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Danny Derden Poem
Nightmare Truths
She hides the truth in nightmare screams,
Refusing to voice fevered dreams,
As moon bent shadows climb the wall,
To bring more demons to her hall.
Those who know her will see no tears,
She locks them away—shows no fears,
Fights her scars in silence alone,
Growing harder her heart of stone.
Copyright © Danny Derden | Year Posted 2025
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Danny Derden Poem
my endless void of grief breathes pain
no light, no hope, no peace, no gain
just aching hollow uncontained
my memories unspoken
on replay always broken
adrift upon a glassy sea
of nothingness, a nowhere me
sedated by my apathy
a shell, a husk, no feeling
a ghostly past comes stealing
a whisper sighs within the haze
a truth sublime begins to blaze
life can be better than this phase
The mirror starts to splinter
An end for endless winter?
then breath returns somehow within
and pulse where none before had been
a hint of light past darkest sin
dim, unsure, yet brighter still
to heal a long broken will
the journey long, dark and bitter
yet beauty found amidst litter
grace and strength to become fitter
inner light, no surrender
heart unbroken but tender
;
Copyright © Danny Derden | Year Posted 2025
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Danny Derden Poem
I saw a Man today as he walked the hill
Tears and drops of blood did equal spill
From brutally torn flesh and eyes of pain
I saw a Man today my inadequate refrain
I saw a Man today unjustly convicted
His trial was short and clearly scripted
The verdict assured without any proof
I saw a Man today who spoke only truth
I saw a Man today abandoned by friends
Who claimed to be strangers by pretends
Before the cock crowed denying Him thrice
I saw a Man today and words cannot suffice
On a hill called the skull I saw a Man today
‘Father, forgive them’, is what I heard Him say
Through nails and a crown of thorns grace He sought
I saw a Man today the world’s debt He bought
For I saw a Man today more innocent than me
Take up my sentence while I just walked free
He bore the crucifixion cross in my place
I saw a Man today, I looked upon His face
I saw a Man today and He saw into my heart
And took away the darkness and gave me a new start
He broke the chains that bound tighter than the jail
I saw a Man today whose blood tore the veil
I saw a Man today and He died upon that cross
Sacrificed for me and all the world’s lost
He could have called a heavenly army
But I saw a Man today who chose to die for me
Three days past I saw that Man die upon the beam
A death that changed my path it would so seem
And now before His empty tomb an angel doth stand
Why seek you in this place of death The Living Man?
Copyright © Danny Derden | Year Posted 2025
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Danny Derden Poem
All I want in this whole world is someone to love,
Someone to hold, to cherish, to dream of.
All I need is someone to comfort me—
To stand by my side, to help set me free.
Someone to talk to, to whisper things to,
Someone, my dear… someone like you.
Someone who'll love me, and I’ll love them back,
Someone who’s faithful, not someone I lack.
Someone—oh someone—help me, I pray…
Someone who’ll love me forever and a day.
Someone, please—ask her not to leave,
For without her, my life is a sieve.
Someone, oh someone, hear my cry,
And tell the girl I love her—the one who said goodbye.
Someone, please someone, tell her I’ll wait—
Wait for her return, no matter how late.
I’ll wait here forever—I don’t care how long—
Because she’s the reason I wrote this damn song.
Yes, she’s the reason I wrote this damn song.
She’s the only reason I wrote this damn song.
Copyright © Danny Derden | Year Posted 2025
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Danny Derden Poem
Iambic pentameter--such a pain,
Draining and straining this old poet's brain.
Copyright © Danny Derden | Year Posted 2025
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Danny Derden Poem
Woodsmoke
Sweet, resin pine
Rising, drifting, curling
Comforting warm chimney fragrance
Autumn.
Copyright © Danny Derden | Year Posted 2025
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Danny Derden Poem
Behemoth, dust-born grace
Gentle wisdom’s own face
Savannah’s ivory dusks
Rhythm of moonlit tusks
Beckoning our worship
And lifting Mother Earth up
Contest Name: ANIMAL ELEPHANT
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud
Date: September 21, 2025
Category: Verse
Copyright © Danny Derden | Year Posted 2025
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Danny Derden Poem
Signed X’s and O’s
Through the tears…despite my fears,
I’ll be back home again.
Though the war rages for endless ages,
I’ll be back home again.
Though I’m far away from you,
You have no need for concerns,
For my love remains true,
And my passion still burns,
And I’ll be back home again.
Though its dark and lonely here,
Thoughts of you keep me strong.
Being kept from you is my only fear,
But I know it won’t be for long,
And I’ll be back home again.
And though the time I must be away
Drags slowly on and on,
We both know there will come a day
When from this hell I’ll be gone,
And I’ll be back home again.
And though I say, “Don’t forget to pray,”
That I’ll be back home again,
And when I’m through, you’ll know it’s true,
‘Cause I’ll be back home again.
When it’s my turn to come back home,
It’s on the first plane I’ll be,
With no more desire to roam,
And it’s your lovely face I’ll see
When again I’m back home.
I’ll do what I must,
And in God I trust,
While my service I complete,
Till I’m back home my sweet.
Signed with X’s and O’s--
That’s how the letter closed,
That the chaplain brought to her door.
A soldier back home never more…
Copyright © Danny Derden | Year Posted 2025
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Danny Derden Poem
The L. T. was green,
And equally mean,
Full of swagger and bluster,
And all the authority he could muster.
Bold in command,
This brash little man,
Who strode all around
Like he owned the damn ground--
Barking orders and spittle,
Never regarding how little
Regard in which he was held.
It was the midnight shift,
And L. T. in a tiff,
Cause his coffee had run out.
The L. T. with a shout,
Demanded a fresh pot be made--
No matter if the deployment was delayed.
In stepped the Sergeant broad and tall,
Striding to the Lieutenant who suddenly seemed small.
“The troops have a duty to move this line.
Your coffee can wait--this ain’t the time.
“And never raise your voice to one of mine.”
The Sergeant stared a moment then turned on a dime,
And made himself a cup of joe taking his sweet ass time
Copyright © Danny Derden | Year Posted 2025
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Danny Derden Poem
The sun is high in the summer sky
And no clouds to be seen
The grass is high neath the summer sky
And growing tall and green
The mower starts with growling roar
And cuts through swaths of fescue
This mowing proves a sweaty chore
And soon I beg for rescue
My lawn’s expanse appears to grow
The longer that I labor
Seems to expand as I cut each row
The mower becomes my sabre
And I a true knight dueling a foe
Who laughs at my every advance
He stands unyielding before each blow
And about the green our martial dance
With never a sign of surrender
The fight goes on between us two
Which shall prove to be the pretender
Victory comes with the aim that’s true
And at last my foe lies low
Beneath the heel of the victor
Yet even now it grows
Who shall win next Saturday?
Sadly there is no predictor
Copyright © Danny Derden | Year Posted 2025
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