We are told from birth
This world is your oyster
~~ Where’s the shucking knife
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Tag Archives: joy
A Joyful Noise Sings In My Heart
A joyful noise sings in my heart it echoes loud and clear
Always there yet subtle, until I chose to hear
Misery and failure so often self-imposed
To those whose minds are weakened, shuttered tightly closed
We’re here on earth to be happy, harmonious in our life
Free from inner turmoil, free from endless strife
Still hopelessness persists and plagues the hearts of man
As it has always been since our time began
Knowledge is the power that will break this horrid trend
Solving war and poverty will bring it to it’s end
A precious gift to all mankind comes wrapped in simple love
The answer to our problems which came from up above
Or has love always been in us, but hidden by our pride
Afraid to share with others, instead we chose to hide
Convinced we’ve always had it, I give it from the heart
In time it will bring together rather than tear apart
For loving is far easier than the stress of eternal hate
Getting what we give will be our ultimate fate
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Looking to Others (Tanka)
Looking to others
Many go seeking their joy
Never finding it
Because it was never lost
It was in them all along
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~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Amazed (Haiku)
Amazed–dumbfounded
Why should I be so happy
Then again…why not
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Events, Cohabitors of Life’s Stage
Events, cohabitors of life’s stage,
Script our actions like the strings of the puppeteer.
We are helpless, dribbling fools
In the glaring light of potential tragedy.
With nary a warning, change can be thrust upon us,
Rendering us helpless like children.
How awful the feeling,
Being strangled by crises uninvited, we succumb.
What does the universe want from us,
Constantly testing our resolve,
Raining on our parade ‘til we drown;
Then as if a cruel joke, tragedy is replaced by joy,
Happiness diluting stress.
Not that we ever hoped for the worst,
But that it had never transpired at all.
In retrospect doesn’t this all go toward our maturation;
Making us whole, defining who we are
And who we will become.
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~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
The Chances We Took
The chances we took
Gave excitement to our lives
Without second thought.
This was more than we had hoped
Yet not as much as wanted.
Is this so unusual
As we strive for happiness
Seeking fulfillment
Among an uncertain life?
Is there any greater joy?
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
At Midnight’s Stroke (Sonnet)
At midnight’s stroke amongst confetti and champagne
Give thought to those so far from home.
Too many are they in lands we cannot name,
Worn and lonely; resolved to wallow alone.
.
With joy–a smile and alcohols bright cheer
Our horns like trumpets wail.
Forgetting those who could not be here
Our memories so short they do fail.
.
Without intention this ailment takes hold
As time our sensitivities does dull.
Our patience and prayers grow tired and old
Succumbing to complacencies lull.
.
Remember those who sacrifice without batting an eye,
Ensuring the freedoms the rest of us have, as our fireworks light up the sky.
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~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
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AUTHOR’S NOTE: I like to post reminders from time-to-time to give thought to our brave service men and women serving around the world. These are as much a reminder for me as I hope they are for others who may read this. Next time you see a member of the armed forces, thank them for their service, this really does mean a great deal to them.
A New Day, A New Light Dawns
A new day, a new light dawns,
No more do the darkest clouds mask my life,
Shrouding me in gloom so marshland thick.
Crying out to be saved ushered no hand,
Leaving me to crawl, bloodied and battered from my despicable pit.
No hope nor blame was there outside of self–
Though not for lack of trying.
How easy it was to shine blame on another,
Justifying this rancid condition through mirrored fault.
Oh how misplaced and misguided were my intentions!
I need look no further than my reflection to find the culprit,
The thief that steals away at the slightest hint of uplifted spirit.
For now he has been banished back to his cell,
‘Til next his jailer be tricked into releasing him.
.
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
How Glorious The Year As It Comes To An End (Pantoum)
How glorious the year as it comes to an end,
Thankful for all that I have received,
Complaints I have few, no regrets do I send,
Dismissing what should never be grieved.
.
Thankful for all that I have received,
A fool would I be to complain,
Dismissing what should never be grieved,
Cherishing that which remains.
.
A fool would I be to complain,
Perceived as nothing but a whiner,
Cherishing that which remains,
Leaving only the good which is finer.
.
Perceived as nothing but a whiner,
Is something which should never be attained,
Leaving only the good which is finer,
To those that will follow unconstrained.
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~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
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AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Description taken from : http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/pantoum.html
The pantoum consists of a series of quatrains rhyming ABAB in which the second and fourth lines of a quatrain recur as the first and third lines in the succeeding quatrain; each quatrain introduces a new second rhyme as BCBC, CDCD. The first line of the series recurs as the last line of the closing quatrain, and third line of the poem recurs as the second line of the closing quatrain, rhyming ZAZA.
The design is simple:
Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
.
Line 5 (repeat of line 2)
Line 6
Line 7 (repeat of line 4)
Line 8
Continue with as many stanzas as you wish, but the ending stanza then repeats the second and fourth lines of the previous stanza (as its first and third lines), and also repeats the third line of the first stanza, as its second line, and the first line of the first stanza as its fourth. So the first line of the poem is also the last.
Last stanza:
Line 2 of previous stanza
Line 3 of first stanza
Line 4 of previous stanza
Line 1 of first stanza
Carols By The Fire (Tanka)
We Drink Because We’re Poets – We Drink Inspiration – Poetry Prompt #006
Carols by the fire
Electric Yule log ablaze
Singing out of tune
Like the late great Lawrence Welk
We’re drunk on tiny bubbles
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Dom DiFrancesco 