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Best Poems Written by Matthew Harris

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A Senior Moment - Part Uno

enjoy the reed
now displayed as a satisfactory deed.
*          *          *          *          *          *                                                       
A Senior Moment - written months ago commemorating 
the graduation from a vaunted charter school 
in Bend, Oregon of thy lovely youngest,
this papa could not attend - 
geographical distance constituting the primary determinant.
*          *          *          *          *          *                                                       
Valedictorian treads across makeshift platform 
i.e. most likely auditorium stage marked 
by hushed audience inhaling, notating, 
and regaling gleeful lightness of buoyant feat 
(but me Yeats heavy of heart) feted for 2017 Redmond 
Enrichment Academy graduates, who attained, 
a milestone vis a vis earning their 
high school diploma, and ready to launch 
bountiful daunting challenges, yet sure 
footed each young gal and/or guy 
will exude joy and sorrow upon grasping their 
high school diploma aware a sound education 
sent each on their own future path 
while pomp and circumstances issues forth 
by adroit musically talented underclass
*          *          *          *          *          *                                                       
man, which emotional celebrated achievement  
evoked by keynote student speaker, 
but also underscored via that well worn mortar
board, linkedin, kickstarter, Joyus 
tune (composed by Sir Edward Elgar – 
subtitled March Number 1) acknowledging 
cheers, eliciting grownups immense Kleenex 
moistening overpowering quintessentially 
simmering ululating wrenching yowling 
as tassels flipped (maybe in conjunction with 
a non twittering uber bird) to the left side 
of the caparisoned newly anointed future 
Dharma Bums, professionals and/or trades 
persons momentarily stung with sadness 
to depart favorite classmates and teachers 
who voluntarily cosseted, ferried, and 
*          *          *          *          *          *                                                       
capitalone did flickr imperceptibly, kneaded 
and leavened LivingSocial, and massaged MineCraft 
outlook plenti full confidence, faith, and inherent 
lettered oblations serve as snap chatting,

Copyright © Matthew Harris | Year Posted 2017



Details | Matthew Harris Poem

No Bigger Than a Baritone Horn - Part I

Round about nineteen 1971-2, yours truly bid adieu 
to Henry Kline Boyer Elementary School 
   (situated at crossroads – then beau
colic rural routes of Evansburg Road and Ridge Pike), where nary a clue
prevails today of such pristine farm country due
to undergo radical urbanization during my boyhood edu
cay ting this sensitive kid asper flora and fauna drastically became few,
but  primary aim of poem intent to focus 
   on grievous sobbing from lifelike goo goo
doll (cries and whispers ken still be heard within beef jerky 
   ladder day grown man body electric) hoo
vividly recollects scathing stabbing, torquing twerking, 
   survey monkey wrenching “IDO
NOT WANT TO BE ALIVE” reaction from manifold factors, 
   which exponentially increased goy tar attacks 
   targeting thine mideastern suffer tick Jew
such baiting (though nary a hint 
   how mean neighborhood kids gleaned this information), 
   since not one kewpie doll, 
   nor telltale Star of David dead giveaway, no one knew
   such sacred symbols never adorned, deployed gripped ourselves, 
   (Unitarians encompassed family of origin), which credo Matthew 
best describes as a hodgepodge, pastiche, ragbag, et cetera of pew 
pills amassed from a gamut of disparate Parochial spew 
wing litany trouncing as heresy 
   any diametrically opposed sanctified religious treatises
   secular regents questioned plants seeds of white lily 
   germinating, sprouting and teasing out through
logical, oratorical, rational invocations such a heretical view
which synoptic backstory of mine, now allows, 
   enables and provides an opportunity for you
to read what I intended to be main essence 
   of this notion communicated 
   from one to another primate within the human zoo.

Copyright © Matthew Harris | Year Posted 2017

Details | Matthew Harris Poem

Coast Guard At the Ready

This outlier locked up (snug as a bug in a rug) within the keystone state
extremely remote from ground zero of Biblical deluge, he humbly didst rate
the pride and prejudice (questionable sense and sensibility) 
   of indiscriminate resultant landfall upon this oblate
   spheroid i.e. namely planet unfit ness Earth, where global affect 
   sans billions of people answered call of the wild 
   viz zit ting suitable companion mate
which collective souls (entrapped within their own asylum) of late
contributed to tipping point, where category 5 hurricanes 
   frequently nada so great
for folks chose to live along the path of this 
   and subsequent Gaia's doomsday fate
an object lesson scientists equate with 
   considerable proof over population fall out, 
   now yielding liquid Frankenstein golem –  
   an atrocious, ferocious, malicious  date
thus now powerless at the figurative hands of  
   nefarious, odious, pernicious, rapacious beastie boy we 
   (meaning  persons, who supposedly advanced progress of civilization) 
   MUST confront global warming resultant 
   what generations of Homo Sapiens didst create 
 asper this thesis, I DO NOT berate others who disagree – cuz, 
   whom iz  this bard butta varmint, for whom the tolling bell doth await.

Copyright © Matthew Harris | Year Posted 2017

Details | Matthew Harris Poem

The Hen House

Cooped within ancient bodies, this inhabitant 
dwells amongst an elder net 
of crabby, crotchety, curmudgeonly claque 
of old folks, only a portion of population I met
which achey, flaky, kooky motley crue 
disgruntlement fed as peevish pet
aye be earnest asper assessment, 
but some getting ready and set
to lay down limb mitt less lives, 
even those who survived harrowing encounters as a vet.

quotidian gossipers punctuate air waves while: 
sitting, riding, quartering, puttering, operating, navigating, 
motoring around on scooters (the sole means of locomotion 

for many elderly residents), 
whose sole occupation incorporates:
yelping, yakking, whining, 
weeping, verbalizing,
uttering, thundering, squawking, 
squabbling, screeching, 
rumbling, quibbling, quarreling, 
prattling, pestering,
offending, needling, mumbling, 
maligning, leering, lampooning, 
kvetching, kibitzing, jabbering, 
irritating, insinuating, heckling, 
harping, gabbing, fulminating, 
fretting, exclaiming, emoting, 
denigrating, carping, cackling, 
begging, agitating, 
acting analogous to bad ass kids itching 
for playground foo fight during recess,  

which comparison might be apropos 
since majority of energy and time expended
complaining about nobody's business 
concerning this, that, or another tenant...
(management not exempt 
from badmouth outbursts), 
where nondenominational AARP 
qualified members congregate 
within what constituted former auditorium 
of repurposed elementary school,

hence quite some years ago 
(an honorable NON GMO gluten free 
cheerful toast made, instituting batter use 
then building standing vacant) 
a bona fide unanimous dogmatic, 
heroic, linguistic welcome sans titular viz zit head
where alumni of alluded alma mater, ivory fiery, 
classy academic solvent atomic structure
became amalgamated, appropriated, 
assigned a new life, whereat fob dost 
electronically activate innermost 
recessed sliding doors, principally, quintessentially, resoundingly availing maw formerly 
entrancing students into Schwenksville 
Elementary School, though some years ago 
repurposed with barely a trace 
constituting current subsidized 
how zing facility re: Highland Manor,

the residence of thyself and missus 
(approaching third month anniversary),
whereat I dune hot give a rats ass 
if aimless airless baseless banter, 
ceaseless chatter, dubious dabbling, 
et cetera if this solitary ruminate thinker
the subject de jure of parlayed people portraying penultimate purposelessness.

Copyright © Matthew Harris | Year Posted 2017

Details | Matthew Harris Poem

Struggle To Write

prosaic prologues bewitch 
   feeble minded scribe doth undertakes 
tend toward lugubriousness ring tone 
   for goodness sake

echoing across, 
   a figurative lake woebegone, where quake
shutters latched storm windows, 
   clapped closed winter season didst make
physical environment lachrymose 

   analogous to imp pond durable dark lake
where sits inside secluded hut, 
   this fledgling author named Jake
a former cub (scout) at a loss 
   to string together an aria 
   tomb other nature and NOT FAKE, 

sepulchral paeon to divine Gaea, Mother Earth
especially incorporating 
   mutisyllabic (sesquipedalian) words, 
   which exertion 
   on par with giving birth 

(or so I guess), 
   a particularly heavily pregnant laden dearth
of help mates, doubling demonstrably 
   deadly duty devoid of mirth
totally tubular taxing toll, 

   an essentially unbearable 
   effort with bulging girth
whereat digestion consumes 
   latent mental ambition, 
   especially toasty warm near the hearth 

which hitherto unknown to any reader 
   twas Xmas fabrication and fiction
no crime committed, nor animals harmed 
   in the making of diction

aery necessary entrapping unsuspecting intellect 
   to comprehend somber benediction
unless perchance one lone wolf 
   bait Oven  English Major 
   with Westernization

topped off with a European   
 debunaire suave acculturation
even luckier if hypothetical personage 
   dips daintily into forays epicurean,

though careful, 
   and alert since church fathers 
  would frown on parsonage
whose natural born ardor, 
   a spiritual abduction
stealing austerity, complacency, and objection
toward forced irrational schemas 
   averse to abnegation
unfair imposition 

   to foist upon pruriant predilection
also impossible 
   to sequester arbitrary animal urges, 
   punishing call of the wild, 
   sowing seeds a beastial accusation
considered averse, 
   then imposition contrition!

Copyright © Matthew Harris | Year Posted 2017



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The Great Lakes - Part One

Pellucid pearls in northeastern North America 
since planetary birth
Comprise Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, 
Erie, and Ontario dearth
Largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth 
Straddle Canadian–United States border 
tethering partial global girth
Constituting 21% of world's surface 
fresh water species hearth
Total surface equals 94,250 square miles 
And total volume equals 
5,439 cubic miles immeasurable worth.

Lake Erie from Erie tribe, abridged form 
of Iroquoian word erielhonan “long tail”
Lake Huron named by French explorers 
for Wyandot or “Hurons” whence they did sail
Lake Michigan likely from Ojibwa word mishigami 
“great water” aka outsize gold quail
Lake Ontario i.e. “Lake of Shining Waters” 
shimmering like hammered coat of mail
Lake Superior coined from French 
“lac supérieur” "upper lake", an emerald watery dale
Ojibwe people called it gitchigumi medicinal 
to cure that, which might ail.

These five lakes each reside in separate basin
Form a single, naturally interconnected body 
of fresh water caisson
Linking east-central interior of North America 
to Atlantic Ocean akin to an escutcheon.

From interior to outlet at St. Lawrence River, 
Water flows via Superior to Michigan-Huron 
southward to Erie to avoid a shiver
Finally released northward to Lake Ontario 
as like a well taut archer with his quiver.

The lakes drain a large watershed via many rivers 
as an Olympic team
Populated with approximately 35,000 islands 
this estimate not x stream. 

The Great Lakes region contains 
many thousands of smaller lakes, 
Often called inland lakes undulating 
in cascading analogous to a fluid ream
Lake Michigan the only one located 
entirely within United States
While the others border between 
United States and Canada – essentially a liquid seam.

Copyright © Matthew Harris | Year Posted 2017

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No Bigger Than a Baritone Horn - Part Ii

Minimal involvement with extracurricular activity at Methacton
   limited to playing Baritone Horny within the band
   though marginal interest existed to maintain constancy 
feigning noteworthy interest second to none
   eventually Mister O'Donnell 
   (I remember without mental exertion - surmising that tubby name 
   of bandleader) synonymous with attitude ill suited, 
   thus loss being banned haint grand
 loss, and subsequent loss did not stun, 
   nor disheartenment arose to forego hearing 
   future applauding hand, or standing ovation
and felt reprieve, relieve, when refused further sharing of any awards won
   yet the greatest joy arose to even the score for decision 
   foisted upon me to play Baritone Horn now a choice I manned
in tandem with with late afternoon rehearsals 
   necessitating this boy not much bigger than the baritone horn
   to make a mad dash with truckload of academic material 
   plus encased “mini tuba,” which constantly banged upper right thigh,
   and nearly tripped me to go flailing head over heals.

Exhaustion (a welcome relief with sprinting the distance – 
possibly even setting a world record) getting linkedin 
(half heartedly envisioning myself whizzing 
across the mountains viz tour de France
measuring a winning distance – quite an expanse
whereby giving the strong armed cyclist brandishing his lance
a run...er rather pedal for his money, 
   yet this flight of fancy fragile as a séance
vanished without a trace, although this trance
figurative shifted gears burnishing via sans deus sol invictus
   and didst witness glory, where ignominy, humility, and  disharmony
Mister McDonald (supposed namesake) from looming maestro, 
   whose countenance evinced 
   countless cartoonish, distorted expressive facial grotesqueries 
   earning apropos sobriquets
   who jabbed the air with each illusory add vance.

Copyright © Matthew Harris | Year Posted 2017

Details | Matthew Harris Poem

A Bend In the River

The serpentine and ageless liquid
   mercurial possessed snake
eternally swallowed 
   since the beginning of time
   one unquenchable thirst to gorge and slake
slurping up an icy cold mountainous pebbly shake
   yet fresh as an irish spring 
   using thy tongue o gaelic spake

   then tumbling down into the cavernous abyss
   subsequently carving 
   a deep criss cross patchwork 
   across the rock hard rugged topography
   like the handiwork of some invincible force

   commandeering a humungous rake
affixing legendary signature 
   quasi-indelible grooves
   only for the near indomitable 
   chiseled masterpiece
   to be erased, twisted then wrenched

   by that natural landscape altering phenomena 
   identified as an earth quake
creating a fresh tabula rasa to begin anew
   inviting waters from on high to carve
   from the ebbing and flowing millennial currents 
   which eventually find a more direct course 
   beginning as trickling creek 

   swells from winter rains
   and thence in summer while the sun doth bake
   when flora blooms and fauna prance
the firmament  then abandons 
   bent elbow oxbow lake
as a former bend in the river.

frum - thhis hen pecked bantam 
   which spouse will never hush
and let me concentrate at some endeavor
   but please DO NOT consider me a lush
nor believe this mainline/ lower merion resident lives plush
for his values quite out of sync with majority in a rush
to chase the ole might buck
   if quiet, you can hear the whoosh!

Copyright © Matthew Harris | Year Posted 2017

Details | Matthew Harris Poem

Total Eclipse of the Sun August 21, 2017

Though the starry eyed corona sporting sun dance 
cosmic phenomena (stealthily slated to describe mid expanse
night during broad daylight), this astronomical event common at a glance. 

Said Hal lens neigh saying Trojan Horse 
   advancing into Troy i.e. a stealth raid
occurs once every eighteen months, harmful metaphorical nightshade 
reflexive inducing furrowed curiosity, hence advisory 
   strongly issued lest lens frayed
causing permanent vision damage 
   (previews to don special eyewear appear on news) assayed

within print media as well fort tis serious risk 
   quickening purblind business to peer 
directly, what scientists term syzygy 
   (when the moon moves in front of el sol) here
rolled ding decreasing (analogous to a dimmer switch) 
   turning day into night, yet glare
ring into the superimposed discs of lunar body 
   across the goddess viz Apollo will dare
any lookers to fixate upon the gilt riddled umbra will need 
   (for safety sake) clear
lee approved ocular spectacles to avoid optic damage 
   to impair sight – so beware

and heed that purported ole wives tale – 
NEVER SET EYES IN DIRECT ECLIPSED VIEW, 
   cuz conical rays of pure light will impale
vision, whence one will need to learn Braille.

Yet, twas not specifically my singular aim
to prattle asper a rare happening in the sky – but to claim
competing adventure that didst thyself and missus 
   when driving, and name
lee got pulled over by a Lower Providence police officer – 
   quite pleasant without shame

gave out a warning ticket in regard 
   to the malfunction rear passenger tail light
which repair will be tended when Hyundai Sonata 
   scheduled for inspection a fortnight
or there since our encounter with flashing 
   red and blue beacon, which did excite
my anxiety (kept under wraps 
   via taking prescription medication), and I nearly did bite
off my tongue (while awaiting verdict – like a deer froze in high beams),
   which intent to take a short car ride to purchase Powerball tickets 
   teetered on brink to become major psychic plight!

Thus praise bequeathed to the spectacular stellar band 
   swaddling Gaia a sight
for sore eyes (courtesy of celestial vault) 
   to attire a sliver of Earth, akin to a moth to light
drawing the gaze of ordinary folks, 
   who might best be mindful of speed and flight
of fancy, which universal unique linkedin show mind accelerator
   to those valiant sergeants hiding in wake, 
   and blinding one with their deserved badge!

Copyright © Matthew Harris | Year Posted 2017

Details | Matthew Harris Poem

What Happened To My Sex Drive

(sung – in a round pussy willow warble - to the tune of -- 
Oh Where Oh Where has my little dog gone)

With a flam boy hunt deft jais nais sais quois 
firm lickey split tongue
and two bell yule yar pissant 
little nappy ruck berry filled up paul ling sacks 
viz peppy la pew doth not peter out, 
and weathers clawed rained swipes 
from hello kitty when faux pas gets swung
assisting climbing Jacob's ladder 

(without pussy footing, 
orb bing a putz like the president) 
advancing quick to attain orgasmic rung
while heading into a slippery sloping sluice 
(with prickly endeavor emitting cleat trill 
smooth sailing along a cunt 
re coarse upon phallic shaped pung
crossing la brea tar pits (peppered 
with lai bee ha tricky bridge over the River Kwai) 

comprising ideal place de la resistance 
to woo tang clan foreign nee Kate, 
where two puckered rill lee fleshy ruffling rills 
tinged pinkish lips overhung
a challenging escarpment, 
where many a brave Tom, Harry or Dick get hung
up, particularly while searching for fabled “G” spot, 

cuz portcullis hamstrung
even the most fiercely determined 
Engleburt Hump per dink
necessitating the moist risky ski maneuver 
as most studs know tubby gelandesprung
though booby prize wool worth any slimy setbacks, 
where sticky gook gets flung

from angry cat, 
who does not in the least find amusing, 
and if further pricked with rage 
not averse to hurl dung 
gar (with) ease at snaky, 
retractable hardened beastie boy twill clung
for dear life and limb (er, or twig and berries),


while applying crampons (bivouaced 
within his maxipad), viz bung
gull low, essentially a ball peen size cove 
hammered out by Dashiell Hammitt, where coiled, 
kinked follicles strewn tightly inlet among
pheromone laced verboten fruit.

Copyright © Matthew Harris | Year Posted 2017

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Book: Reflection on the Important Things