Respect Poems
The British
by Benjamin Zephaniah
Take some Picts, Celts and Silures
And let them settle,
Then overrun them with Roman conquerors.
Remove the Romans after approximately 400 years
Add lots of Norman French to some
Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Vikings, then stir vigorously.
Mix some hot Chileans, cool Jamaicans, Dominicans,
Trinidadians and Bajans with some Ethiopians, Chinese,
......
Dis Poetry
by Benjamin Zephaniah
Dis poetry is like a riddim dat drops
De tongue fires a riddim dat shoots like shots
Dis poetry is designed fe rantin
Dance hall style, big mouth chanting,
Dis poetry nar put yu to sleep
Preaching follow me
Like yu is blind sheep,
Dis poetry is not Party Political
Not designed fe dose who are critical.
Dis poetry is wid me when I gu to me bed
......
Discrimination
by Adelaide Rhead
Why do you think you're better
If your culture is not the same?
Yes, maybe you seem different
But deep inside all are the same.
Why do they think they're better?
If one is black and one is white,
If one is man and one is woman.
They are the same, that is their right.
......
True Love
by Judith Viorst
It is true love because
I put on eyeliner and a concerto and make pungent observations about the great issues of the day
Even when there's no one here but him,
And because
I do not resent watching the Green Bay Packer
Even though I am philosophically opposed to football,
And because
When he is late for dinner and I know he must be either having an affair or lying dead in the middle of the street,
I always hope he's dead.
......
Jobson Of The Star
by Robert William Service
Within a pub that's off the Strand and handy to the bar,
With pipe in mouth and mug in hand sat Jobson of the Star.
"Come, sit ye down, ye wond'ring wight, and have a yarn," says he.
"I can't," says I, "because to-night I'm off to Tripoli;
To Tripoli and Trebizond and Timbuctoo mayhap,
Or any magic name beyond I find upon the map.
I go errant trail to try, to clutch the skirts of Chance,
To make once more before I die the gesture of Romance."
The Jobson yawned above his jug, and rumbled: "Is that so?
Well, anyway, sit down, you mug, and have a drink before you go."
......
Winston and Me
by Jeffrey Pipes Guice
“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
Waking up each morning and deciding that I’m going to accomplish something is what I strive for...
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Failing is a learning process, but not attempting at all is a total lack of courage...
“If you're going through hell, keep going.”
Even though I’ve been married twice, I’ll never give up in my search for true love...
“Everyone has his day, and some days last longer than others."
......
Respect
by Jonathan Tafreg
Do you believe in male domination,
And you want to treat them,
Like their Lord?
To see them working is abomination,
Who are you to women,
Of this World?
To God alone they give an adoration,
If you want the worship,
......
Into a desert storm
by Slava P, aka Maximus Decimus Meridius
Desert storm, all alone, troops are gone
Trying hard to stay alive, what went wrong?
With this weight on my hands once again
Feel the pain of my friend, can you tell?
Just lay down my friend and don’t say a thing
You did a lot in your life don’t you think?
We All proud of you and you know it
Stay with me, please to the end of it
......
Day without you
by Slava P, aka Maximus Decimus Meridius
Day without you
Looks like wasted
Feels like wasted
If you may
Even hours without you
Feels like ages
Feels like crazy
Will you stay?
......
Ad Piscatorem
by Robert Louis Stevenson
FOR these are sacred fishes all
Who know that lord that is the lord of all;
Come to the brim and nose the friendly hand
That sways and can beshadow all the land.
Nor only so, but have their names, and come
When they are summoned by the Lord of Rome.
Here once his line an impious Lybian threw;
And as with tremulous reed his prey he drew,
Straight, the light failed him.
He groped, nor found the prey that he had ta'en.
......
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Slava P, aka Maximus Decimus Meridius (2 poems about Respect)
October 31st, 1970 - Kyiv, Ukraine and since 1992 - New Jersey, USA