What do you do?

Everybody says, “ gotta talk”.
Share your feelings, just get it out.
When you do, they’re gonna walk.
Don’t know what it’s all about.

I don’t know what I’m going through
Or why I think those things myself,
This way of life for me is new,
Who I am is somewhere on a shelf.

“Hang in there, I’m here for you now,
But I really don’t want to hear,”
“You’re going to make it through somehow,
But, do it somewhere else, not here.”

“Just don’t let yourself think that way.”
“Snap out of it, your faith is weak.”
“You don’t mean anything you say,
Only attention do you seek.”

“Do it or shut up about it,”
“I don’t want to hear that crap now.”
“Prove it, or you ain’t worth sh**”
“Can’t make a silk purse from a sow.”

Sanity?

Empty hearts beating
Empty shells walking
Empty eyes staring
Empty heads talking.

Traffic lights changing
Street lights glaring
Neon signs flashing
Stereos blaring.

No more sanctity
No humanity
Is it only me?
No more sanity.

LORD, I’ll Ever Love You More

LORD, You gave new life to me,
Cleansed my heart and set me free,
So that I could always be
Found in Your will, serving Thee.

LORD, You healed this broken mind,
Gave the peace I could not find.
Help me always to be kind,
And reflect Your love sublime.

LORD, You banished all my fear,
Shared my burden, drew me near.
Help me when You speak, to hear,
And praise Your name, Savior dear.

LORD, You heard my every pray’r,
Loved me with such tender care.
Help me serve You everywhere,
And redemption sweet to share.

LORD, I’ll ever love You more.
In my life, Thy Spirit pour.
Then I’ll reach that golden shore,
When my days on earth are o’er.

Consequence of Hatred

War and death are all around.
LORD, will peace again be found?
Though You made all men brothers,
We seem to hate each other.

Our children bear consequence
Of our own intolerance.
Why teach children how to hate?
Model love ere it’s too late.

Hatred is a bitter pill,
Causing men to war and kill.
Selfishness and greed abound
Where God’s love cannot be found.

Teach respect for every race,
As we dwell here in this place.
Teach us LORD, to mend our ways,
And share Your love all our days.

cathy

Illusionary Imagism

A jungle flower of fuchsia hue rests delicate in the morning dew.
Its’ petals catch the sunrise light making it a brilliant sight.
It lures the touch of a butterfly’s feet because its’ appearance seems so sweet.
The insidious imposter of harmless rapport traps its’ prey in solemn gore.
Death comes to the butterfly with bitter retreat as it struggles and struggles toward arduous defeat.
The innocent lure of the beautiful flower is its’ method to trap and then slowly devour.

A priceless iridescent jewel hides bludgeoned beneath a smoldering pool.
Its’ magic shine escapes the eyes of brooding pirates in search of a prize.
Through elements and lava flow its’ crystalline form never ceases to glow.
Blanketed by a mountain high this covered treasure continues to lie.
Its’ purpose remains ever hidden by time as its’ glorious radiance sleeps silently sublime.

A tiny pearl in bosom deep is met by bantam swimmers as they creep.
This unseen sortie of noble seed leaves but one soldier to secure the deed.
As the others fall in solemn sleep that one tiny soldier is pressed to the keep.
Driven inward by his blind ambition an instant conception has come to fruition.
In time that fades like withering grass a human life has come to pass.

When I was in undergraduate school I minored in African American Studies. In one of my classes as I was watching a documentary on the history of the civil rights movement in the United States I heard a true story about a bright, young black man who was murdered by a white store owner who was acquitted of all charges. This touched my heart very deeply because It happened in 1954, the same year as Brown vs. the Board of Education, which for those who are unfamiliar was a milestone decision by the supreme coart to desegragate schools. The poem is as follows:

“Mississippi Madness"

Emit Teal, sharp eyes of brown, strolled through town letting nothing get him down.
He held his head high and his shoulders strait.
His face bore a youthful smile as he strode with a prideful gait.
His glossy chocolate skin and his sculpted ebony hair,
Caused all the girls to stare without the slightest dare.
His aunt lived with worries as she cautioned him in tears.
But her words of weary scolding never caused young Emit fear.
He chose in simple matter to ignore the hearts of stone,
Where cold and calculated senseless hatred claimed its thrown.
Then one day as human souls succumbed to spirits from Hell,
Davie Jones saw Emit Teal say Hello to young Belle.
Young Belle was like a dream with her sultry locks of gold.
It was too late for Emit as humanity fell dead cold.
Davie Jones said, “I’ll kill that fresh nigger’ “
Without the slightest hesitation, the Crackin’ pulled its trigger.
On the banks of Tallahassee’s flow Mississippi madness struck its blow.
Before the weight of hatred could break his lively shoulders to slouch with shame,
Emit Teal was found face down simply because his skin was brown.

beautiful, you brought tears to my eyes (which is a positive emotion)

Wow Marilyn...maus said it...

I don't know how this works but this reply is for midnite, "a bad day".
That really got to me and that is what poetry is about I think: emotions

What has happened to my heart?
It’s cold and empty now, it seems.
And yet, somehow it’s torn apart,
As everything within me screams.

I don’t want to live this way,
Numb to the present, upset by the past.
How long will this depression stay?
I don’t think my mind will last.

Sometimes I think I see hope,
But it’s just a glimpse of its last breath,
Struggling to escape from here
Before it to, succumbs to death.

Where is she, the one who cries,
Laughs, and loves, and cares for others?
She is the only one that tries
To end this hopelessness that smothers.