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Best Poems Written by Ian Howard

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Details | Ian Howard Poem

A Mythical Creature

The sun dulled to a shade of green,
A creature hanging there I hadn't seen
Wings of webs and sparkling coloured hues
Seeming to be smiling at me, head tilted

A mystical creature there only I could see
The sun eclipsed; the darkness brings
a creature hanging with webbed wings,
seeming to smile at me, with fiery breath.

A mystical beast, a Dragon I could see.
It was not a span ago I remember,
they needed and had asked of me.
To think of their form so bold,

to give them the life they knew of old.
The mighty dragon hanging so near,
brushing away clouds of innate fear.
Pulsing wing beats shattered the glade,

yet held me safely in his mystical shade.
A voice of an Angel touched my ear.
"Thank you, for seeing my presence clear.”
“My Dragon's form in infinite perfection,

asking of me a new conception”.
"Do tell me of this Earth so changed,
now no castles and dungeons dwell.
Where I did roam for many years,

there maidens fled in horrifying tears.”
“Oh mighty creature, It is sad to say
those things don't exist today.”
”It has been a long, long, time for you

just wait I'll see what I can do?”
I sat thinking for an unusual time,
but could only think of fable and rhyme.
It did come to me in the end,

where a Dragon could happily blend.
Disney was looking for something new
Harry potter was in a right stew.
”Can you fly when asked my dragon of fire”?

Snorting smoke, he flew higher and higher.
I told him of films and fun so grand,
of castles Built in another land.
"Hold on!" I said as I found a strand.

"Can you fly to New Zealand?"
A nod from him and a smile so wide,
on his back I flew on, an incredible ride.
To star in The Hobbit was my dream too,

my dragon and me headed for pastures new.
A cloud of steam emitted from the stream
the mighty Dragon was just a dream.
At the bottom of the hill dust settled around,

I felt such a fool, as I hit the ground.

Copyright © Ian Howard | Year Posted 2011



Details | Ian Howard Poem

Phobia's

Phobias
	A Bluto is not that Disney dog
	It was when a mewling 
	that I would scream 
	Should they wet my body
	And then apply cream
	
	Ablutophobia – fear of bathing, washing, or cleaning
	
	Achluo the demon that lurks
	In darkened corners
	The long toothed life suckers realm
	I am scared as the sun dims
	It seems to bare my soul
	
	Achluophobia – fear of darkness
	Acro what did they do 
	They called me acrobat 
	This will not do
	I get giddy standing on a matchbox
	Please get a net to see me through
	Acrophobia – fear of heights

	
	Agora just shut that door 
	I am staying here forever more
	Bring me food put it on the floor
	The letter box is just for you
	Don’t, Don’t,  try to get through
	
	Agoraphobia,  Fear of open spaces or of being in public places. Fear of leaving a                    safe place
	Agrap stole my feelings 
	He caught me unaware
	I am now afraid of sex 
	don’t ask me anymore
	It frightens me that’s for sure
	
	Agraphobia – fear of sexual abuse

	Agrizoo an angry gorilla I knew
	Wild as hell was kept in a cell
	As all his kind, even a timid Hind
	They scare the crap out of me
	Please let them run free

	Agrizoophobia – fear of wild animals

	A gyro is just what I need
	I will fit it to my trusty stead
	He will fly straight across that band
	A tarmac nasty throughout the land
	I cannot face the walk you see
	Agyrophobia –fear of crossing the road

	Aichmohe got in a hell of a fight
	They killed him with a pointed knife
	It will come for me just you see
	I cannot even mend his cloth
	Won’t  touch a needle at any cost
	
	Aichmophobia – fear of sharp or pointed objects (such as a needle or knife)
	

	Ailuro he lived next door 
	The bastard sits on the fence
	To me he snarls not a purr
	A Persian he is supposed to be
	Frightens the *****out of me
	
	Ailurophobia – fear of cats
	
	Algo, Away, I am pain free
	This morphine is the best
	First day of pain free rest
	Been told that it will return
	Got some gas, peace I yearn
	
	
	Algophobia - fear of pain

	Andro I’d rather be               (android)
	I am metal and plastic you see
	Electric person not man or woman
	That would be so sad
	If just a man I would go mad

	Androphobia – fear of men

	Antho the pologist got the plan
	He put concrete throughout the land.
	Not one shrub or flower seen
	Not one blade of grass green
	A flower would make me scream

	Anthophobia – fear of flowers


	Anthropo was a lonely man
	Wouldn’t mix with others so
	He lived in a cave, well just a hole
	You would see his eyes peeping out
	A shaking frame if people were about
	
	Anthropophobia – fear of people or the company of people, a form of social phobia.

	Aqua marine or even the wet stuff
	Is enough to drive me mad
	I stay in when there is rain
	Just wait for the sun to shine again
	A damp tissue that’s quite enough

	Aquaphobia – fear of water. Distinct from Hydrophobia, a scientific property that makes chemicals averse to interaction with water, as well as an archaic name for rabies

	Arach no, and know the score
	Those creepy creatures on the wall
	Send shivers up and down my spine
	Six legs and venom to drive you mad
	I am running already it is sad.

	Arachnophobia – fear of spiders


	Astra my name you would think of the stars
	My gaze goes up but not that far
	To the first cloud there in the sky
	If it’s the shape of an anvil I will fly 
	Fear grips me and I don’t know why
	
	Astraphobia – fear of thunder and lightning
	Atychi that was about the size of me
	The others would just make fun
	I was no good to anyone
	A failure of the first degree
	Nothing my goal, was all I could see
	
	Atychiphobia – fear of failure

	Auto matic I will seek people out
	To touch to play as long as they are near
	Don’t leave me in this place alone 
        A singularity is my biggest fear
	I will hold anyone you see I care

	Autophobia – fear of being alone or isolated
	
	Automat o no it’s not true how could you
	An advert that’s telling just lies
	Don’t all the others realize
	What you say is not true, put it right 
	It will drive me crazy I’ll keep out of sight
	
	Automatonophobia – fear of anything that falsely represents a sentient being

	Aviat o if you think I am going in that
	No I am not a scared ***** cat
	If we were meant to go fly
	Wings we would have from him on high
	Fold your machine and put it just so.
	
	Aviophobia, Aviatophobia – fear of flying
	
	
	
	
	Chaeto he was a Greek of old
	Bald as a badger so the story is told
	But why you say is there no cure 
	For him to grow some lovely hair
	For him it would give such a scare

	Chaetophobia – fear of hair

	Chemo therapy keep away from me
	Chemicals scare me I know they are free
	But to have them coursing through my veins
	No matter how good they are, and that jar
	The fear of everything for what they are 

	Chemophobia – fear of chemicals

	Chirop to or not too so I am told
	They stick in your hair best to be bald
	Now I find that my nails are made of hair
	Chirop is what I fear not chiropodist is that clear!!
	Just shave my head and cut my nails dear

	
	Chiroptophobia – fear of bats

	Chromo shines bright in my eyes
	The fear of all colours  I realise
	Now I am safe from a troubled day
	Into my dark room, I have found my way
	Knock when that sun has met its demise

	Chromophobia - fear of bright colors

Copyright © Ian Howard | Year Posted 2012

Details | Ian Howard Poem

A Japanese Garden

I found a garden waiting for me
Laid out as my life should be
The reality became quite blurred
In the garden a flock of birds

Showing me what things were for
I asked them to fly or show me more
All but one took to the air
To move one grain here wasn't fair

The Toki stood just to one side
In perfection nothing to hide
It told me of stories from overseas
Could you talk of me? I asked it "please"?

Your journey here is plain to see
I am not real, I live in eternity
Please hold my mind for all that be
Call my friends to walk and visit me

Toki called my friends from everywhere
As birds a noisy flock they appeared
Footprints again from those that cared
Why do they come, to visit and share?

The Toki seemed to laugh at my plight
Stay, Oh Stay, please don't take flight
At this he shook as if laughing so
You take your friends where ever you go

Then let them see the things I see
The peace here and other places that be
This garden will focus their minds
On the inside that always shines

At this the footprints in the sand
Beautiful shapes from other lands
I was awestruck at the ones I could see
Prints left in white sand by you and me

We whispered of all the things we knew
Then of hurts and fears filling us anew
There in the garden it was safe you see
There to tell all of the things that be

This was a glimpse the Toki said
Of eternity and the things we dread
Once you have faced all these fears
Love is there for the rest of your years

Remember that all you have to do
In the future to talk, with me or you
Is to think of us as free spirits all
Just whisper my name no need to call

Yenti

Copyright © Ian Howard | Year Posted 2011

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Acoma Pueblo

Acoma Pueblo 

My city of stone
My people I cry for you
I looked into our land
Nothing remains
broken hope of years.
You did toil the soil,
your life was grand.
But what could you do,
the waters ran away from you?
Where did those clouds roll?
Not here, you, my people cried
It hurt your very soul
Brown crops dying so
My children where,
now this place has died,
can I find you?
There's no need to hide
You now suffer more so
Pollution is to blame?
The world is not the same,
Now moving is the game.
Do you ever learn from me?
Not much that I can see
Till the day you die
My people will not survive
For comes another
This one more hurtful,
than the dry winds
He will scour your lands
Far deeper than the wind
Much broader than the shear
He will rule over you
It will be his laws that will kill
The Clovis culture
We gave the world a puzzle
Yet great we were in American time
Our tools were of another level
The archaeologists found the sign
Buried as we fell there,
to famine drought or fire
In a new land not seen before
Our weapons opened another door
They dated us in pre history time
The sphinx in Egypt
Would have smiled if he knew
That I played with bows and arrows
As he watched over you
But what of those great sailors
Saying they'd found new lands
Did they not see us standing there
With our weapons in our hands
They returned talking of our land,
Something for their empires plan
It would have been better for all,
had we welcome them to our shore

Copyright © Ian Howard | Year Posted 2011

Details | Ian Howard Poem

Kachina of the Hopi

Kachina of the Hopi

There are so many of you
Holding sway with our nation
We of the Hopi yearn for your wisdom
Your powers over air and water
Talk to us in gentle tones
Let our ancestors rejoice at our life
Let them release us from misery
From the memories we had of long ago
Let fertility become your watchword
As you tend to our people and crops
We teach our children of your ways
We make your form to show them
The creatures of the Earth
Adorn the images of your form
With feathers and seed of the Earth
We will teach our children to walk tall
We will sing and dance your praises
At the Soyal we will renew our vows
Ahola oh ancient one watch over our sun
You led our people that long time past
We walked from the Mountains of the East
To the great plains of the Middle land
You showed us the track of the sun
Hear us now oh special one
We ask only that which we need
Forgive us our wants that we can live again
Send to us Chaveyo, show those that do wrong
Put our people on the road of the Great Spirit
You are many where we are now few
I will talk to you again Great Spirit
Forgive this lowly creature
Take my love and praise for ever

Copyright © Ian Howard | Year Posted 2011



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Tribute To the Wolf

Tribute to the Wolf

I am of your nation (Cherokee)
I have travelled far to find my family
 (They are scattered across America)
Boundaries are now gone
I know you as you know me

My Mother taught me so
I know you, ” a ni wa ya” 
(Of The Wolf Clan)
You speak in our tongue
But the words are of another

I am of the, “a ni sa ho ni” people 
(Of The Bear Clan)
Yet I listen to you young one
Your clan has been spread
Many left by the wayside
 (1000 died in the great walk)
Yet you are still many 
(The trail of tears)

The largest arm of our Nation
You are our protectors
The First New Moon of Spring, 
(Festival of Spring held in March)
Has past and the seven did well. 
( Seven Clans)
I will keep food for you till 
(There is always a welcome to others )
Green Corn dances the days away,
 ( Mid Summer festival)

Of the Stomp, Feather and Buffalo. 
(Tribal Dances)
Not eating, playing games.
Then to be cleansed by the water
Holding our Sacred Prayers
Of seven and four we hold dear 
(Seven Clans, Four compass points)

Our seven that scattered to the four 
(The scattering of the Cherokee)
While three levels we retain. 
( The three levels of existence)
The Owl looks on as the Cougar screams. 
(The sacred creatures of the tribes)
Our balance is retained therein.

Secretive yet open in their ways
We will dance in a great circle 
(The great circle was paramount in their beliefs)
Then let the Long man take our dreams. 
(Running waters, Rivers & Streams)
The little people will come if called 
(Belief in little people that are in their image)
They are our Brothers though so small
Hair that sweeps the very chaff 
( The little ones have very long Hair)

Remember they live in all things.
 (They live everywhere and in everything)
Guides to lost children they are. 
( They look after lost children)
As children they play with us.
Bringing happiness to a sad child, 
(The little ones have healing powers)
Creating purpose to the befuddled.
Treat them with respect
 (The little ones must be treated properly)
Bother them not with silly ways,
Or silly ways will stick in your mind

Should you see them be blessed!
Let not a loose tongue talk of them 
(If you see one don’t talk of it for Seven years)
As the westerner and his broken mirror
Take seven years to talk of them
Never speak to them after sunset.

Beware of false cures in this life 
( Medicine men beware of them)
The Raven Mocker, may be in disguise
 ( Raven Mocker was bad Medicine man)
Seek only the pure to be cured of ills
Seek not a cure from one that ails
 (Choose a medicine man that is healthy)
They are a false being in our eyes

Mix today with yesterday to be safe 
(Use Modern and old medicines together)
Only smoke with the fit one
Then drink the waters they give to you
May your ways with the Wolf be many
(Just a farewell to the Wolf Man I was talking to)
I shall read of you in the dens of the Great Bear.

Copyright © Ian Howard | Year Posted 2012

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Great Spirit Buffalo

Great Spirit Buffalo

I would love to lock horns with you
Oh mighty Spirit Buffalo of the plains
Shall we talk of our ways that are obscure.
Where are your people, where do they dwell?
I have heard tales of the plains people
That have called your name yet where are you?
Have you forsaken them or are they blind,
is it not time for you to forgive them?
It was not their fault that they erred,
you were there watching as time passed.
The great Eagle your eyes, the bear a strength.
They needed more as a wailing child
To see you in all your glory to let them know,
that they were part of you, part of the whole.
This was a simple thing for them to be watchful
How was it that you never came back?

Copyright © Ian Howard | Year Posted 2011

Details | Ian Howard Poem

Mystic Creatures

I was drawn to another world,
there a gentle light shone out.
A beautiful girl stood waiting,
gazing at the lava rocks around.

A formation so strange to me,
where I could see ages gone by.
Here I could only think not talk,
“This is usual to do you see”

"Hello young lady how are you"?
I sent to her with a loving thought.
"Where are we, that you are alone"?
“Why are you in this dreary place”?

Her light brought a tear to my soul
as she replied, with sorrow clinging
"I am the spirit of this great Dragon"
Sending the creature’s picture to me

I realised what my vision was.
There on the ground he lay,
The grey lava rocks his life form
A mighty Dragon of a bygone day

Had I looked from a distance.
It would have made sense
The lava rock head and neck
All parts of such a wondrous creature

I looked further to see more.
An arch glistened with rainbow suns,
were the wings with which it flew,
a crumpled heap catching the dew

Scattered shield shaped scales,
dreamed of colours swelled
I felt a great sadness at this sight,
turned to the girl to ask why

It came to me with love,
from mystic ages gone by,
that she was the his spirit
with her dragon she did fly

This was my Dragon,
together we had flown
I was his spirit guide
thought you would have known

Such a long, long, time ago
"Why then"? I sent to her,
“Is this mighty creature so”?
Thoughts aren’t sent any more

Earth creatures have let us go.
"We of the Spirit flying so free,
Held by the thoughts of you,
can’t you see, you make us be

Creatures of our Spirit land.
are calling out to be reborn.
The Phoenix and lovely Unicorn,
held in mind for all to know.

“Now leave me with him as I must go,
I have to search for a new Spirit so"
I left the young lady as she did say
Re-crossing back to my own day

I thought things she had said to me,
they cannot be left in memory.
There on this day I vowed,
to see more clear the creatures there.

I thought of a mighty dragon,
a spirit girl guiding his great form.
This was the day he was reborn
I renewed the creatures in the spirit so.

That they are of eternal breed,
a great light came on for me,
as in their world they were made
that they now will forever be

A voice so soft, with love so free,
flowed into my thoughts to thank me

Copyright © Ian Howard | Year Posted 2011

Details | Ian Howard Poem

Footprints and More Footprints

Footprints & more Footprints

Footprints

This morning before the sun reached out
Climbing for its place in the heavens day,
I walked outside to greet it, as is my way
On my beautiful lawn were a lot of bumps,

Turned to find a roller or rake,
But before this task was through
That voice came and told me of you
"Look at what your friends have done"

In the growing light I saw that the lumps,
In the shape of footprints, not ugly bumps
As if someone had been walking there
In my garden it didn't seem fair.

Tears rolled down my cheeks with ease,
As I knew just what they were
My friends from all over this world,
Like you, had to be silly had to care.

Now my lawn is more beautiful,
Than any I have ever seen.
Feet prints there in profusion green,
From billiard table top to this shrine,

Thank you all, you friends of mine

More Footprints

I walk the land it talks to me
No I am not strange, or silly
First I tried my lawn out there
Friends came from everywhere.

The lumps and bumps there to see,
Now my lawn stretches to eternity
It hit my ways as now each day
I stroll in thoughts on green ways.

Standing still as one by one,
My friend’s prints I stand upon
Aussie ones with dusty toes
State side bigger ones do show.

A feeling that is mostly there
For one that treads, really cares
This has started something new
An instant in time I stand with you.

Friends come and also go,
Their foot prints are there to show
As if they had walked in snow
Each telling me, they care.

There are strangers prints there
I say so welcome you are here
Special places now put aside,
Some I see, and I have cried.

Soldiers who march around,
Leaving footprints on the ground.
They are a great treasure to me
Telling stories of love in eternity.

Present friends the new prints are,
Great that my lawn stretches so far
Remember to make your own
A swathe of grass to eternity thrown.

Feel that Earth beneath your feet,
Reach out to people in your street.
Tell them of a new thing found,
Footprints sweet upon the ground.

Copyright © Ian Howard | Year Posted 2012

Details | Ian Howard Poem

I Felt the Earth

I Felt the Earth

There in the valley reaching for the sun
Our younger days were such fun
Though the struggle to be
Was so much for me?

The valley walls were so tall
That I would fear they would fall
Then bury me, it was so little that I did see
As the sun did run its course

The silence still echoes in my mind
Where I had trod in younger times
The valleys hole deep under ground
Would give and take of those around

It to me didn’t seem so clear
As I was to young, and didn’t see
Why they would do this for such as me
Then laugh as their days sped by

Sinking shafts of killing coal
They would just each morning go
To where I would ask in questions few
As it was hard to speak to you

Who slaved all of your day’s
For such paltry sums
Quality of life and then some
They would take all these things away

You did this For Me

Even now in these modern days
They do the same a different ways
As we would still not know
That under ground you would toil so

Then later as time, did pass me to be
A thinking man for all to see
I would wonder at it all
That why you should have been there at all

From healthy folk to coughing wrecks
It took its toll of fine young men
This land that we loved so, and then again
We loved it for it was home

Fear not to turn up at the old people’s graves
There to talk of those long gone days
That left the greedy ones flying so high
Though to little me and mine, we cry to be

We had so little that had to go so far
Ask your mother around to tea
Talk over fences and laugh with me
At the way of folks that err

The life though hard was still there to see
Now came the new age just for you and me
Things were changed where I had grown
I could not leave you there alone

To strive to be good was all we could do
At what things you now saw and knew
In church yards this valley through
I will still visit there to talk to you

There to relate of the now times
To tell of tales that you once knew
I hope it sees your eternity through
Deep under ground there stirs not a thing

I see You Now

Nothing now the mines have gone
Just old memories now held in song
Blackened faces coughing, choking shrouds
Clouds of long past days held your ways

For other folk you toiled away
The sun that stretched the valley so
Is brighter now than you did know
The changing of the valleys ways

Brought on in so many places
Cannot replace your blackened faces
That even now had so many graces
Hear now, to the green grass you gave to me

Gone are spoons to say I love you so
Take me back I you implore
To walk once again the valley floor
Mind that hole my little dear

It’s where the miners use to play
The fear they had, has gone away
My child look to the hills you will see
Lumps and bumps graves of yesterday

Which on green grass spills
Over to cover mine droppings
That took its toll, they said it couldn’t be
Do not look you mustn’t see

The changes of one type of poverty
To this one place we hold so dear
Gone are the mines but what’s this I hear
There are new things to take their places

Today I Cry

No longer blackened, we’ve changed places
Little boxes with electronic faces
That sings your praise and makes you feel
Yet where’s the money to pay the bills

No matter that we are coming to
The centuries end for you and me
It’s the same now as it will always be
My grown up child don’t look at me

When I say, I would rather be
Back there in days gone by, believe me
Then if you catch me sometimes its fine
Where you may see me cry for that time

It’s not for the passing of my friends
That all these warm tears descend
Rolling then falling without end
It’s for the future that we are told

That will be better now that you are old
Not so grown child of mine
The poverty has just been refined
There on the soil that I left behind

Was as, and is always now
Where the earth feels the same

Copyright © Ian Howard | Year Posted 2013

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Book: Reflection on the Important Things