Category Archives: Poetry

Secrets Better Left Spoken

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~~

Secrets clutched tightly to our breast

Scared to show vulnerability

Hiding those things which make us cry, make us bleed

From a world we don’t think could understand.

~~

Are we untrue to ourselves

The lies we hide deep within our hearts

Beat rhythmically to escape the fleshy prison

Only to be pushed back into the darkest recesses of our souls.

~~

No one is immune

Deceitful is he who denies his susceptibility

Who has breathed that has not hidden his weakness

Protection from our humanity.

~~

Our society prides strength

Scoffing at compassion and emotion as if a sign of frailty

This is absurd, yet it resonates loudly among us

So we shelter that which makes us mortal.

~~

Maleness dictates the subjugation of feelings

One cannot be strong and show emotion

So we masquerade them in anger and violence

Unleashing rage through pestilence and war.

~~

Our progeny suffers

Families torn asunder in fits of acrimony

Childhoods left in tatters by pent up defiance

Fallen to the tragedy of shame.

~~

Depression festers, virulent and deadly

A secret best left unmentioned in polite circles

An illness of the mind cannot be real

You are a man, you must act like one.

~~

The imposition of this philosophy is for fools

Harmful and destructive to the mind, body and soul

Anxiety, depression, suicide the unwelcome victor

Do these secrets make you proud.

credit - carroll.edu

credit – carroll.edu

Unalike at Birth

Credit - csmonitor.com

Credit – csmonitor.com

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I ran the race, but tripped and fell,

The starter’s pistol heard clear as a bell.

~

They say we start out as equals its true,

Sadly the shortest of fates straws I drew.

~

The field is not level, its slanted you see,

The caste at your birth influences who you will be.

~

Yes this can change its not written in stone,

You’ll have to push harder and higher alone.

~

Your families old money makes for a pre-made man

While I scratch and I claw doing all that I can.

~

As I’m running my race I can see you ahead,

Getting farther and farther from the path that I tread.

~

You claim we are the same from conception to birth,

My mother cleans houses, what’s your Daddy’s net worth.

~

The systems unfair, some say evil and cruel,

Treating those of less fortune as inconvenient and worthless fools.

~

Because you say this is not so does not make it true,

I work as hard if not harder than many of you do.

~

Still I live paycheck to paycheck without a spare dime,

Hoping and praying someday good fortune in turn will be mine.

~

I would change my condition if only time would allow,

But with work, home, and family to their pressures I must bow.

~

You laugh and call us stupid behind country club doors,

We are those that wait on you, clean up after you and shine your marble floors.

~

How dare you proclaim that this system is fair,

From your ivory towers, sprawling mansions, and mountain top lairs.

~

Remember there are those far less fortunate than you,

Born without the golden slipper, silver spoon our betterment you subdue.

~

I look forward to the day when in my shoes you must walk,

Maybe then you’ll show compassion and stifle harsh talk.

~

Until then I will struggle and work ‘til I drop,

Pray the system will change and this punishment stop.

~

When fairness for all is the law in this land,

Maybe then we can solve our problems walking arm in arm and hand in hand.

Revenge, Quest for the Dragon

credit - terrariaonline.com

credit – terrariaonline.com

By D. R. DiFrancesco

 ~~~~~~~~~~~

Cloven hooves and scaly wings,

Fire and brimstone my eyes it stings.

 ~~

The stench, burned flesh and rotting corpse,

This quest undertaken without remorse.

 ~~

To avenge my love of many years,

With sword and pike to steady my fears.

 ~~

So young and innocent in the talons clutch,

A life destroyed, she suffered much.

 ~~

This beast,a devil must surely die,

With head on stake and raised most high.

 ~~

The path to hades on unsure foot,

I trudge and stumble through knee deep soot.

 ~~

Gagging and choking on horrid smell,

Anxious that I’ll perish in this demon’s hell.

 ~~

Not before I slay my dragon foe,

I vow to persist ‘til my last breath dost go.

 ~~

The earth is scorched as I journey the peak,

The wind, a roar, guides me to the butcher I seek.

 ~~

The sound and stink of his putrid breath,

I grit my teeth in the face of death.

 ~~

Courage in the shadow of terror I must muster,

Sharpened point, razors edge, sabre’s glint in silver luster.

 ~~

The cave the den, path to hell in linesight,

The smoke and sulfur eclipse the sunlight.

 ~~

Flames erupt and singe the landscape,

I refuse to retreat, with night comes darkness drape.

 ~~

Hidden in shadows I inch my way onward,

Sword in clenched fist should I have to thrust forward.

 ~~

In shock and surprise the beast my scent hast sensed,

I lunge behind boulders as my lifes only defense.

 ~~

A roar as if from hades cracks the whistle of the gale,

Trembling in fear, his beating wings shedding monstrous scales.

 ~~

Flames nearly blinding, the heat my flesh boils,

I must run, change my course, before my quest he doth foil.

 ~~

As he draws in a breath for his next volley of fire,

I sprang from my hideout and circled much higher.

 ~~

In murderous rage the devil turned to give chase,

A discarded scale as a shield did I hoist in great haste.

 ~~

The torrent of fire my shield did repel,

Though I stumbled and fell how I survived and cannot tell.

 ~~

Another deep breath the dragon he drew,

Without a thought for my safety the pike through air flew.

 ~~

A ghastly howl filled the night as the pike hit it’s mark,

As flames filled the air piercing the obsidian dark.

 ~~

With head drawing down his roar from hell thrown my way,

With courage I filled, destined to live another day.

 ~~

Like a rabbit I jumped from behind makeshift shield,

With sword in clenched hand I swung what I wield.

 ~~

As his head it approached and our eyes surely meet,

With a leap I did plunge, blade to hilt landing on both feet.

 ~~

With a yell I withdrew bloody blade from the beast,

Pike still impaled to redeem my maiden, his feast.

 ~~

With sabre raised overhead to swing with all my might,

His crimson life draining along with his demon charged fight.

 ~~

A strike to his throat though armored it may be,

Shattered scale, flesh and tendon razored blade exposed he.

 ~~

He dropped to his knees spewing flames so erratic,

Moaning and crying in demon’s voice traumatic.

 ~~

With a thunderous tumble the mountainside shook,

As the monster’s death imminent the last breath he took.

 ~~

Elated I raised sword for one final blow,

Swiftly and grunting off with his head it did go.

 ~~

Exhausted I dropped to one knee and did weep,

Thanking God for His strength and His blessing bade me sleep.

 ~~

My darling revenge is now in my firm clutch,

I slay your cowardly killer helped by God’s mighty touch.

 ~~

Dragon’s head on the pike still my heart it does break,

No solace is found though serpents life I did take.

 ~~

Sadness eternal where my destiny lie,

“Til when unite and I mercifully die.

Liberality

credit – news.thomasnet.com

By D. R. DiFrancesco

 ~~~~~~

What is it they say,

With age comes wisdom,

This I hope and pray to be true,

Yet repeatedly this comes into question,

Seeing rigidity replace compassion.

 ~~~

I’ve become an oddity,

As liberal replaces conservative,

Demonized by those on the right,

If inclusion and compassion are evil,

I am guilty as charged.

 ~~~

A question, why the word liberal,

What does this mean,

Race, creed, color, do not define,

Not treating those in need as parasites,

When cut do we all not bleed.

 ~~~

To be liberal is to be human,

Loving our brothers and sisters,

Sexual orientation is not a choice,

Discrimination has consequences,

Do not judge until you have walked in anothers shoes.

 ~~~

Should this not be called compassionate,

Where is the evil,

You would rely on man’s goodwill to offer up benevolence,

Would you part with your fortune for the sake of another,

I think not, out of sight out of mind.

 ~~~

You feel robbed…no, cheated,

Reliance on charity alone has foundered,

Those in need are not criminals,

They have not picked your pockets,

Though you cry foul and claim that they have.

 ~~~

You laugh as we cry,

The spotted owl, the lizard, the toad have no voice of their own,

Clean air, clean water, clean ocean, open land,

Jokes told at meetings on Wall Street,

How sad to be held captive to money.

 ~~~

Global warming…a lie you proclaim,

As premium flows into your Bentley,

Anti-capitalist scientists must be fudging the data,

Ask those afflicted by Sandy,

Say goodbye to the polar bear.

 ~~~

You hoard your cash and earthly possessions,

Showing nary a care for your fellow man,

Nary a care for the world you so lackadaisically plunder,

What use is your great wealth to your progeny,

When you have spoiled that which sustains them.

 ~~~

You call me liberal, un-American, anti-capitalist,

Your opinion means little to me,

If greed and inhumanity are what make me American,

Then I bow out of this club,

I’d rather you thank me for making this a better world in spite of you.

Tears for Damascus Road

Damascus Road – Syria credit – biblewalk.com

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~~

Children’s faces gnarled in fear,

Mother’s scratching and clawing through smoldering rubble,

Eyes blurred with salt of tears,

We did not ask for the master’s trouble.

~~~

As sounds of jets unseen scream overhead,

Bombs and bullets rip their way,

A bloody path paved with the dead,

That no longer live to love another day.

~~~

While nations watch the slaughter unfold,

Antiquities cities fall in ruin,

Tragic stories as yet untold,

Of a once great civilizations grievous undoing.

~~~

How sad an era of humankind,

While those with influence and power wait,

Their hesitance astonishes and confounds the mind,

As their fellow men perish at the Devils gate.

~~~

How many more must fall at the feet of tyranny,

Before we rise up and unite as one,

The reasons given there have been many,

Act we must before the next setting sun.

~~~

Damascus and Aleppo cities on fire,

Assad fails to heed their sacred call,

Culture replaced with razor barbed wire,

A world dreading the day that they fall.

~~~

Still terror rages on, tens of thousands are dead,

Calls for help, no one raises a hand,

Contracts and money for their coffers are fed,

To look away from the graves in this ancient land.

~~~

Wake up all you Caliphs or next could be you,

You cry for justice, cry foul when it serves,

Your neighbors huddled masses are brothers its true,

Misery and suffering never did they deserve.

~~~

Our President he sits with hands folded tightly,

Decrying the wrongs so harshly inflicted,

More deaths to report with each update nightly,

Calls for more U.N. sanctions restricted.

~~~

Is it not our divine duty to aid those who are weak,

With all might and resolve in our hands,

To grant refuge to those with the safety they seek,

From torture and their tombs in the sand.

~~~

Do pray my dear friends for peace in our time,

That dictators and tyrants succumb,

To consensus and strength so mightily sublime,

Before to others pain we become numb.

Cherished One

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~

A lavender haze abounds

The scent of lilac and persimmon permeates the air

What heavenly gifts to the senses

You, my love are such a treasure to behold

Bathed in these precious gifts from God

Your ivory skin soft to the touch

Perfumed in natures bounty stimulates my soul

Surely this must be Utopia

For to know you, you must be loved

In you is found serenity

A beauty deeper than the deepest of oceans

What further testimony need be professed

Than that of one enlightened by your being

It is not the physical alone

No, for that would be ensconced in the superficial

This may suffice were it not for your genuine modesty

Mere words can not portray the essence of you

As it is hidden behind a gentle facade

To ask for more would be an act of gluttony

An offence to the glory of nature

A sin against the wisdom of the Creator

You are perfection in my tired eyes

Beloved for all time

Of Passion – Haiku

credit – pitchcoach.co.uk

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~~

Carnal excitement

Blood coursing through tender veins

Lost on one night stands

~~~

Your blue eyes cut deep

Filling the hole in my soul

With abundant love

~~~

We sit quietly

Lost in a tender embrace

Shutting out the world

~~~

Unrequited love

Corrupts the delicate heart

Leaving it broken

Solace

credit – whitegadget..com

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~

What beauty this world has on offer

The natural and spiritual surrounds us but we do not see

Too busy with the distractions of the material

Simplicity in the song of the bird

The majestic wonder of the mountain

The desolate elegance of the desert

The mystery of God

Lost among our earthly pursuits

With eyes closed and head arched towards heaven

My mind banishes pain, suffering and torment

Solitude seeps into my bones

A sense of peace forgotten floods my subconscious

The smell of wildflowers

The flutter of the hummingbirds wings

The lonesome howl of the coyote

The joy of spiritual oneness

Sights, sounds and smells I have long ignored

I can almost feel the arms of God drawing me close

Tears shed for time wasted dissipate in a divine awakening

Renewal washes over me

The material is no long all consuming

Reborn with a new sense of purpose

Filled with the glory of nature and the solemnity of nirvana

I have once again found solace and peace in this finite life

All through that which had always lay before me

But I could not see

Reality Blog Award

 

I would like to apologize for the delay in accepting this award.  I was nominated by M. Blinkhorn at

https://mypenandme.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/reality-blog-award/ 

I would like to thank her very much for it.

Questions and Answers:

1) If you could change something what would you change?

I would reduce the divide between the rich and poor making the system more fair for everyone.  This is something our political system seems unable to do on it’s own.

2) If you could repeat an age what age would it be?

If I had an age to repeat it probably would be 18.  If I were 18 again I would have made the choice that I really wanted to pursue but was talked out of by my parents.  I would have joined the U.S. Coast Guard.

3) What one thing really scares you?

I really hate heights.  I can stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon and look 5,000 feet down and not have any problem, but put me at the top of a building, I can’t bear to look down.

4) What one dream have you not completed yet and do you think you will be able to complete?

My dream is complete and have my novel published.  I know it will be difficult to do, but I have faith that I can do it.

5) If you could be someone else for a day who would it be?

I would be Abraham Lincoln.  He was a man of deep convictions who changed the course of our country for the better.  I have always been so impressed by him that I could think of no one else that I would like to be for a day if I could.

To my nominees:  You can decide how you would like to participate.  Please take into consideration that  there are no rules for this award, so you can follow this pattern, create another with your own questions, or simply just accept the award and nominate a few other blogs that you like.

My nominees are:

http://rlbk75.wordpress.com

http://ellenolinger.wordpress.com

http://melodylowes.com

http://amandahaswords.wordpress.com

http://thpoetwithin.wordpress.com

http://onlyfragments.com

http://annabelfrage.wordpress.com

http://alaskanpoison.wordpress.com

For the Kings Amusement

By D. R. DiFrancesco

 ~~~~

Drawing your broadsword,

The shrill sound of blade on scabbard,

Wind whistling as you ready for the plunge,

From your gilded perch, you call a throne,

Driving the saber home.

 ~~

Stripping away every last breath,

Leaving those that built your dominion,,

Clutching their throats, gasping for air,

All to adorn your coffers,

With the gold of fools.

 ~~

Corpses of the loyal lie scattered about,

Left to rot in the noonday sun,

You know more will come,

Looking to you for mercy and sustenance,

Knowing they too are expendable.

 ~~

Your minstrels praise you calling you benevolent Lord,

While you smile your hollow smile,

With yellowed teeth and putrid breath,

Showering them with accolades,

All the while condemning them to death.

 ~~

You find this such great sport,

A vicious game,

Played solely for your amusement,

Who loses makes no matter,

So long as its you that prospers.

 ~~

You look down upon your subjects,

With jeweled goblet in hand,

Whispering in contempt,

That they are not worthy of your grace,

Nor deserving of your clemency.

 ~~

So you carry on like a spoiled Prince,

Conniving those around you,

“Fear not!”, you proclaim this is all in jest,

While the executioner readies his block,

For the next ax to fall.