Why Poetry Matters

Poetry, regardless of what type or whether or not it is accompanied by music, is an essential form of communication. It speaks to the soul even more than mere written or spoken language. The ebb and flow of the rhythm, the connectedness of the rhyming patterns, and the underlying emotion embedded in the context all combine to create a medium of expression that draws us together through a bond of solidarity in thought.

I have been writing poetry for my own benefit for more than 40 years. It helps me to express myself in a way that I cannot seem to do verbally. The written word just seems to come easier to me. Usually it takes me less than 15 minutes to put my thoughts into a poem when it would take me hours to try and explain myself verbally. Below are a couple that I have written to express various ideas from war and freedom, frustration, and the ultimate fight for our souls. These use various rhyming techniques and rhythm schemes. All art is meant to elicit an emotional response; good or bad, positive or negative. You can also tell some of what an artist is experiencing in life through their art. Let me know if one of these speak to you. I would love to hear your thoughts as well as read some of your own artistic expression.

Scream

Sometimes I wonder what people would think

If my armored protection developed a chink

And I took off my mask to let them all see

The person that lies beneath known as me

Or perhaps I could hold out a magical glass

Reflections inside that none would dare pass

Inside they’d see something quite out of place

For it would display their true inner face

Why must we all build impassable walls

Covertly walking down dark dreary halls

Hiding our thoughts for fear of rejection

While laughing at others on closer inspection

I choose to live a life that is real

Void of defenses or masks that will peel

I’m not afraid to let loose and scream

For life is not always a sweet little dream

I will no longer cower inside

Masquerading as someone else in my hide

Whether or not you like what you see

The one now before you is the person called me

Flying Fully Forward

I am hampered, I am hogtied

Displayed for all to see

I am ruled and regulated

Infuriatingly

Plateaued so they think

Yet dare not cut me free

I'll soar above the four winds

A voice calls out to me

High above the mountains

Let lose with my skree

Eyes search all around

Then dive toward the sea

Rise again victorious

My catch where it should be

Wings are not yet tired

No need for perch or tree

Flying fully forward

Eyes are fixed on Thee

Once I reach Your arms

They'll see then finally

A mind totally bent

On creativity

Giving You the glory

Now to eternity

Passion

One among the billions wandering through the street

Liars, cheats, and scum were all that I would meet

Wailing, screaming, pleading, no help could we find there

For each and everyone had nothing but despair

Our sentence had been ordered, guilty everyone

No room was there for recourse; we knew what we had done

The words the judge declared rang throughout my head

“Found guilty on all counts, you’ll hang until your dead”

There was no hope for me, the die at last was cast

I hungered for the day when I would finally breathe my last

Standing on a hillside he looked on my disgrace

Tenderness and mercy could best describe his face

He looked on me with sadness; a tear fell from his eye

I heard his voice inside my head as he began to cry

“Father, these are mine, you promised them to me

I’ll pay for all their crimes, I’ll set the captives free”

Then riding on a donkey, the people gathered round

The crowd was all excited at this man that they had found

They shouted “Hoshiana” proclaiming him their king

Lifting up their voices they each began to sing

Enthusiasm waned and I do not know why

But these same people came and shouted “Crucify”

Arrested, beaten, taunted, they nailed him on a tree

Displayed just like a criminal on top of Calvary

A mighty quaking rumble caused most of them to run

A soldier spoke beside me, “This must be God’s own Son.”

I looked upon his cross as he gently said to me

“Your guilt is gone forever, my blood has set you free”

They buried him that evening, the stone rolled into place

But early Sunday morning I looked upon his face

Risen from the dead, victor of the grave

Jesus reigns forevermore; he holds the power to save

Tear it Apart

Lately it seems

even my dreams

are filled with bitter frustration

I do what I see

is Your will for me

fulfilling my ministration

A last minute call

to cancel it all

is ordered without hesitation

With nothing to do

I start all anew

preparing a consolation

Feeling hemmed in

the light getting dim

I finish the orchestration

Yet I am stunned

again it is shunned

without any explanation

My part duly acted

health now impacted

in reading insinuation

Waking at night

I battle the fright

of the unseen implication

There is no sleep

my will starts to seep

turning to resignation

Early I rise

tears in my eyes

seeking to hear God’s oration

Where do I go

how do I know

what’s the prognostication

Spinning I fall

hear now my call

give me my restoration

Here is my art

tear it apart

make it Your exposition

I am a man

under Your plan

seeking Your glorification

War Never Ends

© 2001, Stephen R. Poole

I stood there near a ship
Looking out to sea
I hardly knew the man
He hardly knew me

His eyes spoke of hardships
Things too hard to tell
His hands rough and cracked
And then I heard a bell

He turned and looked at me
His voice choked, yet strong
“The war continues raging
I cannot linger long”

He turned, faced my mom
The tears began to flow
His fingers wiped the tears
I heard the whistle blow

Boarded, bound for somewhere
I watched him as he went
Whenever one fell wounded
Another one was sent

I never really knew him
Until the very end
The war, long forgotten
Left many wounds to mend

Ruling Against Freedom

© 2012, Stephen R. Poole

Could this be the end of democracy,
When the court rules in support of tyranny?
Approving the onset of social reform
Our loss of freedom is becoming the norm

The court was ordained to protect our rights
To keep us safe with legal foresights
To uphold the constitution they must
Make sure that laws are legal and just

First they took prayer out of each school
Then murder of unborn is safe by their rule
Then they mandate insurance ownage
Next up on dock is same sex marriage

They now can tell you what you must buy
Taking your slice of the American pie
First your insurance, then your soft drink
What will be next? What do you think?

People have fought for the freedoms we had
Now we are told that freedom is bad
We must all accept control by the feds
Who make all decisions concerning our meds

Taxing each person who doesn’t comply
No freedom is given to what we may buy
Our rights have been lost, the balance is broken
The courts are now just a socialist token

The Killer, The Cure

Pain is crashing down like bricks upon my chest

Pushing and crushing

Taking peace, stealing freedom

Mental exhaustion begging me for rest

Searching and lurching

Questions here, can you hear them?

Barking at my heels the people circle ‘round

Snapping and yapping

Idle chat as they tinker

Dragging me down those upon the ground

Dragging and grabbing

Hooking me, line and sinker

Stressed beyond reason striking out in anger

Staring and daring

Don’t try me, you’ll regret it

In walks the babe that rocked the manger

Holding and molding

Think I’m out? Don’t ya bet it

Stress it tries to kill me but I got a secret

Dunking and dying

This life’s already gone

I gave my life away I really couldn’t keep it

Rising and breathing

Died to self and now I won

Sin’s the double killer but Christ gave me new life

Raising and Praising

I was lost, now I’m found

No more pain or sorrow no crying no more strife

Lifting and shouting

Hell behind, heaven bound

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Mental Musings