Tag Archives: poem

War Damages More Than Earth And Enemy

War damages more than earth and enemy.

Its scars not always visible disfigure,

Taking more than life and limb.

Those once docile and kind seethe with anger

Tearing family, home and heart to shreds.

Longing to coddle the child we once knew

We only serve to alienate.

As a result we remain silent,

Helpless against the inner demons that torment.

We pray they make it back home in one piece,

Yet coming to terms with that which we cannot see

…There is now way to prepare for.

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

We Are Still At War

We are still at war

Though it is invisible

To the naked eye

The media doesn’t care

Only the families do

Far away from home

Tears are shed–

With each phone call

Praying for good news

Or maybe no news at all.

They are alone with their fears

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

The Woodpecker Knocks (Haiku)

Image Credit johneasley.com

Image Credit johneasley.com

The woodpecker knocks

Avoiding saguaro’s thorns

An amazing feet

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Dreams of Riches

Dreams of riches,

Leached from the ground

By muscle, pick axe and shovel.

Panned from our rivers

Even dust brought great joy.

Craning skyward

The Superstitions loom large

Legend says there is treasure

Long lost to time and greed,

Hidden where it can never be found.

Miners still prospect for their slice of the pie;

Looking for that vein to bleed gold in these rocky crags.

Others chase the lore;

Seeking after the Lost Dutchman’s riches.

Not for the faint of heart,

Either destiny or curse has claimed many a soul.

Still this does not deter.

Maybe Waltz did dance around the truth,

Perhaps the joke’s on those that believe a fortune exists in this granite hell,

We may never know.

Maybe hope is enough to keep us alive,

Hope that our pot of gold survives

Beneath the armor of these…

Superstition Mountains.

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Authors Note: This piece is about the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine in the Superstition Mountains located near Apache Junction,  Arizona just outside of Phoenix.  The legend carries on to this day with people continuing search this treacherous mountain seeking the goldmine that Jacob Waltz claims to have discovered and kept secret unto his death in 1891.  More can be read about it here.

Invincible Youth (Tanka)

Invincible youth

Passes in the blink of an eye

Inevitable

As it always has with age

Though not always with wisdom

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

‘Tis More Dangerous Than Any Weapon Created By Man

‘Tis more dangerous than any weapon created by man,

Born of spirit and Heaven’s hand.

Free to be opened and enjoyed like fine wine,

Or corked up and saved for another time.

In anger it rages and wishes to impart harm,

Praying before action that reason sounds alarm.

Planning and scheming are some of what it does best,

Running through scenarios, putting them to the test.

At times acting irrational as in the case of lust or love,

Acting without thinking giving primal urge a shove.

Evil when plagued with illness deprived of right or wrong,

Difficult to cure lasting the whole life long.

It’s never been more dangerous than when behind a wall of brick,

Ignorance and jealousy and hatred make it sick.

Closing off one’s mind is a terrible and awful waste,

Something that should be frowned upon as a sheer and utter disgrace.

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

Prompt: Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie – Photo Challenge #16 – “Portrait”

 

Gabriel Neffke

Gabriel Neffke

 

Patriotic (Acrostic)

Purveyors of hate

Attempt to intimidate those of unlike minds–

Turning to violence and angry rhetoric to force their points-of-view.

Reality eludes them as they long for their diluted utopia.

I do not despise my country nor my brothers,

Only those despots among us that desire to bastardize it in their image.

They and they alone are treasonous,

Ignorant and insidious,

Corrupting all that is good in the name of the flag.

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

Pedaling Madly

Pedaling madly

Skating on rain-soaked pavement

Cobblestone death trap

\

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Authors Note: This haiku is in honor of today’s stage of the Tour de France, stage 5 in the very rainy north of France.  Defending champion Chris Froome pulled out of the race after falling twice on the rain slicked roads today after falling once before in a previous stage.

You can get the idea of how dangerous this stage was from this slideshow from the official Tour de France 2014 website.

So Much Seems Misguided In This World

So much seems misguided in this world

Though perhaps it is me that is misguided, I do not know.

Is it wrong to expect more from us as a people,

To give with an open heart,

To love without consideration of race, creed or color?

Touting the sacredness of our religions,

Our freedom to worship as we please,

We are stifled,

Narrow of mind,

Driven to discriminate in the name of our God.

We preach against other free peoples,

Demanding their conformity to our world view,

Threatening hellish consequences for disobedience.

This is not freedom–

Shackled by our religions, it is we are enslaved!

Find one among us that is not simply trying to survive,

Doing the best they can in these uncertain times.

Does your Holier-Than-Thou attitude raise you above them?

Does belittling your brothers and sisters bring you closer to God?

Does freedom and equality apply to only those with whom you are in consensus?

It does not you hypocrites;

Your religion is distorted and not of God!

You are not ordained to be judge and jury

Carrying out sentence on your brethren!

Take heed of your own shortcomings,

As I am certain there are many

And this world shall be a better place.

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

A Playful Nibble (Tanka)

A playful nibble

The lightest flicker of tongue

Erogenous dance

~

No music is required

In this sensual samba

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~