Monthly Archives: September 2013

To Speak One’s Mind

To speak one’s mind, though respectfully is our right

Not to belittle, degrade or to fight

Civilized discourse is the much desired path

As opposed to yelling, screaming and fiery wrath

~

Little is solved through righteous indignation

Ushered on through prideful inflation

To say one’s piece then give another a chance

Its likely the opinion imparted will enhance

~

To disagree is common in life I propose

But civility is preferred, surely can’t be opposed

Our differences shared spice up this world

While insults cause more harm than good when hurled

~

Opinions I’ve spoke change from day to day

Its odd how that works the minds funny that way

While I try to follow the advice offered above

Sometimes I go over the edge showing anything but love

~

I try to give heed to another’s personal views

At times I fail miserable, though not what I would choose

This is human nature, be conscious of the fact

Because once its put out there you can never take it back.

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Vociferous Me – A Tanka

Vociferous me

Religion and politics

Destined to divide

Still answers are illusive

Therefore I must question on

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Its Hard to Believe

Its hard to believe that it is but a short dozen years

A dozen years since this world changed

Changed a nation and its ideals

The ideals founded on a promise gave way to extremism

An extremism not so unlike that of the terrorist

The terrorist has taken away our freedoms

Our freedom to assemble, our right to privacy

Privacy is a thing of the past taken away by our government

Our government says they must take it to protect us

Protect us from whom, who will protect us from them is the question

Questioning however, is taken as unpatriotic

Unpatriotic! This is our right and our duty as citizens

Citizens who have become nothing but pawns

Pawns to governmental corruption and big business

Business’ who are now treated as citizens by the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court who was supposed to keep the executive and legislative in check have let us down

Down are path I fear is collapsing

Collapsing with each step we take down the road

A road, one way, on which their is no return

Oh…to return our moral compass to true

Truly that would be our greatest strength

Strength of character, morals, of humanity that we so long ago lost

Lost to our greed, selfishness and intolerance

Intolerance for ourselves, other nations, other ideals

Ideals that were long deceased before September 11, 2001

September 11, 2001 was just another nail

A nail in a coffin already occupied

Occupied but not inescapable if we would try

Try to resurrect the intentions of our founding fathers

Fathers far wiser than the lot of thieves currently in office

Offices held by both parties

Parties that no longer represent the people

A people that deserve better

Better than to live without freedom, in oppression and under tyranny

.

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Out of Fear

Worshiped out of fear,

Afraid of divine retribution.

One which allowed murderers,

One which allowed adulterers,

With an apology,

To be King.

You toyed with creation,

Becoming angry as a child

Throwing tantrums

When deprived of your will.

Does death and destruction,

To all but the chosen

Sound reasonable and sane?

With Lucifer as a playmate perhaps.

“Here take my servant,

Do what you will with him,

But do not touch.”

Inflicted with relentless torment,

Sores, anxiety, persecution,

Fear of death,

The game is permitted to continue,

All with your blessing,

To see if he can be broken.

Is this how mercy is shown,

Torturing those that love you?

Finding sport in war and death

Both are waged eternally,

Some with your blessing

Some without,

Either way, surely with a smile.

Sending those in your image to their end

As pawns for your amusement,

This seems to be your sadistic way.

As a final act of brutality,

You offered your son up to despots,

Torturing and degrading him until death,

All to uphold your way of life

And save the monsters which you created.

Would a kind and merciful parent do this to his child,

Instilling them with fear,

Instead of promoting goodness and love?

This question must be answered!

Faith alone does not absolve you of responsibility

For the adulterated state of our being.

.

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Each Look – A Tanka

Each look as the first

Bringing us ever closer

We are destiny

You…the reason I was born

I…yours ’til the end of time

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Chill of Night

Chill of night unfolds

Like that of a thread-bare sheet

Holding little warmth

Providing meager comfort

Allowing the mind to roam

Wherever it wills in dead of night

No barriers does it hold

Despite desire

Left to shiver in the cold

Until numbness takes control

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

Loved Ones (Sapphic Verse)

Stress and strife, what toll does it take on loved ones?

A marriage of absence does nothing but harm,

Your own progeny know you not in their lives

For selfish advance.

.

Busyness has supplanted all else in life

Causing scars and pain invisible to you.

When its too late, only then will your eyes open,

Loved ones will be gone.

.

Time is not something that is a luxury.

It travels fast and is gone before we know.

What a shame is your misplaced focus in life

Polluted by zeal.

.

May you find happiness on this chosen path,

One you are traveling in solitary,

Blind to the sorrow of those that love you most,

Busyness your mate.

.

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

.

We Drink Because We’re Poets – Monday Poetry Prompt #20 – Sapphic Verse – Word: Busyness

Flash Flood – A Tanka

Taken by Dom 9/9/2013 - North Phoenix Arizona

Taken by Dom 9/9/2013 – North Phoenix Arizona, taken outside my office window

The storm rages on

Rivers of mud replace road

Sidewalk riverbanks

When the flash flood expires

Where does all the water go

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 Authors Note: This is something in the 12 years that I have lived in Arizona I have never seen before.  This is a major road which runs in front of the busiest municipal airport in the country, which happens to be right outside the window of my office.  This road is a total of six lanes wide, 3 going in each direction and the river of water and mud nearly met to cover the entire road.  A pretty rare site in this part of the country where it is normally so dry.

Thirst and Hunger

Thirst is not a disease

Nor hunger a plague waged as a personal attack..

The dirty and downtrodden are not animals with opposing thumbs

Foraging through trash bins for food.

Their children are not parasites to be frowned upon!

They love just as you do with the same wants and needs.

Hands cracked and calloused know hard work.

Many toil hard and long for the barest of necessities

Only to fall short, thankful for assistance.

Yet you despise the poor collectively,

Lazy, blood suckers, bums, leeches,

Used as terms of endearment.

Speaking as though you know them or their circumstance

You display nothing but ignorance.

What do you know of their lives, their pain, their poverty?

Many are victims of economics,

Failing of health or disability,

Casualties of familial history,

Deprived of education,

Forgotten or blamed by the very souls with the power to change.

Greed and loathing blind,

Banishing compassion and humanity to the pits of hell.

.

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Call Me Cynical – A Tanka

Call me cynical

For not having faith in you

Lies have tainted me

Asking to trust what you know

Haven’t we done this before

~

~~Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~