Best Poems Written by John Stephens

Below are the all-time best John Stephens poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

View ALL John Stephens Poems

Details | John Stephens Poem

Thanks

worried,
stressed,
tired,

unexpected,
tranced,
covered in blue, gray
traveled,
destined,

warmed,
eased,
Love

js

Copyright © John Stephens | Year Posted 2009


Details | John Stephens Poem

The Why's We Ask

the why's we ask
come so often,
catching us off guard
and knocking us down,
we don't want to make a sound
for fear of disloyalty,
but there they are
the why's we ask

treat this world kind
and be rewarded,
rewards that perhaps
come another time,
when other's will be left with
the why's we ask

picking ourselves up
yet to see another love go down,
caring for them
we give it all,
leaving behind our own fears
shielding them with compassionate arms,
hoping not to face those fears
the why's we ask

disloyalty to him?
we do not know,
faith brought us here
to face the why's,
yet we aren't ready
praying every night,
love or perhaps loyalty
the why's we ask

time goes by
wrinkles appear
birds sing
wind blows
holding a love ones hand
you smile

the why's we ask

js

Copyright © John Stephens | Year Posted 2009

Details | John Stephens Poem

His Watch Ticks

traveling on a spinning world
never considering to slow,
he remains motionless
close to madness,
winding trails of the day
etching into his mind,
lights, words, sounds, 
asphalt, buildings, humans
trashing beyond capacity,
his watch ticks

endlessly avoiding them
he listens and sings,
yet moments short
consumed again,
these thoughts
seem to have no end,
his watch ticks

he tilts upwardly
eyes pointed blue,
filling his lungs
glimpsing at darkness,
luring those thoughts
to brighter places,
his watch ticks

victory at last
heart pounding faster,
he listens and sings
endless moments,
gazing in marvel
taken it all in,
lights, words, sounds, 
asphalt, buildings, humans
his watch ticks


js

Copyright © John Stephens | Year Posted 2009

Details | John Stephens Poem

Toll

life comes and goes
one must not know
memories of old 
rest with a toll

tugging, nagging
etching into the skull
knocking on the door
solicitation unknown

run, hide, bury them
leave them at rest
lock em away
but wait
they need no keys

stillness, that is it
not a peep
not a breathe
hush I say
you must not speak
they can hear you
feeding off the thumps
they chisel away

gasping for air
where has it gone
for one by one
they all come
following weathered trails
of long ago

powerless
often for hours
some for days
and others for years
wanting nothing more
but to pass this toll

js

Copyright © John Stephens | Year Posted 2009

Details | John Stephens Poem

The Nut

quiet
look,
there he is,
looking gray and down
studying the earth
appearing to be wrapped in thoughts
remembering another one
he glances toward the road
the path for which he fears

hat chew!
startled
he swings around
fluid motion
turns to sudden stillness
desperately gasping for air
heart thumping loud
quiet heart
not too loud
for sound is not his friend
feeling the predator
watering his mouth

seconds drift
all hearts regulate,
he gently rotates
analyzing what he must have lost
for memories fade
always changing
perhaps his last breathe
hopefully,
not today

can he muster the strength
this is his chance
thoughts imprisoned
running swiftly, loudly
amongst his world
for which we embark upon
gliding gently down
backed by eyes of blue

thundering down to earth
stirring the onlookers
we adjust
still unaware
perhaps even without care
destination achieved

gathering his item
he stands tall
observing his exit
not noticing the onlookers
he quickly makes his farewell
safely and peacefully
the taste of victory 
fills his mouth
what a nut
we whisper in our minds

quiet
look,
there he is,
looking gray and down.

js

Copyright © John Stephens | Year Posted 2009


Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter