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Best Poems Written by John Mcmahon

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

Details | John Mcmahon Poem

The Wind That Moves You

i admire the muscle
of the wind
that brought you
to my door.

i marvel at its infinite
glory as it moves my
land and shore,
and drives the hearts
desire
towards the fire that
burns for you.

i am the keeper
of such a flame;
the wind that moves you
tames me-

i am lion,
please take my roar.

Details | John Mcmahon Poem

What Might Have Been

1

i plucked a string;
it rang through me
like a hook through
a fish.

i was hooked on
the fine 
craftsmanship;
the way the wood
was cut.

i was convinced
that the hollow
inside contained
a million dreams.

if i could only 
reach them.


2

christmas came
in a whorl-wind
of crinkling paper
and tinsel.
i opened one
of my presents
to find a guitar;
it sang to me
in secret tones.

i knew there
and then,
we would be
friends forever.

i had to bring out
the best
in my six string
friend.

so i conversed
with my six string 
friend until
my fingers burned,

i didn’t wish to
cool the flame.


3

time changed things
as it always does.

i grew tired of the
harmony we shared.

swapped 
my music books

and slipped into 
other pages of life.

now you sit in the corner
like a naughty child.

i watch you with dreams
now fading

into the screams
of what might have been.

Details | John Mcmahon Poem

Flaws Vs Flawless

Flawless

She is by all means perfection, pretty and precise.
She has no need for correction, sugar and spice.

She has hands so delicate to touch, soft and tender.
I love them so very much, my all I render to her.

I wish to linger in her innocent mind, safe and secure.
Bad thoughts won’t reach me inside, innocent and pure.



Flaws

He is by no means perfection, foolish and flawed.
He has much need for correction, the touch of a god.

He has hands so coarse and clumsy, hard and irate.
He should hold her close, but he holds her like a mate.

He has stopped her getting inside his head, sharp and cold.
She’s too innocent to mix with the dread, tired and old.




JohnMcMahon

Details | John Mcmahon Poem

My Mind In E Flat

It only takes a note to raise me from
my slumber …

A tip tappity tap of a beat.
Something street,
and I’m all ears, hands,

but most of all feet …

a melody meanders in the back
of my mind,

a simple, serene
rhythm somewhere
between love and war

is the perfect score, that brings
with it harmony.

Details | John Mcmahon Poem

He Takes a Long Drag

the cat begs for 
the attention
of its master 
who strokes
him under the chin.

he
Takes a long drag 
on a cigarette,
and thinks of 
days 
when the weather
was much kinder to 
us all …

now
the sunflowers in 
his garden
despair over the 
cold that
chills their stems.

he takes another
drag and he sees 
her up there
on the silver screen 
swishing her
hair and smiling at him.

But the teeth are false 
and the picture
Is false, 
the world is false.

he opens the curtains and looks
at a plastic street.

Details | John Mcmahon Poem

Your Dangers Are Many

With spiteful tongue
you tried to lick 
the kindness
from my bones.

You squeezed
my heart dry,
and left me 
wanting you,
needing you …

You planted
your seed deep
and a flower
grew inside me.

With thorns
for petals,
you left your mark,
and I’m compelled 
to water you.

Details | John Mcmahon Poem

Small Parts of Love

how is it that love
can break things,
yet in the same breath
it can mend things?

it must be something 
to do with
who we are;
and how hard we fall
into loves’ oblivion.

take a man for instance,
they say he thinks
of sex every 6 seconds.

what if she deprived 
him of it?

would that open a small
hole in his heart for a
small part of love to
escape?

would sex be 
the only thing
To seal 
the hole?

take woman for instance,
they dream of romance
and magic scenarios-

but just say his brush 
paints black, 

would they dump him for
being boring, 
then realise
that deep down he’s a lovely guy,
then take him back?

how is it that love
can break things,
yet in the same breath
it can mend things?