Get Your Premium Membership

Best Poems Written by Arlene Rubenstein

Below are the all-time best Arlene Rubenstein poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

View ALL Arlene Rubenstein Poems

Details | Arlene Rubenstein Poem

Hate, Take Your Rest

Hate, Take Your Rest

Hate,
take your rest
or best,
eliminate
if you can.
And, you can.

Your efforts
like stinging bees
could never please
water of life is
drowned by your
smoldering mastery
then all is lost.

Hate,
are you not weary now?
is there a way somehow
for love to replace you?
she is there, beside you.

Your coffin will char 
then it’s too late
to find 
your way 
out of 
the blackness
you will scratch and claw
for forgiveness.

Hate,
drain the poison
or drink it.

whichever you choose,
take your final rest.

Copyright © Arlene Rubenstein | Year Posted 2021



Details | Arlene Rubenstein Poem

Red Gems

Red Gems


A middle-aged man in an old wheelchair
moves slowly and with determination.

On a crowded street filled with happy tourists’ feet
his arms look as if
they’d finished an Olympic race.
Since he has no legs, he cradles his wares 
between lap and chest.

Today he sells tiny bracelets and anklets.

I pass him gingerly, bearing an awkward smile.
A half-block down, my conscience stops me.
I return to him
crouch down to meet him
pick out an anklet
hand him 40 pesos
his eyes glisten.

Why didn’t I ask his name?

Weeks later, this anklet still
adorns my smooth white skin.
I so love these plastic, shiny 
ruby-red gems
held together by tough black string.

Copyright © Arlene Rubenstein | Year Posted 2023

Details | Arlene Rubenstein Poem

The Beauty of Fall


The Beauty of Fall


Fall
frost invites
your favorite sweater

Fall 
into hills of cold crunchy leaves  

Fall
back in time to
a childhood school memory

Fall
to your knees and thank
Gaia for her bounty

Fall
favorably with the lost bees  
as they try to find their way

Fall 
into someone’s arms at
Homecoming dance

Fall
headfirst into
luscious bobbing apples 

Fall
into a bed
of fresh flannel sheets


Mostly,

Fall
fearlessly into
whatever comes your way.

Copyright © Arlene Rubenstein | Year Posted 2024


Book: Reflection on the Important Things