contemporary poetry

Anything More Frightening

Is there anything more frightening
Than a man with angry eyes
Walking toward you with intention?

Is there anything more frightening
Than a man with confused eyes
Talking long about nothing?

Is there anything more frightening
Than a man with heartless eyes
Imposing his convictions?


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Lie to Me

Lie to me,
I’m ready to accept what
You say as true.
See in me the weaknesses
You can exploit for your
Own advancement.

Lie to me,
I’m willing to suspend my
Disbelief because I never had
It in the first place and I’m
Not ready to deal with
The pain.

Hang On

He worked hard and built up a
Profitable company that hired
Bright young college kids under
The pretense of providing a
Management job.

He worked them as hard as one could
Work people. Most didn’t survive but
The few who did were a good fit for the
Towel snapping and unempathic
Worldview required to hang on.

Everything Else

An old man opened one eye
And saw what was on that side.
He opened the other eye and
Saw what was on that side.
He opened both eyes and saw
The entire landscape.
He closed both eyes and
Saw everything else.

Fine Fowl

A gaggle of geese busily chattering about
Nothing in particular meets once a month in
The usual spot. They waddle around,
Exchange pleasantries, comment on each
Other’s feathers, talk about the weather,
Catch up on the latest gossip. A newcomer
Enters the room and is cordially preened and
Invited to stay. Announcements are read that
Are important to geese. Their new guest makes a
Comment that causes the group to stop what
It’s doing and consider taking flight. Too
Controversial for this gathering of fine fowl.

Joyfully Forward

Deliberately moving away
From the abyss.

Conscious decisions
Leading joyfully forward.

A new day
Filled with promise.

Generations of pain
Stop at this very moment.

She Tried

She tried to be morose but
Couldn’t come close.

She tried to be mean but
Felt unclean.

She tried to be herself and
Found her path.

I Thought So Much of Myself

I thought so much of myself
I married someone who would
Annihilate anything in his path if
He didn’t get his way.

I thought so much of myself
I stood by someone who beat
His chest and belittled others
If they didn’t bow low enough.

I thought so much of myself
I remained complacent and
Mute as plans were put
In motion to mutilate more.

I thought so much of myself
I looked the other way.
I couldn’t go back once
I made the choice.

Mine

What a wonderful place to live.
You couldn’t afford it.
I have an opinion.
Let’s look at it this way.
I know about this.
How did you know that?
I like to do my own thing.
Let’s do mine.
I have a great story.
That reminds me of…