free verse poetry

Dedicated

He smiles gleefully
And declares that
Money is all that
Really matters.

He retires to
His palatial mansion
Where the private chef
Prepares him a meal.

He keeps busy,
Keenly aware that
Time is money and
Idleness is weakness.

Not a single
Day goes by when he
Doesn’t fend off
A perceived rival.

He fights to the end
To preserve what’s his,
A snarling beast guarding
A horde of gold.

Never a day
Dedicated to
Becoming a
Better person.

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Entirely Unwelcome

Just as it seemed impossible that
Something else would happen,
It did. Not wholly unexpected but
Entirely unwelcome, it quickly
Altered everything. Nobody was
Sure what to do but for a lone
Clarion, valiant, triumphant,
Unflappable, ignored by most for
More familiar, mundane hand
Wringing and lamentation.

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.

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.

Unlike Your Own

Think new thoughts,
Behave in original ways,
Develop fresh insights,
Meet unique people,
Consider novel points of
View, unlike your own,
That make the world a
Better place for you, yours,
Others, and eschew
Notions archaic, austere.

Trampling Delicate Flowers

The whimsy of a kind word,
Lovely picture, thoughtful
Gesture, silly story,
Innocent giggle, affectionate
Wink, gentle hug, quiet moment,
Inner insight, peaceful realization,
Untainted by maudlin, cheesy,
Common denominator product
Thoughtlessly ingested by dull
Plodding herd inattentive,
Trampling delicate flowers.

An Insight

Optimistically thinking
They were seeing the world
From her vantage point.

Belatedly realizing that
Empathy is a skill
Not everyone possesses.

An insight that
Brings with it both
Relief and sadness.

In Control

Don’t do this, don’t do that.
Don’t you listen? Do it like this.
How many times do I have to
Repeat myself? I’m getting tired of
Always having to show you
How to do this. Don’t you
Get it? Don’t you have any
Common sense?

There’s a right way to do things.
I know what’s right for you.
I am the law. I’m doing it because
I love you. I know the way.
I’m just trying to help you avoid the
Mistakes I made. Do as I say, not
As I do. I’m the one in control here.

Far Brighter

He hated her so much,
Probably because she could
See right through him,
To that place where
He was exposed and vulnerable,
Unable to get by on mediocrity or
Pretend his way out,
Where transcendence matters,
And stars shine far brighter
Than he ever would.