short poems about life

Unlimited

He possessed all the money anyone could
Possibly need; a palatial house
Resembling a hotel; a personal line to the
Corridors of power. Unlimited influence.

Fear and admiration when he entered a room;
Hushed acknowledgments of his stature;
Shivers and discomfort at being put on the
List. Plastered smiles, attentive ears and
Nodding heads. Unlimited deference.

In the distance, the barely visible outline of
Security. Smiling, taunting, slipping through
His fingers. The world returns what it is
Offered. Lay awake wondering why the
Shadows don’t go away. Unlimited trepidation.

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One Day

One day she decided to do
Something different and sing
Her own song. One day he decided
To do something different and
Write his own story.
The world smiled.

Flinch

What’s it like to live scared?
Certain that someone is always
At the back door, eager to harm.
To flinch at the slightest sound,
Assume offensive posture. Sleep with
One eye open. Throbbing memories.

What’s it like to live courageously?
Understand that risk is real,
Not pervasive. Embrace the
Kindness and compassion that is
Present at every turn. Welcome
Inner and outer peace.

Wishing

I thought I couldn’t do it and
I didn’t. I told myself I wasn’t
Good enough and it came true.
I didn’t take a risk and stayed
Stuck to my couch.

Wishing things were different.
Hoping things would change.
No breaks coming my way.

I saw a bird land on a branch.
He paused, cleaned his feathers and
Flew without a thought.

End

When will this end?
Constant, unmerciful,
Unyielding, unending
Sameness. Stunted.

Expand rapidly, move, race,
Reach. The one you are
Exuberantly celebrated.
Arms open as wings.

Perpetually

No one there.
No one there.
Where’d they go?
I don’t know.

I’ll wait a moment.
I’ll wait a lifetime.
I’ll wait no longer.
I’ll wait perpetually.

Lives

Lives in fear of those who are
Not the same. Perhaps they’ll
Come today. They might
Take everything away,
Usurp his power.

Invites a collage of people to
Spend some time, talk, laugh.
Growth surges, strength builds.
An open smile.

Panoramas

Past events dictating
Present behavior,
Unconsciously adhering to
Erroneous messages
Leading to calamity.

Open the window,
Breathe in the promise of
Vibrant panoramas,
Fresh possibilities flowing
Joyfully forward.

Muzak

I call for some help and
Receive a compulsory
Labyrinthine tour through
Rooms I do not wish to visit,
Guided by an artificially polite
Personality promising to
Get me to my destination, and
Culminating with a regrettably
Commonplace, harrowing,
Discouraging push off the cliff
Into limbo. Should I wish to
Ride again, my host will
Cordially welcome me and
Usher me along to continue
Aging with the muzak.