Step 1/2
1.
Racism Is Around Me Everywhere by Francis Duggan
Of human ignorance I am almost in despair
For racism is around me everywhere
But like they say sheer ignorance is bliss
Just like Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
Some people carry their honour in a flag
And of their Nationality they brag
They feel superior and they differentiate
And against those who are different they discriminate.
So many people still judged by their race
For such there never ought to be a place
'A fair go' those untruthful words I do recall
There is no such a thing as a 'fair go for all'.
Though we live in a so called democracy
Of racism we never will be free
They judge you by where you come from and the colour of your skin
For many equality and respect seems impossible to win.
It's been awhile since the days of Martin Luther King
His name to it has a familiar ring
If against racism he did not choose to strive
Today the great man he would be alive.
So many holding the reins of power not spiritually aware
And racism is around me everywhere
And racism only leads to division and war
Just goes to show how ignorant some are.
This poem explains that although racism has been fought against for so long, it still exists in society today.
2.
The Man In The Jar
I once knew a man who lived in a jar.
For a stranger sight you'd have to go far.
I asked him once why he lived in a jar.
He grimaced and said, how bizarre you are.
My jar's so cozy, warm and bright,
Even in the full moonlight.
The only drawback is, you see,
Getting out quickly when I have to pee.
This poem explains how perspective has a big influence on how people are so quick to judge others base on their ideas and values.
3.
Icon by Randy Pela
You taught me the ABC's and my 123's. Your musical genius will go down in history.
Your nickname was the King of Pop, You Never Stopped Until You Got Enough.
People of all ages learned to Rock With You, Billie Jean wasn't your lover and you Beat It too.
Your music was Black or White, Thrilling was your game. Now that you're not htere the world will never be the same.
No matter when life had me down and I'd run away not wanting to be found I took your advice and always looked at The Man In The Mirror and then I'd be alright. I knew I was Not Alone. I held my head high and remained to be strong. Your words stressed peace and you sang We Are the World with your lyrics you tried to Heal the World.
I Remember the Time I first fell in love, and I wanted to Be Starting Something with the Lady In My Life. Through it all I made sure the Girl Was Mine.
In my dreams I would Scream and I'd do the moonwalk across my kitchen floor, all the way to the hallway corridor.
Other acts will try to imitate you and their performances aren't that Bad but the don't have the charisma you had.
Michael Jackson will go down in history as a musical trend setter and in my opinion no one will ever be better.
Thank You Michael
While incorporating titles of Michael Jackson’s songs into the poem, the author explains how Michael had a positive influence on a number of people’s lives and that he will never be forgotten.
4.
One Neighborly Tree by Curtis Johnson
One Autumn afternoon, I was forced to stall.
Across the street on a corner lawn very small,
stood a tree most beautiful and noticed by all.
Each fall I enjoyed its breathtaking autumn display.
That is, until four years ago when I moved away.
Its memory arrested and captured me a few days ago.
I was compelled to drive through my old neighborhood to experience once more that autumn tree, one of my favorite shows.
But when I arrived and turned the corner, I was saddened because that lovely tree so generously covered with orange leaves was no longer there.
Its unsightly root system protruded above ground and disfigured the small lawn. It was then I understood why the tree had to go; but still, I regretted that I could no longer stare. I shall not forget those few years and brief moments we shared. It seemed that tree and I embraced each other with such a neighborly care.
This poem tells a story about a tree that had sentimental value to the author, and that he should not have taken the time he spent with the tree for granted.
6.
Silhouettes by Unknown
These words are only being typed
because of the camera I didn’t bring.
.
Had I but thought ahead,
I may have grabbed the moment
as it should have been preserved-
light and dark sandwiching themselves
through space.
.
Instead, this is a poem
of penitence.
.
The tapping of keys
sounds like raindrops of regret
spilling from rusted gutters.
This black electronic ink
flashing over fake paper
remains a poor excuse for the silhouettes
of the young bodies at play,
flinging themselves from the rocks
into the sea.
.
The glare of the late afternoon sun on the waves
does not lend itself well to Times New Roman,
and I wonder-
what is the font of childhood?
How many stanzas are needed
to frame salt water and sunburned bodies
savoring the last moments before dusk?
What meter would best capture
the dripping suits
the screeched challenges
fire on water?
What is the rhyme of youth?
.
Now, I will admit arrogance-
no slip of my trigger finger
could have caught all the vernal glory
that plunged itself again and again into the bay,
but at least then I wouldn’t have had the burden
of trying to express the inexpressible in words.
.
In the end,
these musings do craft a suitable frame-
not for that of the August sun,
but rather,
the exquisite torture
of a poet
on a couch,
waging a war on two fronts-
somnolence and frustration.
This poem explains the frustration photographers will have if they experience a once in a lifetime event while not having their camera present.
8.
Pain Ends by Katy A. Brown
Breathe in the fresh air,
Put your mind at ease.
Let down your hair,
Let it flow in the breeze.
Let your eyes wander
To all the beauty to be seen.
If those toxic thoughts you still do ponder,
Then let out a scream.
Scream until the pain is gone,
Until you're no longer feel afraid.
Open your eyes to a new dawn,
Let the darkness fade.
No longer compare yourself
Or your flaws to others' perfections.
Take the negativity off the shelf,
Focus on your direction.
Pick the sadness up off the floor,
Sweep it into the wind.
Close the door on self-hatred,
Never let it back in.
For the lies it would often tell you,
You will no longer agree.
Happiness and love are what you should hold onto,
They are whom you should give the key.
Pay no attention to the toxic thoughts,
Listen to those who adore everything you are.
Overthinking was what you once were taught,
But now those thoughts you put in a jar.
Focus on your goals,
Never lose your fight.
It's time to open new scrolls,
Everything will be alright.
This is an inspirational poem encouraging people to let go of the pain that hurts them by turning over a positive leaf in their life.
9.
Nihilist by Raven Drake
Farcical, extravagant
My birthmark is a scar
A speckled blotch ...
A spot of pox
An icon from afar
I'm an upstart, I'm an eyesore
Ranting with a flair
In a tempest, I'm a rabid bird
Setting fire to the air
As dauntless as a hellhag
Unmoved by love or care
I can hold up in a cyclone
Feasting on your fear
I'm your last hope
As a laughingstock
I'm your courage in a dare
As audacious as a terrorist
With death-defying hair
When it's time to play the tragic fool
I'm as flagrant as a glare
Seething with a vengeance
In a tantrum of despair
This poem explains the life of a nihilist and how to them, life is meaningless.
10.
Rose In Full Bloom by Ishan Malik
Rambling down a cobbled pathway,
I stumbled upon a wild rose,
Deep garnet red,
Velveteen petals each curled to perfection,
Luminescent and innocently pretty,
A coy damsel oblivious of her beauty,
Fading away unadored and unsung,
Looking at me, she blushed
I stood love stung, adoring her,
Borrowed a steam bearing a bud
Planted her proudly in my garden,
Ever day, day after day,
I watched my rose break out of its chrysalis,
Groomed it with devout care,
Nurturing it with fertilizer,
Admiring it with every moment,
Watching it grown and come into full bloom,
Tall and elegant till it grew
And looked down on me!
This is a poem about the beauty of nature and how there are very few things that are more beautiful than a rose in full bloom.
11.
The Calling by Unknown
The waves whisper to me, calling me to the soft sand.
The water sweeps over my feet, surrounds where I stand.
The breeze caresses my face, whips my hair.
The wind encloses my body, acknowledging I'm there.
The clouds clotting out the sun, turning gray with anger.
The sky no longer blue, a clear warning of danger.
The rain pelting my skin, as cold as ice.
The water seeping in my bones, undeniably concise.
The world calling to me, pulling me out.
The atmosphere thicker, it's my sorrow no doubt.
The waves grew higher, crashed over my head.
The breath blown away, unmistakably dead.
Using vivid imagery, this poems describes how it feels to be at the ocean during a storm, the storm representing society.
12.
Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
This is a sonnet explaining that love is eternal, unlike the seasons that change throughout the year.
Creative Aspect
To go outside on a walk
Having to worry about those who talk
Negative words, expelled from their lips
Why should anyone have to deal with this?
Judging others for a physical difference
Has a real tendency to make one look ignorant
Perhaps it’s time to take a look inside
And to quit being limited to what meets the eye
To go outside on a walk
Not having to worry about those who talk
Would be all this world needs
Racism, end, please