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Best Poems Written by Jon Gutmacher

Below are the all-time best Jon Gutmacher poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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The Castle and the Plague

The Castle and the Plague
copyright 2020 by jon gutmacher

There was a castle dark and tall
surrounded by a towering wall
and those without
did fear that place
but never once
came face to face

The trees grew tall thru summer rain
the woods grew thick
with vines not tame
and slowly, surely
castle tall
did disappear
the forest wall

Now decades passed
the people grew
the town once there
that once all knew
grew larger, larger
rich with goods
forgot they did
what’s in the woods

And then a sickness
came to pass
it struck them dead
it couldn’t last
but last it did
and many died
the families left
so many cried

And then a marvelous thing did come
through forest walls
their help did come
from castle deep
in protected wood
a potion made
this cure was good

And knights in white
not ever seen
did come to town
like in a dream
and gave the potion
one by one 
the sick were saved
the plague was done

And then the king
from castle tall
whose magic cured
both one and all
did bless the town
and those who lived
did promise them 
and this he did

“I promise you
“not once but twice
“my gates are open
“to make things right
“and in the future
“if death should come
“send runners here
“My will be done!”

And then, as magic
he disappeared
the plague was gone
but still they feared
so left a knight
with power great
and magic potions
this knight could make

Now town does flourish
the plague is not
the lessons learned
no, not forgot
and white knight keeps a place of peace
on a hill so near
within their reach

Now days go on
the sun does shine
the clouds come daily
all things are fine
and white knight who is now called Mage
does keep the potion
their lives all saved

Copyright © Jon Gutmacher | Year Posted 2020



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The Corona Virus 2020

The Corona Virus 2020
copyright 2020 by jon gutmacher

They came in boats
they came in planes
they called themselves
by many names
and carried something 
quite unseen
so dark and dread
a nightmare dream

They smiled as the virus
spread far and wide
to every home
the countryside
and as the sick began to die
it kept on spreading
we wondered why

And then the truth
came out one day
from China again
that’s what they say
a virus deadly
it kills and maims
the elderly
this deadly game

No one was safe
the streets soon bare
the stores all closed
no one to care
and millions soon
were out of work
as all things closed
few places worked

And then the light
a cure was found
the world rejoiced 
from all around
and vaccines spread
all virus bound
the sickness gone
no virus found

So have we learned 
this lesson dear
that we must always
be prepared
pandemic lurks
it mutates quick
it will be back
more will get sick

And so our leaders
must make things right
build the research
make things right
so next time when
the virus comes
we will be ready
this is not done

Copyright © Jon Gutmacher | Year Posted 2020

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Ten Lines of Poetry

Ten Lines of Poetry
by jon gutmacher    (for a contest requiring no more than ten lines)

Ten lines of poetry
to die if you must
pick up a pen 
don’t make a fuss

I didn’t join this site
to fight with a sword
but I entered this contest
because I was bored 

Live by it
or die by it

Copyright © Jon Gutmacher | Year Posted 2019

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The Baltimore Bridge Tragedy

The Baltimore Bridge Tragedy
copyright 2024 by jon gutmacher

The Francis Scott Key Bridge
was built with great care 
but a ship took that bridge out
it’s no longer there

Over 100,000 tons and fully loaded
three football fields long
crashed into the bridge
and Man! did it fall

Crashed into the water
in seconds came down
cars, trucks, and the people
yeah – all of em drowned

The water so cold
and dirty with muck
and all those who were on it
were plumb, out of luck

The crew couldn’t believe it
the power was gone
the lights began to flicker
then it hit like a bomb

Right into a main piling
that held the bridge in its place
took one hit from that cargo ship
and got totally erased

Steel flying everywhere
collapsing around
a roar like an earthquake
as the bridge tumbled down

And people and cars
in the dark of the night
hit the water and sank
in a terrible fright

Now all that is left
is a river of steel
all twisted and broken
and lives that can’t heal

And perhaps it was error
perhaps it was not
perhaps it was sinister
the speculation’s a lot 
But if one ship can do that
to a bridge large and grand
then there’s significant danger
to all in this land

Copyright © Jon Gutmacher | Year Posted 2024


Book: Shattered Sighs