If you want to succeed in poetry, start off by showing your work.
Be proud of what you’ve created, even when others will smirk.
Focus on what is important, take a chance and write what you please.
Always stay true to your form and remember the a. b. c. ’s

Never be afraid to fail, get back up and follow your heart.
What you think is masterfully written, others will rip apart.
There are many types of poets, together we are never alone.
Follow your own set of rules, nothing is set in stone.

Don’t worry about comments, or how many hits you may get.
There is a reason why you write, so please don’t ever forget.
We all have to start somewhere, ignore the bullying ****.
If you want to succeed at poetry, start off by showing your work.

When demons come and join the fight,
they’ll jump the fence and flee the light.
They will know they’re on the losing end,
they’ll soon switch sides and seek amends

This battle will end before it starts,
the holy soldiers will play their part.
Trained by God they will not lose,
be careful of the side you choose.

The sky will flash and wield its sword,
the wrath of God brought by the Lord.
Hear the truth and change your ways,
or you will face your end of days.

Satan now claims to be on top,
but his reign on earth will soon be stopped.
Lace up your boots and pack your lunch,
wait for the mighty counterpunch.

If you come to my jungle, you will not be the king.
Stick a gun in my face and watch the wrath that I’ll bring.
I bow before one and my friend it’s not you.
Bring your violence to my doorstep and it will be the last thing that you do.

My home is my castle and here I am king.
I rule this great land and my bite it does sting.
In this land we are armed, from sea to shining sea.
A redneck’s justice is what you will see.

Here law and order, is in my two hands.
I have 13 acres on which I now stand.
It’s fortified and safe for family and friends.
It’s soaked with my blood and all hate has been cleansed.

If you don’t like my thoughts then you better pass on by.
Evil is not allowed here and I’m going to tell you why.
Jesus gave his all for this life that we live.
I now follow in his footsteps and for you that’s what I’ll give.

It was late at night and the thunder roared.
A bright flash of light across the sky now soared.
The rain poured down and the cold winds howled.
He saw a hooded old man with a scythe and a scowl.

His journey of life was near the end of its run.
He now looked back on all he had done.
The reaper now stood just ten feet away.
He had some cards on a table with just one game to play.

If you’re up for the task you can return anew.
Win this game of chance and there will be nothing you can’t do.
Your life will reset and your future will shine.
Just pick one card that’s better than mine.

If you should lose, your soul I will take.
Your teeth I’ll grind and your bones I will break.
Once you take a seat there is no turning back.
Make the right choice or face my attack.

God’s Porch Light

It was the first Friday in February, 1996.
I walked out in the front yard at ten after six.
It was a cold winter day just before the rising of the sun.
My mother’s life here on earth was finally over and done.

I saw but one star, all alone in the early morning sky.
I could see it shining bright, though my eyes were not yet dry.
It seemed to be hanging there, just for me to see.
It twinkled on the frost, that now covered every tree.

It was quite majestic and comforting, I wondered how this could be.
It looked like a distant porch light, that someone left on just for me.
As my eyes began to focus on this beautiful guiding light.
I could see my name appear, then it was gone, just like the night.

I see this star each year, on the day of Mom’s final breath.
It’s a simple message from Jesus, of life right after death.
My name is on this star, it lights my path each night I roam.
Maybe it’s the porch light of our savior and he turns it on to guide us home.

Mark Koplin

Our Last Stand

Last night in my slumber, I saw destruction and death
It wasn’t caused by the riots, heroine or ****
There was no discrimination, no discernible math
It laid waste to all, that stood in its path

It rained fire in the east and then quickly moved west
Many were consumed, our worst and our best
It had no empathy, it scorched much of our earth
Both the young and old died, many before birth

I had witnessed the technology of man and how it caused so much death
A simple malfunction, had released the dragon’s breath
We no longer stood divided, but united by one common goal
It was simply to survive, and regain some sort of control

In my deepest sleep, I saw mass destruction sweep throughout our land
But in the end it was unity, that saved our last stand

Twenty-eight years ago, I met a woman on the road
It was a cold winter night and she was laying all alone
I gave her my coat and held her blood-soaked hand
I never knew her name but I gave her all I had
I told her my name and that she was no longer alone
I promised that I would stay, until she decided to go home
It’s hard to find words for someone’s last moments of life
I knew she was somebody’s daughter or quite possibly someone’s wife
I’ve carried her with me, every day since that night
With my heart covered in blood, as I hold her hand tight
Somewhere in this world, her family still grieves
I wish I could tell them, in my heart she’ll never leave
If I was granted one wish, I’d share with them her last night
So they could see that a stranger, showed her love at that site
The twisted metal and blood would no longer be
If they could just use my eyes and see what I’ve seen