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Best Poems Written by Michael Henry

Below are the all-time best Michael Henry poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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12
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A Sad Goodbye

We cannot part without this sad goodbye 
And leaving, we are learning how to die
a little as we bid this sad farewell. 
I cannot bear the sadness in your eyes
As turning slowly I must walk away
And memories of our time together
Begin to melt into a misty haze
That fades and dies along with happier days.

I came to say goodbye but did not dare
To think that you would speak the same
Sad words and leave me standing in the rain
Bereft of all the joy your love implanted
In my heart and now the ache is but a sign
Of how it feels when lovers have to part.
No tears can wash away this pain at our farewell
Alas, this is the end and not the start.  
Now I think back once more and I recall
Those happy days - the sunshine of your smiles
Our youth was not the reason for the fall
When you and I lived for each other 
For sweet sixteen was not too young to love
Though many said it was...
Don't cry, my love, it's really not your fault
I'll walk away, pretend we never met
I'll walk away and try to live without regret.

Copyright © Michael Henry | Year Posted 2024



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The Seasons

Spring

Green buds on beach trees
Bluebells carpet forest floor
New born baby cries

Summer

Sleepy afternoon
Fly humming at window pane
Cornstalks bent with gold

Autumn

Ghostly morning mist
Blue smoke curling heavenwards
Incense of burnt leaves

Winter

Starry velvet sky
Silent snowflakes drifting down
Wolf howls at the moon

Copyright © Michael Henry | Year Posted 2021

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Silence

Silence					


Sometimes, on rare occasions, mere words just seem to fail me
And these are often times when I encounter gross stupidity

At times like these I find that speaking is just of no avail
And so I stare into the faces of those characters who fail 

To impress me with opinions or their silly rants and raves
And find that silence is the best reply to all those noisy knaves

My not-so-secret weapon consists of just an icy stare
No words are needed to convey the fact that I can’t bear

To hear the trash that’s spoken or their wild hypotheses
It’s enough to bring a saner man to his intellectual knees

So now I simply stare at them until their gaze is broken
For my silence tells them what I think and I haven’t even spoken!

Copyright © Michael Henry | Year Posted 2021

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Secrets of a Summer Night

Secrets of a Summer Night

They met in a cornfield at midnight
‘Neath the light of a pale harvest moon
No sweet music played in the background
But the crickets provided a tune

Away from the gaze of the barn owl
Their sweet romance started to bloom
The fox and the hare were not even there
So the two lovers started to spoon

The summer night guarded their secret
And no-one was even aware
Of the passion displayed by these lovers
As they showed just how much they could care

And when it was done they both snuggled
In the light of the stars far above
Then they scurried away to face a new day
Two cute furry fieldmice in love!

Copyright © Michael Henry | Year Posted 2021

Details | Michael Henry Poem

Why Not

Why Not?

When considering our options – to do or not to do
When indecision makes it hard to choose
If life were easier for most and not just for the few
And we want so hard to win and not to lose

When searching for an answer is so difficult a task
And looking for approval seems futile
Who is it best to turn to when the question must be asked?
Who do we hope will bless us with a smile?

How can we feel full confidence in moving on from here?
Why do we need to find the answer now?
Does anything ahead of you engender deadly fear?
How can you finally sooth that troubled brow?

May I suggest you ponder, consider, if you will
A way to solve your problems in a jot
Just free yourself from worry and every other ill
By simply saying to the world, “Why not?”

Copyright © Michael Henry | Year Posted 2021



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One Too Many

		

‘You’ve had one too many’
Declared old Paddy’s wife
She always spoiled his evenings 
With her ‘trouble’ and her ‘strife’

‘I’m absolutely sober’ 
He replied with much aplomb
‘I’ve only had a couple
And I’m drinking beer, not rum’

‘I don’t care what you’re drinking,
You don’t know when to stop
I rue the day I married you
You useless, boozy sop’

‘Oh, hold your blather, Missus
Give that whinging voice a rest
The day you married me 
I’ll have you know you got the best’

‘Got the best? Well I’ll be buggered
You really are a pain
I wish that you’d get off yer ass
And fix that broken windowpane’

Now at this Paddy got real pissed
And sat up in his chair
‘Don’t you talk to me of work!’
He said with wild-eyed glare

‘I’ve worked myself to death for you
But you only whinge and moan
I swear I’ll clobber you real good
If you keep on with that tone’

But she was unrepentant
And continued with her rant
On and on she chided him
With never ending cant

The last was one too many 
For this much maligned hubby
So he lurched across the kitchen
And he hit her with his stubby!

Copyright © Michael Henry | Year Posted 2025

Details | Michael Henry Poem

Kicked Out

It’s not my fault, how could I know
That wanting to be just me was not the way to go?
Just can’t believe that’s why they kicked me out
Too many rules and regulations in this house!
Sixteen years and still they can’t accept who I really am
School wasn’t easy, either – too many bullies in the ‘hood
Choosing to pass on recess time to finish my essay
Was too much for the others, they called me names
Said I wasn’t normal coz who wants to stay in class and write
When they could be out there playing ball or having a fight?

Man, it’s getting more than I can take!
No place warm to sleep and I don’t wanna stay awake.
Kicked out with no place I can go
I thought that I could hack it tho’
But man, it ain’t easy being different in this place
Ain’t easy always being told that I’m a damned disgrace.
The neighbours think I’m still at home
They don’t know I got kicked out
And now I’m all alone
When they find out, I’d like to see their faces
Kicked out for wanting to be just who I am
Do they see my bruises; do they even give a damn?

Grow up, drop out, come out - kicked out!
Natural progression for a kid like me
But I thought Mom at least would see 
Dad’s a different story – grow up, be a man
He’d say. Don’t stand like that, don’t walk that way
Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout
But they don’t know the way I feel inside
Can’t help these thoughts they say I need to hide
How can a kid pretend it’s cool to be this way?
How can a black kid say he’s white or admit to being gay?

Copyright © Michael Henry | Year Posted 2021

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Tomorrow

Tomorrow I’ll try to do the things
I didn’t do today
For even though I try my best
The time just gets away
There’s mail to write and meals to cook
And I need to feed the cat
Then I have to put the kettle on
When friends drop in to chat!
My ‘to do’ list just never seems
To have every item ticked
In fact it’s getting longer
I guess I’ll never have it licked!
I do my best to manage time
So that every task gets done
But as each evening closes in
I know that once again, I haven’t won.
Yesterday was hectic
Today I did the sums
And now I’ve come to realise
That tomorrow never comes!

Copyright © Michael Henry | Year Posted 2024

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Love Speaks All Languages

Love Speaks All Languages


‘Je t’aime’ he whispered with passion
By the Seine with the moon bright above
It sounded so very romantic
French, they say, is the language of love

‘Ti amo’ declared the young Roman
As he courted his lady so sweet
Mario, though, was a real gigolo
And Maria he’d met on the street!

‘Ich liebe dich’ said Fritz to his fraulein
With earnest and serious intent
‘Ve shall march to ze bedroom heute Abend
Unt zen you vill know vhat I meant!’

In Japan it is rather a mouthful
When expressing so deep an emotion
‘Watashi wa, anata o aieimasu’ though, 
Is always said with devotion

‘Se agap-o’ is Greek for ‘I love you’
And the ancients knew all the joys
Of loving and how to have fun times
Especially the men and the boys!

But whatever the language that’s spoken
Whatever the country or clime
Love is an eternal emotion
And we’ll express it time after time.

Copyright © Michael Henry | Year Posted 2023

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Two Bees or Not To Be

Two Bees or Not To Be

Bumble bees buzz busily 
In Betty’s big back yard
Balmy breezes blow in from the bay
Beautiful the butterflies 
That flutter here and there
Bluebells and begonias gently sway.


Beyond the far horizon
Below the setting sun
Bobbing boats upon the water blue
And far above the seagulls soar
Bemoaning with their cries 
Two inconsequential mortals,
Me and you

Copyright © Michael Henry | Year Posted 2024

12

Book: Reflection on the Important Things