem smaller when you're old

at any rate his honest heart was sold
he was not of a mind to try a test
because the kid without a mask was told

if one can wait most aches and pains enfold
no more than time can slowly put to rest
the problems all seem smaller when you're old

therefore forbearing years have gently rolled
still waiting for the time that is the best
because the kid without a mask was told

be patient and just wait be not too bold 
behave meet life as an invited guest
the problems all seem smaller when you're old

but explanations now do not unfold
not much can he of time or strength invest
because the kid without a mask was told
the problems all seem smaller when you're old

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No Room

No room for one more photograph; these walls
are full. No frame can hold a picture quite so small
that it would fit within the space between
one image or another. All these rooms
are taken and the house will have no more.
I must go on to find a place outside
to nail my thoughts or give collection up.

The galleries are ready for  a younger voice.
The ticket buyers ask which ones are new.

The faces that look at me wink and laugh.
These faces I have loved and now but half
remember and some not at all

The walls have no more room
for painted images or photographs. 
The years have been too good,
remembrances that leave out
grief and sad encounters
edge each other for attention

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Waiting

WAITED

We waited such a long time for your call
We jumped each time the senseless phone would ring
Each car door slamming was another wall

Of time built up around us--time to crawl
Through hours till morning--frightened time to  cling
We waited such a long time for your call

We held our breath and heard small sounds grow tall
We wondered what the next mail truck might bring
Each car door slamming was another wall

The sirens wailing were the worst of all
The come-and-go: a child's gone-crazy swing
We waited such a long time for your call

How heavy silence is in its slow fall
How long life is when measured by its sting
Each car door slamming was another wall

Those sirens with that manic high-pitched bawl
What can they mean in memory...anything?
We waited such a long time for your call
Each car door slamming was another wall

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Door

My front door opens to a load of speed,
of chases, deals, last-minute runs to get supplies
the sun sends baking pushing heat
to hasten what occurs

my back door opens to a yard of blooming weeds
a sneaking rabbit with its bunny eyes
nibbles cautiously, but nibbles, eats
what I think of as mine: she knows it’s hers