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 2761° 
Nat Lipstadt
1:12:25 9:20am nyc

Exactly, how far is it to you?
this is more than mere question,
or a rhetorical poem title discard,
consider it an interrogatory of
the first order, a debate raging
with every word successfully
affixed from brain to fingertips,
from my breathing to your heart,
how far is it exactly, pray tell me,
how these cords of words find you,
are your lips bending up in a smile,
need me a weather report, air quality,
wind gusts vitals vital to yo! estimate
how fast & conditions they’ll require survive/arrive in your eyesight well
and be friended


feed me the data, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure,
SpO2, so I’ll know what condition your
condition is in, adjust my words accordingly,
send to this distance back to me awaiting,
the necessary facts & figures to provide the finger stroke directional, do you need whispers or emboldened bold face to arouse the a spirit flagging, a shoulder shaking, a dozen red lipped chords of
kisses and sweet everthings, that do not
dissolve, dissipate or disappear instantly,
but can be stored in a Ziploc bag, refrigerated,
ready for gorging and disgorging, repeatedly,
as needed, synchronized slow or hard, fast
or soft, wet or dry. sweet or salty, savory
or a blended mixture, an adjustable concoction depending
on distance, time of day,
tell me,
the stuff that you accept
with open willingness,
or just begrudgingly

all adjustable
all shaped to
your individuality
elastic flexible
but the schedule
filling up fast
so we can mutual
squeeze into each others
empire of empty

so,
Exactly, how far is it to you,
to where you are being
?
Exactly, how far is it to you nml lipstadt
 669° 
Maria Etre
Maybe my heart
was born too small
for the love
it carries...

That's why it
shares it
just to
give itself
breathing
space
 667° 
Sally A Bayan
East...and west, are we?
north, and south?.....maybe...
we were nurtured with love,
our eyes and our minds opened
to different isms that helped shape our
values...we were brought up, bearing our
folks' customs, traditions. principles...
we have different faiths...some practice...some
don't...some, don't even subscribe, yet, survive.

we have dry and monsoon season...in
other parts, pleasant weather, cold winds,
and in some parts, snow.....turning to ice

we are  a mix of white skin, seeking for a tan,
and brown-skin, hiding from the sun;
one's night, is the other's day,
there are surfers among us, playing with the waves,
there at the cusp...gambling...daring fate...
there are those who hide from silent freezing winters,
finding warmth and comfort in long hot summers...

countless points of comparison,  
yet, we've something beautiful in common,
a connection of feelings, of words...our poetry,
flowing like blood, through our veins...endlessly
feeding, fueling our hearts and minds, with classy,
themes....sometimes bold, mushy, or....sassy...
no set skeds...we do it even through adversity...

we write......

we tell about our escape from life's banalities,
mindscapes, landscapes immersed in frivolities

yet, we await the marvels of each  morning we wake,
remembering gratitude, in every breath we take...

years have passed us by,
still, plays this soft music that mollifies
and inspires......heard only by you and i
prodding us, through hours, of day or night

while you exist in your own part of the world,
as i, in my hot, humid cosmos, long for cold.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Sally


© Rosalia Rosario A. Bayan
    May, 19, 2019
(a love poem, edited...for all Hello Poetry writers)
(a repost from May 2019)
 652° 
Stephen E Yocum
LA burns, smoke blackens sky,
people flee and abandon cars,
90 and 100 mile an hour winds
feed and fan the flames, people
losing everything, even being
rich, or famous cannot save their
big homes and life's possessions.
Someplace in that expanding,
raging inferno my son, an Oregon
Fire Chief leads 300 Firefighters
and their 75 engines and water tenders
over 900 miles south into the fire storm.
Along with firefighters from other
states. Mutual support rendered.

One of my son's firemen is his own son,
and my 21year old rookie grandson
with a little over one year on the job.
His seasoned father has fought many
battles with all kinds of fires, he set to
retire in May after 30 years on the job.
He has seen it all, with never a scratch
or a "singe", but my grandson has never
experienced anything of this magnitude,
being one of a 4-man truck crew battling
side by side in the belly of a raging beast.

All these 30 years I worried for my son's
safety, now it starts anew, for our boy
barely a man that walks in his father's shoes.

I will not sleep well until they are all
home safely. I grieve for the victims
of this awful tragedy.
When others run away from fires,
or danger these rare breeds run
towards them, firefighters and
police unselfish public servants.
And we would all be in deep
Doodoo without them.
 543° 
Immortality
How can I
love someone new,
when you kiss
my soul
so true?
For the blurred-faced man, who comes in my dream-

Are you real, or am I lost in the feel?
 490° 
Caesar
I find comfort In the dark
Like the night
The silence
And the villains that used to play on my tv screen
They were brave
Though called cruel
They spoke their
heart
Misunderstood from the start
In the world so bleak
And without a clean slate to start from
They were hopeless from the start
A horrible upstart
Close to my own
I hold villians close to my heart
Shielding them from the hero
Which is all to bland
And to be blunt
There always painted too brightly
Bold colors
Bright and popping
Showing they are brighter
Better than crime the villain
Dark and shy
Most the time unable to fly
Why do wee pain them in such colors
We’re all to simple minded
To believe in a world of crime
Color could truly describe
Lot of topic on this one
 382° 
Mikey
all of this anger,
this rage,
this irrational irritation that continues to boil over,
was once love.

it was gentle,
and kind.
it did not bite or maul.
it did not bare its teeth with the intention of pain.
instead, with the intention of tenderness.

all of this rage,
was once warmth.

it was intimate,
and tender.
it did not bubble beneath the surface with an endless blaze.
instead, it flickered in soft wisps.

all of this irritation,
was once affection.

it was constant,
and reliable.
it did not swing with the might and fury of a rouge soldier.
instead, it stood fortified within its bounds.

all of this rage, was once love.
a love i had for you.
i can’t believe you had me make such a silly promise.
 381° 
JA Perkins
I could describe
everything about you
having never met you -
recite your words
like a Silverstein poem,
sketch every
imperfection, and
feel every embrace.

So believe me
when I say you're
the one I've always
wanted and that
I loved you before
I knew you.
An amazing thing
 370° 
Larry Berger
things which came to mind
when I read your poem,
I have been able to
flesh out with imaginative
reality, wrestling your
dilemmas to the floor
and pinning them there
while the poetic referee
pounded the mat, shouting,
and counting to three,
the match is over now,
and you can be free
 323° 
Thomas Freeman
Tethered between heaven and hell

Sitting staring silently sobbing

I place all my hopes ‘n dreams on to the wishing well

Wishing that one day just like the stars above

I will shine long after my days have come to an end
 319° 
Thomas W Case
Tepid water
between
my toes,
I know
life.
Here is a link to my you tube channel where I read my poetry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psGsLxRoaII&t=22s

My book Seedy Town Blues is on Amazon.
 238° 
Akira Chinen
There are things
that only the heartbroken
can understand
and dear son
I hope with all my broken heart
that one day
you will understand
these things too

a pain so beautiful
that only love can see
that everything broken
everything broken
is lovely too
 222° 
Jia En
You never want a friend
Making one
Too good lest the friendship ends
When they realise you're not fun
Or smart or pretty
Enough when they meet others
On another
Whole new level.
It's human nature to
Want to come first, don't you
Think? Because being somebody's
Number one is the only
Thing that came to me
Thinking about what I want in life
The other night
And I know it's not right
To think like this
But if you've ever felt this way before
You'd know
There's no
Point in trying anymore.
everybody wants to rule everyone else's world.
 209° 
Khadi Alza
I was pulling out my hair,
I just wanna shine!
So put on your war paint.
I had a dream so big and loud,
That somedays you're the only thing I know.
I paint my face with glitter in the morning light,
'Till I saw blue-haired boy.
Hey,
It's cruel you know.
 188° 
BipolarBear
You made me a poet my dear;
forever inspired with you near.
Alas, you took it all and left -
my rhyming words your greatest theft.
 184° 
Millie
Why would I eat if the lies inside me fill me up? 'Til there's nothing but half-truths trapped inside. I plead, scream, beg for someone to hear my cry but it's locked deep within me.
The pain I feel when I look in the mirror; why? Why do I hate myself?
Hate my hair,
my hips,
my thighs,
my stomach,
my smile.
I won't look anymore.
I can't bear to see who's staring back.
Shatter the mirror!
Distort the already broken image.
How much more damage could I do to myself before I'm through?
The scale wails when I approach; the fourth time in a day. When the numbers fall, I let out a sigh of relief, but when they rise…
What can I do?
What would you do if you couldn't be you?
Everyone's words are pointless. If its not the voice inside my head it doesn't matter. Nothing can satisfy my need to feel empty—to feel proud of the monster I’d become.
 174° 
Neville Johnson
My city is in ruins
Flames have taken it down
But that doesn’t mean we are over and out
We shall come together
With determination
In unity
For we are survivors
Bound to succeed
Love and friendship are the foundation
It will take time
As we overcome frustration
But we’ve got each other
We’ll make it right
Someday we’ll look back at this
Give thanks we made it through
By hard work will come bliss
We’ll do it together
It will be all right
Hope and courage are here
It’s worth the fight
small thing  ragged who knows all of it

pieces torn away

or

is it a moth here in the dark?


triangles bring mystery

a new mathematics.


the rooms were swept yesterday

bones hidden

teeth implied.



yet the shape remains embedded
 154° 
Kabiru
Sweet face
Mellow voice
Irresistible person
Lovely human
Everything I need
 149° 
Oliverio Girondo
Los nervios se me adhieren
al barro, a las paredes,
abrazan los ramajes,
penetran en la tierra,
se esparcen por el aire,
hasta alcanzar el cielo.

El mármol, los caballos
tienen mis propias venas.
Cualquier dolor lastima
mi carne, mi esqueleto.
¡Las veces que me he muerto
al ver matar un toro!...

Si diviso una nube
debo emprender el vuelo.
Si una mujer se acuesta
yo me acuesto con ella.
Cuántas veces me he dicho:
¿Seré yo esa piedra?

Nunca sigo un cadáver
sin quedarme a su lado.
Cuando ponen un huevo,
yo también cacareo.
Basta que alguien me piense
para ser un recuerdo.
 144° 
Albamaine
I've got an online bestfriend
None of our circle and family intersects
So i know for sure when he dies i won't even know that that day is his funeral

Or could be the other way 'round
But that's lyfe
When I die sweet child of mine will you think of me?

She sat there.
Mother of mothers, alone, isolated.
They left, all colors gone.
She had to stay here now, they decided.
We are too busy they say.
I understand.
Like in the beginning.
You’re born alone and you’ll die alone.
The former with many tears and noise,
the other with one tear in silence.
Had a busy and happy family life, a blessing it was.
I know.
But see, a beautiful creature, watching me.
An angel.
Can you believe it?
I’m talking to an angel dressed like a chicken.
But I’m grateful for everything.
I have a roof over my head
and a bed to sleep in.
I’m healthy enough.
I miss them that’s true.
I will pray for them.
Their time will come too.
We all grow old.
One day they will be me if they’re lucky enough.

Always treat the elderly with kindness and the respect they deserve.
Don’t isolate them.



Shell ✨🐚
Many elderly are put away to never be visited by any loved one. We all grow old someday.
Today was tough going
but knowing how tough
things can get
I got going too.

'We have never had it so good'
oh
please tell me if you could
when was that?
 132° 
Shofi Ahmed
Life is short is small
or maybe not
Purpose is surely not!
 129° 
Dario Tinajero
My glorified enemy..
my incapacitated friend
when you told me I was your biggest regret
that the rage of 10,000 (dead by guillotine) cursed souls
make up 1% of your hatred for me
that when you died, your 2 year old child would grow with the very purpose
of destroying my entire life
I was appalled, dismayed
so I pressed on the blade
and you no longer could throw your outlandish threats my way.
But I did not expect, 30 years down the road
Sitting at the edge of my pool In my Florida mansion
which (of your own free will) is what you gladly endowed me
to see a bright light in the sky falling so quick and smooth
a beautiful sight
So I picked up my martini and took a final big swig
and extended my arms to the flaming red might
"IN MY MOTHER'S NAME!"
He spoke aloud
his mother would be oh so very proud!
 113° 
Traveler
To master my reality
I give it my all
To be one with nature
I obey natural laws
To experience this life
Of such pleasures and pain
To run in this race
Where winning is vain
To live like a fool
So eternally wise
To be loved unconditionally
Beyond my demise
All of these things
I hold in my heart
Creatively shaping
My collection of art
Traveler 🧳Tim
 105° 
Amanda Kay Burke
Life's about the suffering
Peace a destination
What is more important
Is what happens duration

Impossible to self-pardon sins
Plagued with doubt and fear
What if darkness creeping within
Sronger than the light inhabiting here?

Worrying is not worth the toll
I have to pay my dues
No one can walk path for me
Don't wear the same size shoes

Each break and bruise instruction
Finish line forever unknown
Happy endings fantasy
Majority synthetic like silicon

It has to shift before we surrender
To assimilation of society
In-between consciouslessness
And controlled compliancy

After Point A wandered astray
Point B hopeless cause
Meandering sheep in a deluded daze
Progression practically on pause

Creativity and cerebration rare
Killed in each as a child
Brainwashed being obedient
Different labeled 'wild'

Those in power yearn to program every step
Shaping image to fit their mold
Corrupt agenda is nothing new
Most don't realize they are trapped in their hold

I want to lead uprising
But I simply am too afraid
Remember when surroundings were calmer
Present for past I desperately long to trade

We had plenty of time to correct behavior
There is an existing disconnect
From planet earth and each other
Too immersed in screens for paths to intersect

A thousand unanswered questions
In silence reality is revealed
Up to us to find purpose in this dimension
Stumbling blindly through this battlefield

We are closer to cliff than we realize
Inching towards edge each day passing by
Shadows halting vision with uncertainty
Wings clipped so we are unable to fly
About the way society is in relation to our government and just how we have been regressing and it's exactly what those in power want. Wake the **** up people, especially Americans!
 104° 
inthewater
i spoke
and now i know
what i wondered long ago

i can't hide behind
that favorite line
the one i use to fantasize:

"what if I -"

speak and i am heartbroken.

----------------------------

"what if"

i hold my tongue and i never know?

i cannot say i'll never know
i broke my silence, not long ago

and my heart is broken
but at least i know,
which is better:

and it is to speak.
an answer is an answer, and i answered my own question on top of all of that.
 98° 
Maichy2004
White so pure,
it's cleanliness sure.

Now soaked with dread
and flecked with red.

Heat of me melts into puddle,
my mind will fade and words will muddle.

Steel in chest and searing pain,
my face feels droplets of the winter's rain.

Fur of fire-blackened and bloodied,
as I lay with vision muddied.

No one will come though they look in flocks,
for I am just a simple fox.
This poem is about a fox that died outside in the snow near my house made me sad so I wrote about it.

I like this poem but obviously, it could be better, I would love to hear what anyone thinks about it.
 97° 
TREASUREI
FEELSLIKEDREAMFEELSLIKEMAGIC
OH
    OH
TEMMMUUUUU
SHOPPP LIKE MILLIONAIREEEEE

this song is rent free stuck up in there ........ -_-

LOL
 91° 
cleo
i look for you in the faces on the street
i ache for you in the songs that i sing

an out i didn't take
the memories unmade
a life we didn't live

he hurt me
but i hurt you
that's just the way it is
 85° 
Jeju
my mind is full of memories of you... of us.
anything i do
everything i do
i'm reminded of you.
i'm reminded of what we used to be.
i don't know why i can't forget you.
i don't know why i can't let you go.
i wonder...
do you think of me too?
do you miss me as much as i do you?
or does the absence of me not haunt you at all?
jeat - i still love you.
To no o
To yes y
 78° 
Kelsea
Do you know who they are?
Or do you know their name.
Short but I hope ykwim
 74° 
Shreeram Ghadge
She is like a gentle breeze of wind-  Smooth and tender..

She is like a forest- Evergreen and Majestic...

She is like a river - Calm and serene..

She is like a flower in the garden- Blushing and Blooming...

She is like a sunshine - Bright and pleasant..

She is like a star in the dark universe - glittering and sparkling..

Lastly, she is also like a fire- Blazing and glowing..


-SHREERAM
 72° 
silvervi
I am safe, no matter what my anxiety tells me :)
Look around you, realize that you are safe and that those feelings of anxiety come from scary images within your mind. It doesn't actually exist but your body reacts as if it's real.
 72° 
David R
Frozen.
like the strings of my heart.
Hard.
Like my outward countenance.

But beneath, the fish swim freely,
feelings no-one sees,
beyond the touchy-feely,
beneath the sword of Damocles.
 72° 
else
another january rain above us,
same month, same city, same conflict,
a different ‘you’ in my poems.

i wonder what you really felt
when you slung my arm over yours,
when you relentlessly chased my hand,
those hard, seasoned fingers on mine.

i try to fight you off, but i wind up
linking our arms in a chain,
rubbing your back until i’m sore,
hearing you ramble in that car ride,
as you asked about my bruises and
searched for my hand before i cut you off,
knowing we cannot be more than this,
at least not now.

that night
when the sky sobbed watching us,
i wished you were drunk every day
and regretted that i was completely sober.
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