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Best Poems Written by Josh Kirkwood

Below are the all-time best Josh Kirkwood poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Macdougall's Boon

Upon the path to self-destruction,
noticed I, a quaint obstruction.
Barrin' me to stay my course
was fear, envy, doubt and remorse.
"Imagine it!" to meself says I,
"Tis for these thing' I long to die."
An' so, I set me down to think.
"This bodes not well! Were't the drink?"
When at that moment, me eyes was soak't,
an' a blazin' tow'r o' fire an' smoke
appeared 'afore my sot'n feet
an' I prayed: "Dear Lord!
My soul do keep!"
As I fumbled the words
to the prayer of the Lord,
bespoke he to me:

"What are ye here for?"

Now, gath'rin me wits
with me eyes from the floor,
Ah I cleared me throat, an' this I swore:
"Dear God Almighty, can ye' please
forgive this trespass.
As you see, I know not what
I bargained for, and I am sorry,
my dear Lord."

Quite sober now
as I could be,
the Lord then spoke
these words to me;

"My child, from where thy feet now stand,
look to the east, where sun meets land.
Beyond those hills I raised of yore,
there once were lands, that are, no more.
Tongues that are no longer spoken
and vows that are, many,
long since broken.
Now look to the west,
where the sun meets the sea.
There are mountains yet raised
known only to me.
Cities to come, that shall never be,
and races of man, that no man shall see."

He paused, and I reflected on these,
then he added, to sum it all up, it seemed;
"Ages before I had ever begun,
I knew this very day would come.
I chose this hour, I chose this place,
and I chose you to recieve this grace.
So, be not troubled, child of mine.
You were meant to be here, at this time.
Do you still want to throw yourself from on high?"

"Dear Lord no! I don't want to die!
Now, more than ever, I want to live!
And I fell to my knees,
and I worshiped him.

Copyright © Josh Kirkwood | Year Posted 2012



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Throw Away Poetry

how can i say this?
what are the words i can use
to tell you, without your 
feelings being hurt?
people. there is a menu
just to the left.
near the bottom is a link
which will show you the things
good poetry should never have.
they're called cliche's.
though the list isn't final,
and will never be
because as times change,
so do we and our language,
poetry's a subtil thing. abstract.
to explain it is beyond my means.
But try this: let your mind
wander a bit.
don't lean so heavily
on your memorized wit.
i want to help you, i sincerely do
and i'm trying to think
while i write this to you
just what i should tell you,
what i need to say
that will help you see language
in a different way.
rhymes come about
3 lines at a time or so.
your brain should be thinking now
of 3 lines ago.
poetry is algebra
though i don't know the theorem.  
here's an idea.
put down the pen.
pick up your mouse. 
start clicking peoples names
til you see what poetry's about.
start with chris aechtner.
there you will see what the gift and the curse of writing poetry can be.
he writes uninhibited.
he doesn't mince words.
he sets an example from which we can learn.
you see, what creates most bad poetry is our fears and complexes 
distracting us.
so, try, when you write
to sort of meditate.
separate from the world outside and create your own rules.
.
i'm a lousy poet too.
don't feel bad, because i told you.

Copyright © Josh Kirkwood | Year Posted 2012

Details | Josh Kirkwood Poem

A Tale of Creation Pt 1

Part One

1. In the beginning,'ere time was born
was the infinite value of God, without form.

There was nothing of substance,
of sight, or of sound
but in silence, the will of God was bound
with one purpose; 
to be himself revealed as love,
given unconditionally.

2. " ~I Am~ I Will~ 
I will not~  be~ alone~
for all~ eternity~"

"~Therefore~ there needs~
must also be~
another~ to love~
who will~ love me~"

"One such~ as I~of spirit~ and mind.
to compose~ conduct~ and encompass life"

3. And the firstborn of all creation awoke
beside his holy father, and host,
with an explosion; by  command of a word
first uttered, and through which,
the explosion was heard 
by the first one begotten;
through and for him 
unfurled all creation to master,
for he would be Lord.

4. Set apart from within his majestic father,
he came to be Wisdom, Glory, and Power
of God, embodied in spirit and truth;
the first witness of all
Mighty God would produce.

5.The sudden expanse of  substance 
inundated the abyssal void;
and time was created
to divide the abyss from that which would come;
and the advent of life and death was begun.


6. All matter, the Word thus began to relate
in its fashion; that all things combined,
separate by their essence.
And the elemental seeds went forth
in due order, of accord 
with life's need of resources.

7. And so, the universe was formed.
Reality, bearing, and purpose,
adorned with life.

A genesis, a dawn,
when the Lord God spoke,
in the morning of
creation.

Copyright © Josh Kirkwood | Year Posted 2012

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About Poetry

Ok, so your poetry can be what you want
but most of this drivel belongs in the dump.
Most of my poems are bad, i admit, 
and like this one, they'll go in the garbage bin.
But sometimes a real gem nags to be born;
it won't go away, you must give it form.
These are the poems that interest me,
not random idle chatter incessantly.
I don't want your comment if all you can say
is "nice write" or "good job"; i don't need it, okay?
The path is now littered. Where does the trail lead?
I can't see the forest for all the dead trees.
Do you ever use a notepad, proofread and revise?
Take another look with your critical eyes?
Take your time. Let the thoughts stew around in your brain
before you slop them all down on the page.
Think deeply, think longer. Grab a reference book.
Take pride in the measure of time that it took
because, it will be more obvious
that you are sincere, 
when you inspire us.

Copyright © Josh Kirkwood | Year Posted 2012

Details | Josh Kirkwood Poem

A Tale of Creation Pt 2 Beta

Part Two (beta)

1. As the aeons, uncounted, unmeasured, transpired,
the Lord of hosts immortal vied
to bring to the fore, 
true denizens of life,
with the power to choose between love, and strife.

2. As yet, only goodness unchallenged existed.
And so on, the heavenly host persisted.
But into the static paragon of heaven,
God placed one flaw, one imperfection.

3. Seeing this, the heavenly host decried;
"Look here! This is all we have been denied!"
And some stole away to this place,
in heaven, devoid of eternal grace.

4. Bitterness and jealousy
soon took root;
darkness was light; lies were truth.
This place became the opposite of heaven
perfection inverted, malice, unfettered.

5. Now God, knowing how 
this would all come about,
prepared, for he had a plan to set out.
For you see, it were necessary for beings of light
to choose darkness, and distinguish wrong from right.

6. The foundation of his plan now implemented,
he set about explaining to the hosts, his intention.
"I will now make man and set him an home
of earth and water and sky for a dome,
to sustain and protect him, from the abyss
where no mortal life, or its love, could exist.

7. A vast array of mortal life
God then proceeded to design.
From the lowest and simple,
to divinely complex,
God formed from the elements
all which exists.

8. Life, as a mirror,
reflected all parts of heaven;
all it's flaws;
all it's perfections.
And for every form of life
there is, in God's mind,
an idea through which it binds
life to the eternal,
.......

to be continued

Copyright © Josh Kirkwood | Year Posted 2012



Details | Josh Kirkwood Poem

7am

I woke up at 7am.
I thought I would see you there.
I must have made you mad,
but if that's the case,
I should remember it....
You must have never kissed me.
I live only for your touch
.
I live only for your kiss.
I used to pray for help
but in this case,
I am overwhelmed.
You must have never kissed me....

Copyright © Josh Kirkwood | Year Posted 2012

Details | Josh Kirkwood Poem

The Unknown Poem

Whether or not you fall on your own face
cannot erase what
you thought was the biggest waste
of all you've got
to now replace
and what you're without
is the love you made
with me

What you've chosen
to belong in
didn't bring back all your prose;
petals of flowers to line your doors
As anyone can see you've tripped the line
Surrender, lest you be decieved
by your design
Undo the anchor from yourself
and face the waves of your regressions

Copyright © Josh Kirkwood | Year Posted 2012


Book: Shattered Sighs