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Best Poems Written by John Curtis

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

Details | John Curtis Poem

Ninety Years

You see him at the store sometimes
He doesn’t walk too fast
His stride has slowed throughout the years
He slowly moves on past

The hair upon his head is white
If there’s any there at all
He may be stooped or bent a bit 
A cane so he won’t fall

He smiles but you don’t know his name
He waves a weathered hand
You might smile back and say hello
There goes a nice old man

What you don’t see beyond his face
His life of ninety years
The wife he met the kids he’s raised
The joys and work and tears

The letters won for high schools sports
The girls he used to date
The time his father grounded him
For coming home too late

The war he fought for freedom’s sake
Tales too hard to speak
The friends he lost the wounds he bore
The tears upon his cheeks

The job he worked for forty years
That kept his family fed
The home he built with his two hands
The church group that he led

Time and youth have slipped away 
His mind is not as clear
His friends have mostly left this earth
He’s lost his wife so dear.

When next you see an aged gent
Who passes through your day
There’s more to him than leathered skin
There’s much that he could say


He doesn’t want your sympathy
Nor pity could he stand
Don’t treat him like a feeble child
Approach him as a man.

He still remembers all he’s done
He hasn’t lost his pride
Respect his years for you’ll be there
And know his heart inside

Details | John Curtis Poem

I Wasn'T There

I wasn’t there when she was small
To see her scrape her knee
Or ride her bike around the block
Or scramble up a tree

Or listen all about her day
And what she did at school
How Lisa was her new best friend
But all the boys were fools

I wasn’t there when bedtime came
And nightmares made her weep
To hold her in my arms until
She drifted off to sleep

And when she reached that awkward age
I wasn’t there to say
You’re beautiful my little girl
You’ll realize that some day

And when she had her first real date
I wasn’t there back then
To give her boy my sternest look
And growl “be home by ten”

But I’m here now to be the dad
I couldn’t be before
To tell her what she means to me
I couldn’t love her more

How proud I am of how she’s grown
Through hurts and fears and lows
How smart and charming she’s become
Her fiery passionate soul

I can’t make up the time I’ve missed
Those years we were apart
But now and even when I’m gone
She’ll have her father’s heart

Details | John Curtis Poem

What's That Smell I Smell

What lengths we go and cash we spend
On soap and scent and balm.
Our mornings rife with toil and scrub
As taught to us by mom.

We mustn’t stray from hygiene’s aim
Spit toothpaste in the sink.
Throw on your coat and head to work
Here’s hoping we don’t stink!

Details | John Curtis Poem

I Hate My Trench Coat

I have to wear a trench coat
To cover suit and tie
I hate that green old trench coat
I really cannot lie.

I hate the way it bags and sags
And flips and flaps around
The way the belt comes loose
And drags along the ground

That stupid belt just won’t stay put
No matter how it’s tied
It slips and snakes and sticks in doors
Oh that I can’t abide

When I get into my car
And make my way to work
Half the coat sticks out the door
Soaked in mud and dirt

I’m gonna ditch that green old coat
A truer wish I’ve never felt.
Maybe buy a gray or tan
Definitely without a belt.

Details | John Curtis Poem

Young Boy Still

Watching from the grassy lawn
Sitting in his folding chair.
With his veteran’s cap upon 
Taking in the whole affair.

Sits a man of many decades
Hair of white and skin that’s weathered.
Uniform adorned with braid
Medals on his chest are tethered.

Balanced upon his daddy’s shoulders
Delighted with the grand parade.
Maybe six but not much older
Bright eyed boy sports red Band-Aid. 

In between the floats and snare drums
Little boy’s brown eyes connect.
With the face of age and wisdom
Joined with smiles warm and direct.

The final float with riders waving
Crowds break up and drift away.
Clean up crews now sweep the paving
But the old man sits and stays. 

From his chair he eyes the boy
His thoughts turn back to long ago.
Remembering childhood days of joy
Parades and picnic campfires glow. 

Now his faces a mass of wrinkles
Arthritic hands and dimming sight.
Still his old eyes hold a twinkle
As he watches youth so sprite.


Even though the years have spoken
Time and health have slipped away.
In his spirit youth unbroken
Living still a bright boy plays.

Details | John Curtis Poem

Night Flight

Show me now my shadow friend
What no one else may see
Your mystery gift from ancient times
That brings lost days to be

Magic made from secrets lost
Gives flight to travel far
Through years and age we soar along
Past moon and sun and star

When once we land in history’s lap
There Shakespeare and his cast
We’ve traveled through the fog of time
And slipped into the past.

Details | John Curtis Poem

The Card

A friend has left without a word
his soul slipped out last night.
The illness laid his body waste
but not without a fight.  

Prayers were sent with loving thought
but more I meant to say.
To use the phone and speak hello
or visit one fine day.

The time had come with mind made up
to let him know I cared.
With pen to card a loving note
my friendship I declared.

The envelope was licked and sealed
this time I would not fail
It wanted nothing more to send
just address for the mail

A common friend I sought for help
and quickly he replied
No need for card or phone calls now
our friend this morning died.

With nothing left to do or say
I sat in silence deep
My efforts late to no avail
my heart began to weep

Our worlds move on in separate paths
so busy every day
Consumed by self we shuffle on
with words we meant to say

But time won’t pause not even once
and cards are left unread.
Chances slip away for good
and leave regrets instead.