The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Poetry Contest Has Been Finalized - Mark Toney's Blog

Happily married for 50 years this year, having raised two sons, both married to girls named Carla.  Go figure. :)

"Glass is Empty" is my avatar.      
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Twenty Poems that Define Me

Abundant Blessings Continue – A spiritual ode written in ABC form in which every word begins with a successive letter of the alphabet starting with A. https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/abundant_blessings_continue_1023244

Yvonne’s Swan Song – Narrative poem dedicated to all victims of bullying, including girls and boys of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds, including me! https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/yvonnes_swan_song_1016718

Close Encounters of the Bully Kind – Couplet describing my actual encounter with a bully and subsequent conflicting counsel given to me by Mom and Dad. https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/close_encounters_of_the_bully_kind_1185718

My Amazing Week on the Farm – Pastoral poem that describes life lessons learned during an amazing week when I was 15-years old. https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/my_amazing_week_on_the_farm_1190059

Paralyzed – Dedicated to my father, who had 3 strokes leaving him totally paralyzed for 7 years before he died.
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/paralyzed_1022565

Take Care of Yourself First - My family’s experience in providing loving caregiving to our elderly and infirm family members.
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/take_care_of_yourself_first_1045939   

Caregiver – My family’s experience with elder abuse that can develop when a caregiver becomes a selfish care-TAKER.  Elder abuse—See it.  Stop it.  Prevent it. https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/caregiver_1020961

Vanessa’s Song – This poem was written for our dear friends after their 16-year old daughter, Vanessa, committed suicide in 1998. https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/vanessas_song_1018588

Please Sir – Beautiful downtown Atlanta is the scene for this true encounter for which I am still ashamed after 30-years.  
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/please_sir_1020704

Castles in the Sand – Narrative poem with a moral lesson that keeps me focused on making sure of the more important things in life.
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/castles_in_the_sand_1025437

What of Our Children? – Lyric poem highlighting the challenges to our children’s future.
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/what_of_our_children_1136461

Real Eyes See – A commentary on today’s society using wordplay and rhyme.  
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/real_eyes_see_1208575

Cycle of Seasons: Haiku Series – I love Japanese poetry forms.  My series of 12 Haiku (3 per season) describing the beginning and end of each season as they transition.  
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/cycle_of_seasons_haiku_series_1028183

Nasty Panda – A flight of fancy to show my lighter side, and I am not talking about weight!  
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/nasty_panda_1140229

Green Eggs, Spam and Grits – My Southern-style tribute to Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Doctor Seuss. 
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/green_eggs_spam_and_grits_1122763

Love Immutable – The culmination of what I have learned as a husband after fifty years of marriage.
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/love_immutable_1109739

Honorable Mention – A mother gives her son sage advice on living a modest life in humility.
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/honorable_mention_1199431

My Memories – This poem expresses our concern over age-related memory loss, and my prayer that our memories stay fixed and true. https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/my_memories_1191701

Faraway Moon – My ode to the faithful, fascinating, faraway moon. https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/faraway_moon_1189504

Psalm of Praise – A fitting way to conclude the 20 poems that define me.
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/psalm_of_praise_1217624