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Best Poems Written by Judy Reeves

Below are the all-time best Judy Reeves poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Judy Reeves Poem

Legacy

In the 1960’s all around me were cheerful chants
inviting us all to ‘Make Love not War’
John Lennon asked us to give peace a chance,
some joined the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
We all wanted earnestly to save the environment.

I inhale this polluted air and wonder 
what has happened - why has it gone asunder
 
Now, our legacy to our future generations
is an earth that has been raped, robbed
of her fruitfulness until her soil is barren
so, we can genetically modify food to eat
cause animal cruelty for production of meat

Now, fish are being choked and shredded to pieces
by hazards we dispose of in the rivers and seas
and they are far from being the only dammed species
who are being erased for the sake of human supremacy. 

Earth is rebelling, her weathers have gone into a frenzy
raging ravenous bush fires consuming precious lives,
animal, human, plant nothing in its vexed path survives.
Ferocious storms flooding the earth, threatening
to drown out communities, cruelly devastating.

Is it too late to realise that the fumes from our cars
the cigarettes we smoke, the waste that we dump so recklessly
the spiteful, uncaring ways we mistreat the environment
leaving solutions to be found each successive government.

We can still see the blue sky on a good day
we can still breathe air, though not so fresh
we can still enjoy the beauty of flowers
and hear birdsong, 
but, for how long?

Now, our troubled youth are killing each other
they  see no tomorrow on the blurred horizon.
Younger generations are trying to rescue their future
 to salvage their legacy from the rubble we have created.

As for making love not war 
in this world, this world of today peace stands no chance
and love is just a word of four letters.

Details | Judy Reeves Poem

Two Shoes

Propped up against the wall
two shoes, neatly placed there
laces intact, leather shiny as new
multiple holes in both their soles 
disparity in presentation,
 so what is their truth?

Details | Judy Reeves Poem

Little Bird

Our holiday in that old art deco apartment block
brought us into each other’s domain little pigeons
for us, respite from the Covid 19 devastation
a place of shelter for you and your mate.

In the morning I watched you both from the window
as you flew out into the community and back
each carrying a twig, leaf, or some other random bits.
The corner of the concrete stairwell,
that’s where you chose to build your nest.

Evening time as I prepared our evening meal
I saw you resting on the railing by the balcony
our worlds seem somehow to connect, to bond.

I looked out for you as I made our bedtime drink
two grey figures huddled together in the dark
you had settled down for the night, ready to sleep.

I saw the single egg laid there exposed and unsafe
I worried for you, but there was nothing I could do.

If you were human, I would see the distress on your face
Know your grief, understand your loss, endure your despair.

You looked, looked away, looked again, and again.

Your egg - your hope for the future had been shattered
destroyed, smashed as though it meant nothing at all!
there you were staring at the now vacant nest
your partner was not with you, you were alone

If you were my son, daughter, friend, neighbour
I would hold you close and try to console you
Say words of comfort and hope for the future

I looked out for you after that day.
         You did not return.

Details | Judy Reeves Poem

A Place Called Calm

Suddenly my sense of hearing awakened by  
just three sounds

…. the rasping call of a wood pigeon outside
 somewhere

…. the low constant hum of my fridge
 in the kitchen, nearby

…. heavy footsteps, on creaking floorboards 
in the corridor
 
Another day, I would have called these noises 
 disturbance

instead, just then
serenity cradled my troubled soul 
in her silken arms 
she lulled me into an unfamiliar place called calm

in that moment 
just then 
peace.

Details | Judy Reeves Poem

Forsaken

No one heard me when I cried
I was all alone with my tears,
    they chose not to weep for me

No one knew I was hurting
I was all alone with my pain,
    they chose not to feel for me

No one knew I was afraid
I was all alone with my fear,
    they chose not to rescue me

No one knew I felt angry
I was all alone with my rage,
    they chose not to feel fury for me

No one knew I was being violated
I was all alone with my abuser,
     they chose to look away from me

No one heard my quieted voice
I was all alone in that dreadful situation
    they chose not to hear my cry for help

I reached out, but I was all alone,
no one was there,
    just him.

Details | Judy Reeves Poem

Two Boiled Eggs For Breakfast

Fancied boiled eggs
 with brown bread for this morning’s breakfast.
Well, that was the plan.
Boiled them for ten minutes
then out of the pan.
Put them by the breadbin 
I would surely not forget.

Pottered around the kitchen – tidied up, washed up
pottered around the bedroom – made the bed, tidied up
thought: what shall I have for breakfast?
Oh yeah, muesli, haven’t had that in a while!
made muesli, ate muesli, washed up.

Two eggs sat by the bread bin
still in their shells.
Egg mayo sandwiches for lunch, then.
Unless I forget!

Details | Judy Reeves Poem

In Memory of My Memory

Friends used to say like an elephant I never forget
these days I have the memory of a goldish or amoeba
often find myself staring blanking into the fridge
wondering what I am doing there, what I’m looking for

The building that once housed each of my living moment
Sometimes like a faulty computer recycles information
  It is there, somewhere, just takes longer to be accessed
Like my missing utensils, its all stored in some kind of bin

It’s that thing, you know that thing, that thingamajig
then I discover what it is called, oh it one of them 
well, who uses a tea strainer anyway these days
Or people’s name who I know well
‘Oh there’s you know who, what’s her name again
If I’m lucky something about her will bring it back

That actor, the one being interviewed on Lorraine
Who is he again? come on Jude, you know who he is 
after a few minutes of intense brain activity, it hurts
right in the centre of my forehead
Oh yes that’s Phil Mitchell, him off Eastenders
married to Sharon, has a son called Ben

In conversation a random word erupts without a thought
bearing no vague relation to what I have been talking about
metaphors and other over used sayings come out all mixed up 
the early bird gathers no moss, why cry over spilt milk
you can save it for a rainy day, get what I’m trying to say?

Walking round the shop hoping for a visual clue on the shelves
there is one thing I know I desperately need but what can it be
as always I have forgotten the darned shopping list at home
then as I open the door on my return, it comes rushing back
loo rolls that’s what it was, kitchen towel will have to do
………….. if I need the loo

 History is very often reconstructed when I retell it
Churchill met his Waterlo
Thanks to Google, I can search for useful facts and information

Talking of technology, as an aide memoire Alexa is great
When I ask her what the weather is like today, she’ll say
The Prime Minister is Theresa May, I’m none the wiser
in fact more confused, back in the day I’d just pop outside 

The alarm I set on the to remind of some important event
thinking the mobile phone yes that will not let me down
next thing I know the alarms just gone off, its two days late!
Yep, I had set the wrong time and date!

Details | Judy Reeves Poem

Ho Hum

I was going to write a nice little poem
all about love, beauty, etcetera - an anthem
but cheery words simply would not come
instead, a sad song I just started to hum                                          
now, I am feeling rather down and glum 
– ho hum!

Details | Judy Reeves Poem

Gut Feeling

On that dark and dismal road
 just me and him. 
Inside me, something is screaming  
can you hear me
will you hear me
do you dare me
weird, supernatural aura
intangible, formless
floating there in my gut
scattered butterflies
fluttering 
frenzied
frantic
in a dark deep barrel
there is no escape.
As we pass by each other
he raise his hand,
a threat.
everything within me stopped
silenced by fear
petrified. 
He laughed mockingly
and walked on.

Details | Judy Reeves Poem

No

You want it, don’t you?
No, I don’t want it
I know you very well
That’s true, but I said no
You mean yes, don’t you?

Again I say no
I don’t believe you
No only means NO
Your eyes say yes.

You want it
No I don’t
Yes, you do.

You do
don’t you?

NO!