Tag Archives: poetry

A Senseless Loss (Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy)

cn

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~

To rationalize this cycle of unfettered hate

Would only lend credence to the insane

The innocence of children left to a horrible fate

Snuffed out by a killer’s reasons arcane

~~

We weep for them, for what we have lost

A future taken in an instant never to grow up

Never to have know them, an insurmountable cost

Terrible and tragic their loss we never can make up

~~

We light our candles and say a prayer

Hoping their Maker greets them with open arms

For all we can do is stand united and show them that we care

While trying to figure out how to protect others from Satan’s harm

~~

Who could have known or perhaps have foretold

What tragedy would await these children so pure

Our own  we’ll pull close and tightly hold

To be confident they safe I am sure

~~

Thou shalt not kill a commandment most true

May this murderer burn in eternal hell

For you’ve taken from us so much more than you knew

In a moment of silence we toll the bell

~~

We stand with the mothers and fathers who weep

Tears that cannot bring their babies home

Never again to lay them down to sleep

Their hearts laid bare, broken and alone

~~

What more can I do but say sorry and grieve

For a loss no one can ever justify

I drop to my knees and beg their souls to take leave

And with mourning and sadness say goodbye

The Love of Fear

Credit - denverlibrary.org

Credit – denverlibrary.org

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~~

Fading light settles in

A prelude to the eerie silence of night

Shadows cast their nets over daylights reign

Capturing the throne under cover of darkness

What games are in play

When evil lurks in the minds eye

Clear as sight, solid and treacherous

We fear that which we can imagine

Imagination resurrects the childhood stories and legends told

By Shelly and Stoker and the Brothers Grimm

Feeding the monsters and demons they preach

What odd fellows we are

Envisioning the worst in man and nature

Vividly foretold in ancient myth

In recesses deep and subconscious

We live to love what terrorizes the soul

Extracting joy from what scares us most

A strange conundrum of human nature is this

Void of logic and common sense

That what frightens us should serve to entertainment us

Inner Peace

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~~~

The dust settles like a blanket on the troubles of the day

As evening sets, stress and worry dissolve into nothingness

Prodding a smile to softens the creases in my face

~~~

With eyes closed I can see a new me, reborn in spirit

Negativity gives way to bliss as I fill myself with abundant joy

Are not love and happiness the keys to a full life

~~~

What love can be given from a saddened heart

It would be insincere or at the least passive

Not what one needing to be cherished deserves

~~~

Sharing happiness is inconceivable out of misery

While living in distress, jubilance lies repressed corrupting the essence

This most surely is undeniable

~~~

As heart and mind refocus on what’s good in this world

I find myself in soulful contemplation of who I am

Questioning who I’m supposed to be

~~~

Through enlightenment I have come to love myself

Not selfishly, but sufficiently to project onto others

Filling me with joy and a sense of inner peace making me a better man

Jeweled Desert

Credit - gorp.com

Credit – gorp.com

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~

The late fall sky

Bathed in tangerine and magenta

Fragrance of Palo Verde and Cottonwood fills the air

Serenity cloaks the towering granite peaks

Wrapping them in shades of purple and gold

Exalting their millennial majesty

The coyote’s bay

Floating effortlessly through the canyons

They share their lonesome longing song

Adorned as if otherworldly

Cacti and the gnarled Joshua tree dot the desolate Sonoran desert

Prickly and unpretentious in their beauty

The landscape ruled by snake and scorpion

Rattle of the tail and venomous sting, relics of the deadly precipice

The destiny awaiting the oblivious visitor

Rain devoid xeriscape

Designed by the marvelous hand of nature

Wondrous in it’s simplicity and complexity

Man could not have created such a miraculous wonder

For our nature is to destroy

Still the creator left flawed beings as the keepers

To cherish and protect his prized ecru jewel.

A Question of Eternity

Credit - window2universe.org

Credit – window2universe.org

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~~

Who am I

Did not my spirit exist be for me

Perhaps not in this form,

Though most surely it did exist.

~~

The things I am are not new to me

My essence existed at the beginning

Conception did not create it nor can death destroy it

So who was I before.

~~

Maybe a river running through Africa

A blue whale navigating the seas

Or maybe a playful butterfly flying on high

Could not part of me have existed in all of these.

~~

In this I find comfort

The body being merely a vessel

Temporary and dispensable on loan from the earth

To be gladly returned upon passing.

~~

The energy that is me remains

Free of this vessel

Free to become whatever the universe deems fit

Glorious and unhindered by my physical being.

~~

There is peace in thoughts of this

Knowing I have always been and will always be

Could this be the eternal life spoken of in religion

Whether of God or of nature, we may never know.

The Gift

credit - fanpop.com

credit – fanpop.com

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~~

In this most festive time of year,

Let us not forget amongst our Christmas cheer,

In whom the honor of this day be blessed,

Exalted on High above all the rest.

~~

Every year at this time we tend to get lost,

Spending more than we have at almost any cost,

For fear we’ll disappoint the ones that we love,

Most surely we wouldn’t, petty things they’re above.

~~

This is not why the Lord brought his Son to this earth,

He is the gift in Christmas that was given at birth,

Nothing in this world to Him could compare,

With the sacrifice of Christ that God wholly did share.

~~

Our boxes and bows are mere trinkets to Him,

Valueless in comparison might I go out on a limb,

Tinsel and garland are beautiful it is true,

Lights of white, yellow, red, green orange and blue.

~~

These are not what Christmas time is about,

Not the trees, decorations, or the gifts that you tout,

Its about love and charity done all the year through,

Kindness shown unto others in all that we do.

~~

Its being thankful for Christ as we live out His word,

For benevolence though silent can still be powerfully heard,

This may be the greatest gift that as mortals we can give,

A gift we may freely offer for as long as we live.

~~

So enjoy your Christmas trees and your twinkling lights,

Just remember our Lord and His Bethlehem night,

For His gift that He gave so many years ago,

Is the only one we need through joyful song we do show.

~~

Draw nearer to you all your family and friends,

Shouting praises and prayer up to heaven you send,

We celebrate your birth baby Jesus whom we hold oh so dear,

May we embody the Christmas spirit all through the year.

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.