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Best Poems Written by Marilene Evans

Below are the all-time best Marilene Evans poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Mental Illness

MENTAL ILLNESS

Mental Illness is a sickness of the mind.
It’s the sickness that rarely crosses our minds,
yet, it covers a wide range of conditions of the mind
and there are no specific preventions for this disease.
  
Mental Illness can be a personal issue,
a relationship issue, a family issue, a social issue.
It is disturbances of personality, character and behavior.
Disturbances that cause personal unhappiness,
difficulties in personal and family relations
and behavior that breaks the rules of society.

Mental Illness is a medical condition.
A medical condition that has many types,
affecting moods or emotions, thinking
and/or behavioral problems functioning
in school, work, family and social activities.

It can be caused by biochemical imbalance
that can be present at birth, 
by accidental brain damage from injury to the head
or hardening of the arteries that harm the brain cells. 

Mental Illness occurs throughout the world
and affects all socioeconomic types.
Although millions of people suffer from it,
this illness is still stigmatized.

Currently, some people are opening up
with certain types of this disease,
like depression, substance abuse, anxiety;
but there are still more people in denial
and will not talk about this illness.  

Why is it still considered a taboo,
when mental ill persons are sick people, 
just like sick people suffering from heart disease
or any kinds of physical diseases?

Why be open about physical illnesses
and not the mental illness?
This illness, like the physical illnesses
can be inherited or may develop
overtime during our life.
 
Just like physical illnesses, mental illness is treatable.
Just like physical health, mental health is important.
Physical health is the epitome of our physical well-being.
Mental health is the foundation of moods
or emotions, thinking and behavior.

Mental Health plays a significant role in the ability 
to adapt to change and to cope with adversities.
Mental Illness can result in difficulties in functioning,
adapting, coping, getting along with others
and the ability to live a useful life. 

Mentally ill people may be confused,
unhappy and uncertain about themselves.
They may not know about their illness
because they blame others for their behaviors.
They withdraw into their own make belief world,
unaware what goes on around them.

We are in the twenty first century
and they are still being shunned
by their families, by the communities.
So they and their families can be in denial
living in a lie that nothing is wrong, like being normal
when they need help, support and direction.  
 
There is nothing to be ashamed about this disease,
as it affects millions of people.
There is nothing wrong to ask for help
for there is no prevention to this illness,
it can strike anyone, anytime
and is beyond anybody’s control.

They should ask for help and support
to be able to function, adapt, cope
and live successfully and independently,
to be able to have well meaning
personal and family relationships
and to be able to be part of society.

There is nothing to be ashamed of
and there is nothing to be afraid of
to get all the needed care, help and support
because mental illness is not anybody’s fault. 


5/1/21
Written in 2020
Published in a book in 2020

Details | Marilene Evans Poem

Letter To My Future Self

LETTER TO MY FUTURE SELF
   
Hello there, sweet Lady Jane,

So, it is three weeks before you turn seventy, 
do you think you can honestly tell you found
your peace of mind, contentment, happiness?
Or are you still searching for answers to the
things you never understand and wondering
the what ifs, when you damn know there would
be no answers, no explanations, no clarifications.

Your children are giving you a party and all your
grandchildren will be there to celebrate you.
Do they make you proud for what they become?
Or do you still think you did not spend enough time
with them when you cannot turn back time or do
you still worry and wish something better for them?
All your siblings with their spouses, children and
grandchildren will join your family in celebrating
you reaching a major milestone, are you excited?
Or do you still feel like an outsider for your
mother, their mother treated you differently. 

I know your life did not turn to be what you wanted,
as your life journey put you through many adversities
including sorrow and pain that you turned out to be
what you are meant to be, a strong willed woman.
You learned to let go the shadows that haunted you 
and you accepted and embraced what life threw at you
becoming appreciative and thankful with your blessings.
   
In the past, you were asked many times what your plans
were for the next five years? ten years? for the future?
You had so many for you couldn’t get no satisfaction.
Now, you just whisper let it be, the words of wisdom. 

Your dreams never materialized; but they never left you.
So at this time in your life you think you are never too old
to dream or create new ones by reinventing yourself.
You dare to live your life at its fullest and take a chance
to create your own happiness for it is a decision, a choice.

So, my sweet Lady Jane, it is nice to see you not worrying
about the future; but dancing and rocking to rock and roll
music, living like Ruby Tuesday, you come and go and
change every new day and you just imagine, living for today.
Ahhhh……..


11/22/21  Your Favorite Poem of 2021 Poetry
                Chantelle Anne Cooke

 
9/18/21    Written and Submitted
                Letter To Your Future Self Poetry
                Silent One


NOTE:  My pen name is Sweet Lady Jane      
           from the Rolling Stone's Lady Jane

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I See Love

I SEE LOVE

I see God’s love to
mankind with His majestic,
innate creations

moon
m a g n i f i e s
mystique
 
stars
s p a r k l e
sky 

sun
s h i m m e r s
sea

sea
s c a t t e r s
seashells

sanderlings
s c a n
seashore

wind
w h i r l s
weeds

breeze
b l o w s 
bush 

butterflies
b o a s t
beauty

I see love around
in people admiring and
praising God’s wonders.

Details | Marilene Evans Poem

Harmony

HARMONY

Harmony is important to handle different areas of life;
your inner self, relationships, health and career.  It is
getting in tuned with yourself to know and be conscious
of who you are and finding inner peace and contentment.

Harmony is getting in agreement with your mind and spirit
to know your life’s purpose and to relate, connect and be
in sync with loved ones, family, friends, relatives and others.
Getting in accord with your body for your overall well-being.

Harmony is the key to art and artists perfecting their craft.
It is a principle of art, how the elements work together
in logical progression or relationship and to look and feel
all the elements work as a whole, in unity or unified way.

In Music, it is the combination of simultaneous musical
notes to produce chords or chord progression with pleasing
melody or rhythm or it is simply, the pleasant combination
of notes or music played at the same time, like a symphony.

In vocal music or singing, it is the supplementation of a vocal
melody with additional notes that fit the underlying note.
In Poetry, it is the combination of the topic of the thought, 
the words and the sounds for a poem is like a musical chant.

In dance, it is the combination of balance, rest and succession
of movements, like in one direction, pattern, jump, turn, slide.
In drawing, it is the combination of straight lines, angles, space,
curves, proportions, alignments creating sense of togetherness.  

Harmony is the principle that produces unity or wholeness,
achieved when the elements come together in a unified way.


12/28/21   Submitted
                 Strand No 1042 Poetry
                 Brian Strand


9/5/21   "H" Contest, New Or Old Poems Poetry
             Constance La France
Theme:  1.  Harmony

Details | Marilene Evans Poem

Pearl Of The Orient

Philippines, my country of birth,
one of the countries in Southeast Asia.
It is an archipelago or group of islands,
with more than seven thousand islands.

Luzon, the largest island in the northern
part of the country, is where I was born
and where Manila, the capital is located.
Manila, the city known as Pearl of the Orient.

Magellan, the Portuguese explorer for Spain
claimed the archipelago in fifteen hundred
twenty one, named the islands Las Felipinas
or The Philippines, after King Phillip II of Spain.

Philippines was colonized more than three 
hundred years, from fifteen hundred sixty five
until eighteen hundred ninety eight and ruled
under Mexico-based Viceroyalty of New Spain.

Manila was called Pearl of the Orient Seas
by the historian/Jesuit priest Juan Jose Delgado
in seventeen hundred fifty one for being a way
of sea transactions during Asian trade of goods.

However, in Jose Rizal’s poem “My Last Farewell,”
he wrote before his execution by the Spanish
government for rebellion through his writings,
he stated his country as Pearl of the Orient.

So, Philippines, the country and not Manila,
the city became known as Pearl of the Orient,
upon the discovery of his poem after his execution
in December thirty, eighteen hundred ninety six.

Philippines is known as Pearl of the Orient for
its strategic location in Asia, rich biodiversity or
different kinds of plants and animals, natural
resources and its natural beauty and splendor.

The Spanish Crown called it Pearl of the Orient
for the country was a precious source of spices,
other resources and trade of goods, even prior to
their colonization to acquire a share in spice trade.

Philippines’ natural gem is south sea pearls 
and it is renowned for cultivating south sea pearls.
The famous pearl in the country, known as The Pearl
of Lao Tzu, was considered the largest known pearl.

The pearl weighed fourteen pounds, found by a
Filipino diver in nineteen thirty four and later, a giant
pearl, the Pearl of Puerto weighing seventy five pounds,
found by a fisherman, both discovered in Palawan Island.

No doubt why The Philippines is called Pearl of the Orient,
the two biggest pearls were found in Palawan, Philippines.
Isn’t that the most obvious, sensible reason? I wonder…… 
Well, what do you think?...... Just asking……

Details | Marilene Evans Poem

BELLS

In solitude with eyes
closed, a bell flashes with a
little girl chuckling, chasing it.
In stillness, silence, the bell starts
tolling and the girl intently stares at it,
eyes beaming with glee and a radiant smile
expressing delight. I opened my eyes, shook my
head, thought of the childlike innocence, the display
of honesty, freedom, enthusiasm and suddenly remembered
my own childhood always excited hearing the church bells tolling
for they meant fun, cheers, good times. Hearing the bell at six o’ clock
in the evening for worship or Angelus prayer at our altar, meant having dinner
with my  favorite dish or dessert for dinner was served after our prayers. Hearing
the bells after the morning Easter Sunday procession meant fun in the beach
for everybody went there for fun and lunch to celebrate the Resurrection.  
Hearing the bells after the four o’ clock morning masses during the
Christmas season, from December sixteen through
twenty four meant eating delicious
rice cakes at the church
kiosk.

Details | Marilene Evans Poem

Jasmine

JASMINE

I love perfume and my collection of perfumes
has floral scents with a common medium note,
known as the heart of fragrance, of jasmine,
with other medium notes of rose, gardenia, lily.

A perfume has top notes or different scents
that evaporate as soon as put on the skin.
The medium or heart notes of the perfume
do not evaporate and linger on the skin longer.

So my favorite floral scent of jasmine stays
on me and others are drawn to the rich,
sweet, spring breeze smell of this flower.
I like to hear them say “You smell so good”.

I love jasmine’s exotic, sensual scent.
I find its fragrance intense and intoxicating
especially when others ask “what am I wearing?” 
And I always remember the arabian jasmine.

The arabian jasmine I smelled every night
when I was a little girl in the Philippines
for the flowers close in the morning
and open at night with intense fragrance.

The national flower of the Philippines 
is the sampaguita or arabian jasmine.
I am drawn to the sweet floral scent
of jasmine for I have a connection
with it since childhood and my familiarity
with its rich, intense, exotic smell.
 
I love jasmine, simply for its sweet
floral, yet sensual, seductive smell.   


3/22/21      Favorite Scent(S) Poetry
                  Chantelle Anne Cooke

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The Echoes of My Past

The echoes of my past come
as a rumbling noise or a murmur
reminding me what I had gone through
and how I got to where I am now.

The twirls, the turns, the detours,
the deviations I took in encountering
dead ends, deep pits, steep mountains
that I had to climb out or up in forms
of heartbreaks, separations, hardships, losses.

I used to compare my life to people
around me and people I know.
I came across too much juxtaposition, 
and the effects were too contrasting. 
 
I have two mothers, they are sisters.
The one, who raised me and the biological one. 
Although, they came from the same family.
one was loving and the other is indifferent.

At fourteen, the one, who raised me left
and I stayed with two families with contrasting values.
Heartbroken, I was also pulled and pushed in the middle;
however, they did not affect my two brothers.

I felt not belonging to either of these families,
an outsider wanting to be on my own.
So I married young and had two children;
but I also felt not belonging to my new family.

Love is giving, understanding, sharing;
but love to him was owning, controlling me.
The continuous emotional, as well as physical 
toll wiped out my trust, respect and feelings.
  
I took the whole responsibility to raise
my two children in exchange of my freedom.
I rather be a single parent than staying 
married in a dysfunctional family.
 
My biological mother asked me why
and told me what would other people say.
She cared for their opinions or judgments
instead of offering support or standing by me.

I don’t care about the opinions of other people.
I also don’t understand why some women stay
in abusive relationships and think they could change
their husbands, men or significant others.

I remarried and had two more children.
Our sixteen years was good in the beginning,
as most relationships are, and was promising.
However, the pressure of his business drove
him to drink and the more he depended
on alcohol, the more he neglected the business.
 
His alcoholism and the financial stress in keeping
the business were destroying our family as well as
affecting me mentally, emotionally and financially.
Although I loved him and I still do, I chose my sanity. 

I got the house; however, I had to take care
of all the financial and legal matters, continue
the mortgage payments and raise my two
younger children on my own with the older ones.

I worked two jobs to make ends meet
while suffering from depression caused
by the financial losses and the legal issues
from his business that I had to resolve
and managed the house and the children.
I became the mother and the father.

Some women closed to me used to call me
to complain about their husbands and asked
what to do.  I told them, I did not have the answer
and to seek professional help like I did.

These women had too much anger,
frustration, disappointment, regrets.
They were depressed; yet rejected
professional help because of the stigma
of seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist.
They rather suffer from desperation
and I prefer keeping my mental health.

They stay in a dysfunctional family,
living in conflicts, denial, strife
and worrying what other people will say
or think, if they separate or divorce.

Neither could I stay in an abusive relationship
nor for love in a dysfunctional atmosphere.
I rather be free and that’s the way it has been.
Maybe love will find me someday or its already
in front of me and I’m hesitant to let it in. 

Before when the echoes of my past came,
I heard them like thunder, rolling, loud.
Deafening me, leaving me speechless.
Now, when these echoes come, I still hear
rumbling noise; but softer, like a murmur,
leaving me with a smile and sense of well-being.  


11/22/20     Silent One       Juxtaposition Poetry

Details | Marilene Evans Poem

My Bucket List

MY BUCKET LIST

Years and years ago, I made a bucket list.
I looked everywhere and could not find it.
I don’t remember everything I listed,
so it’s time for a new one to be created
or just to go by what I remember
or take a trip down memory lane.

One thing for sure is to go and explore
the fifty states of the United States of America.
So far I had gone to thirty five states,
leaving fifteen states I still must wander.   

I live in California and had gone to the 
other Pacific states - Alaska, Washington,
Oregon and the four major islands of Hawaii,
as well as the Rocky Mountain states –
Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado,
Utah and Nevada and they are all unique.

I had traveled to the Southwest states
of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas
and to the Midwest states of Iowa,
Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.  Absorbing!
  
I had seen some of the Southeastern states
of Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Alabama, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina,
Georgia and Florida.  They are all captivating.

I journeyed to the Northeastern states
of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York 
and Pennsylvania.  Bewitching and charming!

Our nation’s capital, Washington DC is
fascinating, interesting, engrossing!
It is not one of the fifty states;
but the most important part of America.

I had been to the highest buildings using the elevators,
of course, the Empire State Building and Sears Tower.
I climbed the stairs in the Statue of Liberty
and in Washington Monument in Baltimore
and felt I conquered the world for reaching
the top without my knees giving out on me.
  
I dined in Space Needle and in the top floor
of Hyatt Regency, San Francisco while looking
and being mesmerized by spectacular views.
I rode the Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh,
the steepest incline, where you can see
the unmatched view of the city at the top. 

The Cave of the Winds in Colorado
and Crystal Cave in Springfield, Missouri
are wondrous sights, extraordinary!
The Natural Bridge in Virginia,
a sacred site and a landmark.
I am fortunate to see these wonders.

The Newport Mansions in Rhode Island,
the Hot Springs, Arkansas Bath Houses, 
the Witch House in Salem, Massachusetts
the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California
are out of sight and enriched in history.

Seeing the fifty states of the United States
encompasses most of the items in my missing
bucket list for it really kicked off most of the places,
the views, the natural wonders, the attractions
I wanted to see, explore and experience.

Like the majestic sceneries of the Grand Canyon
in Arizona, the Bryce Canyon in Utah, the Yellow Stone
in Wyoming/Montana, the Glacier Bay in Alaska,
as well as the excitement in riding the Hot Air Balloon
in Albuquerque, New Mexico during the October Fiesta.

Let me not forget the thrill of crossing the suspension
bridges of Capilano in Vancouver and Yukon
in Stikine Region of British Columbia, Canada
and my adventures in Dubai, Switzerland,
Germany, Netherlands and Mexico.

My feet are itching to go and step on other places;
but for now, they are just rocking to the beat
of Rock and Roll and will be ready to roll
when it is considered safe to go or travel.   


12/4/20    What Have You Kicked Off On Your Bucket List

Chantelle Ann Cooke

Details | Marilene Evans Poem

I Feel Your Presence

I FEEL YOUR PRESENCE

   ‘‘Fragments and crumbs of life, 
            all the little pieces”

            John Ruskin, 1853
  
I feel Your presence, my sweet Lord
and I remember the time I was restored
by You, all the fragments and crumbs of my life,
all the little pieces put together for me to rise.

I went into a tailspin during the real estate crisis.
The devastating financial loss tore me into pieces.
I lost hope and fell into the slimy pit of self-pity,
so deep with darkness surrounding me.

My dream of retiring at sixty crumbled
and I fell apart, all my aspirations tumbled.
All of my hard earned money invested in rental
properties were gone and affected my mental
toughness to accept and handle adversities.
My dreams, aspirations turned to uncertainty.

I prayed for months to overcome my depression.
I called You for help; but all I did was to question
You, why? and expressed my doubts and anger.
I asked You why You were not answering my prayers. 

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw myself as a girl
dressed in white, at the bottom of a deep dark well.    
I tried to climb the slimy wall many times
and I fell back to the ground without any grime
of dirt on the white dress that turned so bright
in the darkness and I wished I could see a light.

Then one day, I had the television on
and heard a joyful minister rambling on
about hope and pitched “Do you keep praying
and asking why the Lord is not answering”?
And she said, “Maybe you lost hope”.
I was awakened and realized I lost hope.

I found myself praying with anticipation, expectation
of dealing and overcoming my depression.
I closed my eyes expecting to see myself,
as the girl in the white dress, anticipating myself
to eventually get my hope back and I saw the light
in the sky and toes at the rim of the pit through the light.

I started climbing the slimy pit without falling,
my gaze pinned at Your toes and I started smiling
for You squatted, reached Your hand to grasp my hand.
You put my feet back on the ground and held my hand
and we walked away from the slimy pit of self-pity.
I looked at you Lord and felt calmness in your Company. 

Thank you my Lord making me whole again.
You were the One, who put all the fragments
and crumbs of my life, all the little pieces together
for me to rise above the situation and put my life in order.

Thank you my sweet Lord for Your presence.
I always feel Your presence.

 
8/30/20        All The Little Poetry Contest      Constance La France