"likeable" poems
I’ve been told that I am thoughtful,
that my feet are on the ground.
Some say that I am likeable
and fun to be around.
It’s been said that to my principles
I stand firm and true.
That I’m dependable and honest
In the things I say and do.
But the single greatest compliment
that I have ever had,
Is when somebody told me,
“You remind me of your dad.”
Nov 27, 2011
Nov 27, 2011 at 10:28 AM UTC
The Story
by Kamal Nasser
translation by Michael R. Burch
I will tell you a story ...
a story that lived in the dreams of my people,
a story that comes from the world of tents.
It is a story inspired by hunger and embellished by dark nights of terror.
It is the story of my country, a handful of refugees.
Every twenty of them have a pound of flour between them
and a few promises of relief ... gifts and parcels.
It is the story of the suffering ones
who stood waiting in line ten years,
in hunger,
in tears and agony,
in hardship and yearning.
It is a story of a people who were misled,
who were thrown into the mazes of the years.
And yet they stood defiant,
disrobed yet united
as they trudged from the light to their tents:
the revolution of return
into the world of darkness.
Kamal Nasser was a much-admired Palestinian poet and Palestinian Christian, who due to his renowned integrity was known as "The Conscience." He was a member of Jordan's parliament in 1956. He was murdered in 1973 by an Israeli death squad whose most notorious member was future Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Barak (born Ehud Brog) later ruled as Israel’s tenth Prime Minister from 1999 to 2001. His adopted Hebrew name Barak means "lightning." As a younger man, Brog/Barak was a member of a secret assassination unit that liquidated Palestinians in Lebanon and the occupied territories. In the 1973 covert mission Operation Spring of Youth in Beirut, which was part of the larger Operation Wrath of God, he disguised himself as a woman in order to assassinate Palestinians. The raid resulted in the deaths of two women, one of them an elderly Italian. Two Lebanese policemen were also killed, along with the poet Kamal Nasser.
Nasser was the PLO's most prominent Christian and he enjoyed "great appeal" in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq "both as a distinguished poet and likeable personality." He was the “conscience of the Palestinian revolution,” according to Nazih Abul-Nidal, who worked with him on the magazine Filastin al-Thawra. Nasser “had the most democratic outlook of all Palestinian leaders at the time,” he recalls. He respected opposing views, admired the commitment of young people, and was a major recruitment asset for the Palestinian revolution. “That is why he was put high on the hit-list.” The previous year, the Israelis had murdered another renowned Palestinian writer and activist in Beirut, Ghassan Kanafani, by booby-trapping his car. Nasser’s successor, Majed Abu Sharar, was also assassinated by Israelis, in Rome in 1981 while attending a conference in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Keywords/Tags: Kamal Nasser, Palestinian, Palestine, PLO, Conscience, Ramallah, Christian, religion, poet, Arab, Arabic, Arab Spring, betrayal, conflict, courage, devotion
Dec 9, 2021
Dec 9, 2021 at 7:55 AM UTC
The ultimate joy of life,
Without strife,
A virtue,
A necessity,
Hard work.
We think we are the masters of our fates,
It creates impatience.
Nip the fumes of impatience in the bud,
Endure and be tolerant,
Don't get worked up,
Have patience.
You need it in abundance,
To be a good parent,
A perfect teacher,
A likeable boss,
All modes of life.
Patience is the hallmark of the righteous,
So restrain your anger,
Forgive others,
Avoid snap judgements,
Very difficult but we can.
Without patience wisdom becomes foolishness,
Success turns to defeat.
Jul 29, 2018
Jul 29, 2018 at 1:30 PM UTC
Okay, so maybe I'm just a little bit
Sentimental
What's wrong with that?
So I want to keep pictures
So I want to hold things dear
Nothing wrong with that
Nothing wrong at all
So what if the last thing you are
Is sentimental
So what if you're a total *******
So what if I'm just kicking the pavement three steps behind you
It's not like I'm like
Awfully sentimental
You don't like junk
You don't think I think things through
I just wanna jive and be a human bean
You think I'm just too
Sentimental
But what the **** is wrong with being
Sentimental
You know what?
I really don't care that much anymore
You've lost your luster
So what if I'm no longer sentimental
Maybe it was all a show
Maybe neither of us are all that likeable
Maybe we should all just stop being
Sentimental
Maybe we should all be a little more
Sentimental
**** it, but I don't care that I'm
Sentimental
No, not anymore.
Jan 5, 2018
Jan 5, 2018 at 12:07 AM UTC
I need you to text first
Just one time
I always go first and it makes me feel like ****
Like you don't care
Like nobody cares
Perhaps nobody does?
Maybe I'm just not a likeable person?
Maybe I'm just the secret keeper, the agony aunt?
Dump your **** on me and leave
Just to rub it in
You're not the only one
Others do it too
Which makes it worse
Perhaps I'm destined to be alone?
But maybe,
Just maybe
There's a tiny glimmer of hope.
Nov 6, 2017
Nov 6, 2017 at 7:30 PM UTC
Oh the Archer, so brave in the sky! Think not, fool. Ruled by Jupiter, you liked to be liked by everyone, be the life of the party. Awwwwww, so transparent you are. This likeable, likey-like-like thing you try to weld translates to your horrific sense of insecurity, a second close to Cancer. You push your way through life, not out of real accomplishment, more out of riding the **** tails of others. You're the ******* scrub behind the velvet rope. In all reality, you simply drive a 325i from 2001. Sagittarius, the Universal world traveler in hearts and minds - lover of philosophy, you couldn't scratch your way out of local knitting club convention. You don't travel, you just write or yap about it. Good for nothing, what's the point of having a bow if you have no target, jack ***
Advice: Stay home please, stay out of my way.
Jul 1, 2015
Jul 1, 2015 at 9:39 PM UTC
I rarely get on Facebook anymore. But when I do, I'll change my profile picture or banner-- maybe post a witty status update, maybe not witty, just something to let people know I'm alive.
It's like repositioning the arms on a stationary mannequin to depict a different scene. Except lately I just don't care anymore. It's just that-- a mannequin. An object, an image, a lifeless entity with which I used to feel real-- a dusty mirror.
I see that the line between the idea of a person and the reality is being blurred and crossing over into something all-together different. It's as if people are starting to wake up and realize the objectivity of their reality. But that brings into question the basis for which we define reality.
We have become a, “Look but don't touch” society in which we click a button to show our appreciation as opposed to genuinely reciprocating human emotion and energy. It is extremely isolating and dangerous.
Packed subways and sidewalks have fallen eerily silent with faces illuminated by their cellphones. Most everyone wants to be heard, appreciated and recognized and social media has provided an outlet for that.
But there comes a point at which your platform becomes your prison and your voice your warden-- and everything you say is modified to be pleasing to the ear and 'likeable'.
But I like dislikes. And if you're not ******* anyone off-- you're probably not doing anything important, and if you're not outraged you're not paying attention.
Jun 23, 2014
Jun 23, 2014 at 6:15 PM UTC
Sleepless nights I dream of things
that seems to be, initially
fantasies of a boy
These dreams tend to focus me
on what I want and who I am
Role models and mentors help to shape
who you see so casually
So casual I seem to be
but my mind races frantically
Suave and cool are not my descriptors
although my shell tends to be
That shell hides me from view
to show a more likeable me
But hides the true me
Behind a wall of ********
Jan 20, 2012
Jan 20, 2012 at 5:17 AM UTC
Long lasting likeable lifestyle,
On the best possible place,
Vexing me never ever,
Eternal & truthful.
It is the real definition,
So surreal it always is.
Far away from loneliness,
Reading mutual fun daily,
Eternal is this true feeling,
Exceptional are all its ways,
Dominion of my familial home,
Obvious empress is my mother,
My father the obvious emperor.
Jul 4, 2016
Jul 4, 2016 at 6:56 AM UTC
So
You've found a girl who can hold your gaze
You've found a girl with those sinful curves
that girl with the lips that you want sayin' your name
Oh she's beautiful alright. How did you get so lucky?
Maybe you're not as lucky as you think you are?
Does being
luscious, limber, lavacious, and alluringly lustworthy
make up for being
lewd, lethargic, and a lackadaisical liar?
So what that she's
ogle-worthy, optically pleasing, orgasmically ideal
if she's
offensive, ostentatiously ornate, and overbearing?
She may be
vivacious, voluptuous, and sexually voracious
She's also
vain, vapid, vacuous, a vengeful *****
Don't let her
exotic, ****** efficaciousness
Blind you to her
egocentric, evasive, envious nature
Those lips won't look so enticing when they're spitting poison barbs into your heart
Wouldn't you rather have a girl
Who is likeable?
Who is original?
Who is vibrant?
Who is enough to make you happy?
It's all you need
Do I have to spell it out for you?
Jul 17, 2013
Jul 17, 2013 at 8:56 PM UTC
It's people like me who can rule the world,
just by knowing simple little things like Fear.
Fear is one of the main driving forces behind all of mankind's actions.
Fear eternal torment? **** up to "God."
Fear the unknown? Deny it or mock it.
Fear superiors? Make yourself the superior one.
Without fear we won't do anything,
with fear we can only get worse as a species;
We're really slowly moving towards constantly fearing everything;
Especially each other.
Along with things known like;
No humans are equal.
With differing talents, differing thoughts, differing opinions,
how can we claim to be the same?
The strong will enslave the weak,
humanity will revert to olden times,
with fear we deny yet again, though it matters not.
The only question is, who will be strong and who will bow down?
the basics of human nature will come back,
Dominant verses submissive mindsets,
manipulators verses manipulated,
corruption verses purity.
People like me don't have much to worry about;
People always naturally follow and listen to me, and if they don't;
I can be forceful.
I'm a master organizer and networker,
throwing together alliances, plans of revolution, takeover,
by the time the sun rises.
Differences are seen in how you train your people,
much like dogs at that point, with either fear or affection.
Affection and care yields listening and following,
kind cooperation and content with and for a likeable face and likeable words.
Ingrain fear, order, into them and reap the profits,
they'll listen because they have to, and won't revolt because they fear what would happen.
I wouldn't hurt 'em (usually),
I'm highly capable of doing damage;
It's important they know that.
Throw a demonstration of power, knowledge, in once and a while,
so they don't get used to me, and boom;
With all of this you have an overlord.
I don't think I'm a bad person though,
people like me are just human-smart.
Apr 23, 2013
Apr 23, 2013 at 4:52 PM UTC
Average.
A statistic.
A normal percent of a population.
Nothing great...
Just average.
Typical
Common
Ordinary.
Nothing special.
How can one overcome normal when being average is out of our control?
Hmm...
Being average is harder than one could predict.
Clawing one's way to the top only to realize that the top is only slightly above average and the true top would be classified next to the great minds of einstein and issac newton, of course.
Every one of the population considered average either accepts their fate or decides they could be better.
An even smaller amount of those average people have the courage and strength to hope there might be something...
Special about them and without even trying there could be something likeable and charming about them. Maybe.
A typical kind of person
Could grow tired of always flowing with the crowd and one day
Change direction...
Who knows?
Maybe just maybe we'd find on a different path a place where home can be felt by the presence of a stranger and love could grow on trees and in the spring, bloom. Maybe.
Maybe average is harder than people realize.
Every one trying to stand out just a little bit and succeed!
Show the world who they are
What they can be and
How they will break everyones old expectations !
And maybe once be special..
Being average is hard work.
Sure, you had to work your way up to being above average and intelligent but you were born with that genetic upperhand of being smarter than everyone else, ya know.
And i mean the people who are below average harbor doubt in themselves and usually come to term with the fact they can do no better.
But the people who are average.
The people who are average just
Ache
To be special for one moment
And in that one moment they need
To find the one person
Who could make them feel special all their life.
These are the thoughts of a hindered mind.
Feb 17, 2013
Feb 17, 2013 at 10:31 PM UTC
Kooky
Young
Lazy
Imaginative
Earthborn
Likeable
Open minded
Tempered
Hopeful
Jan 31, 2015
Jan 31, 2015 at 7:45 PM UTC
A Stick was placed next to another stick
the other stick was taller
in this stick land height was a measuring stick
your height signified your potential
not every stick grew into their young bodies
in fact most didn't
sticks would shrink as they aged
until they had reached what they would be forever
This Stick didn't get it
how was he so short
He was smart, funny, likeable
all the sticks would stick to him
he had to look up to see them
why does no one believe in me
The Stick asked himself at night
no matter, I will prove them wrong
The Stick learned all he could
listened all he could
talked all he could
experienced all he could
The Stick threw himself
in everything he wanted to
and while the sticks around him shrank
This Stick Grew
Sep 18, 2014
Sep 18, 2014 at 12:25 AM UTC
Why have I made myself hate me so much? Why are society's standards so incredibly high? Why won't people acknowledge ones true beauty? It's not about the flat stomach, ladies. Not the make-up, either. Nor the hair. Do you need extensions, fake nails or fake eyelashes to feel pretty? The whole messed-up idea is wrong. Why would you put funny-looking, plastic, artificial things on your body? Because we want to look nice. Feel nice. And for us, low-self-esteem girls, well... Lets say we want to accomplish our happiness by being eye-candy. And for that to happen, we have to change our whole selves, of course. Not any part of ourselves will do. We have to become a different person in order to be likeable. We have to be fake, giggly idiots who wear way too much make-up, fancy designers clothes, and expensive jewelry. We have to eat miniature salads to stay fit, and go to the gym everyday. On top of that, if you go to the beach you have to be lady-like and sunbathe all day long (the most boring thing ever). And there you are, amazing tanned body, incredible hair and impeccably dressed. But you know what, little Miss Perfect? You are empty inside. You are shallow. You have nothing left, apart from you looks and your expensive clothing. No real friends. No memories. No life. You were so worried working out and shopping that you didn't notice your life passing by right past you. And you are not growing younger as the minutes go by, sweetheart. One day you'll wake up and realize that you have nothing. Your life is meaningless. It lacks of passion. Love. Adventure. And you start to get wrinkles in the corners of your eyes and mouth. Your hair turns white and you skin is frail.
You can't sleep, for one thought haunts you:
You haven't really lived.
Feb 3, 2015
Feb 3, 2015 at 1:11 AM UTC
he was a smile in the crowd
inbetween the pale faces and angry hair.
ushering me between the antiques.
he swept me through drumming beats.
he kept by my side.
he laughed with me.
he shared my humour.
why is it,
that this stranger,
could see that I am worth spending time with.
how is it,
that he could take the time,
to show me something new.
and yet,
the man i a married,
the man who i share a life with,
tells me that i am not likeable.
tells me i have an attitude.
tells me i dont care.
tells me i am an embarassment.
could i be such a dismal spot of filth?
that i can be of such little worth to the world.
through technology,
i can see his face.
and his smile,
makes me want to go to him.
i feel a need to be enveloped by arms.
arms that doesnt judge, or expect, or remember.
i want to speak my heart,
and not be admonished for it.
i want to share my dreams,
and not have them trampled.
the light i once thought was my soul,
has been kicked under dust,
because it was deemed too bright.
and now i watch the world go by.
Jan 26, 2010
Jan 26, 2010 at 11:03 PM UTC
The fact that history may ever be a burlesque leaves villains space to make themselves likeable disguised as they are in our very own neighborhood Rubes and so winsome by a default predisposition for the merely familiar whereas the superior is merely strange. It is an almost endearing flaw.
Nov 9, 2014
Nov 9, 2014 at 2:48 PM UTC
"It's just so hard to live with someone who is
so ******* miserable
all the ******* time."
"He's always been such a frustratingly
depressing guy."
"I don't like you."
"You do nothing. You're useless."
"What do you mean, you feel like a failure?
Never mind. I don't want to talk
about that."
"You've got so much potential."
"Well, you're a ray of ******* sunshine."
"Have you tried being happy?"
"You're giving off vibes of tension and
frustration."
"The kids are scared of you."
"Jesus! What are you so sad about?!"
They're not wrong.
Eggshells,
eggshells,
step gently around Joe.
I don't bring joy,
and I don't get more likeable.
I am miserable.
I just wish I didn't bring others
down with me.
No, they're not wrong,
but I really wish they were.
Nov 20, 2020
Nov 20, 2020 at 11:10 AM UTC
I UPSET MY DAD SO MUCH IN NOVEMBER 2013, AND HE DIED THE FOLLOWING MARCH
AND WE HAD THIS STUPID LITTLE FIGHT, ABOUT ME SPENDING ALL MY MONEY
BECAUSE I GET THE IMPRESSION, THAT MUM AND DAD, BELIEVE IN REFORM AND
REFORM ALIKE, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SAY BE LIKE US, ALL THE TIME, I LIKE
PEOPLE, I LIKE THE COMPUTER AGED NEW AGE PEOPLE, THEY ARE REALLY COOL
AND WHAT I AM SAYING, WHEN DAD DIED, DOING SOMETHING HE HAS NEVER SUFFERED FROM BEFORE, I TRIED TO KEEP DAD ON A LEASH, WELL
IT'S BECAUSE I AM CRONUS, AND I WANT TO GIVE HIM AN AWARD FOR NOT BRINGING HIS OLD FOGIE
AT MY DINNER TABLE, THOUGH HE TRIED, AND JUST THE OTHER DAY, I
PUT DADS PICTURE WITH BUDDHA ALONG WITH HIS NEXT LIFE, ELIZABETH CAMPBELL, SO I CAN LET DAD GO FROM MY LEASH, AND GIVE ME THE PICTURE
OF HIS WHOLE NEXT REINCARNATION, TWINNED UP WITH ROBIN WILLIAMS
BUT I LOOK AT THIS PHOTO, WHEN I MISS MY FATHER DEARLY, I WANT TO LET
DAD FLY OVER AND WORK ON GIVING HIS NEXT LIFE ELIZABETH CAMPBELL
A CHANCE TO IMPROVE THE LIFE CYCLE, I JUST MISS MY FATHER HE WAS A GOOD BLOKE, DESPITE OUR ARGUMENTS, I WRITE THIS, CAUSE I WANT TO BE REFORMED
FROM FIGHTING THE ADULTS
A VOICE IN MY HEAD SAID, WE DON'T WANT YA TO BE REFORMED, I SAID
WHY NOT, IS IT BECAUSE I LIKE FISH AND CHIPS, CAUSE I DO
I LIKE POETRY SLAMS CAUSE I DO
I LIKE FOOTY AND ALL SPORTS CAUSE I DO
I LOOK AT LIFE AS BEING ONE BIG ADVENTURE, CAUSE I DO
WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME TRYING TO BE A LIKEABLE FIGURE
CAUSE I AM, I DON'T WANT TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT MY VOICES ARE SAYING
I HATE BEING TREATED LIKE A LITTLE COOL KID TO A TEASE
AND BEING YEAH MATED AT, JUST BECAUSE, I LIKE COMPUTERS
I LIKE COMPUTERS FOR THE INTERNET, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX A COMPUTER
BUT I KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD, CAUSE I DO
I HATE BEING TREATED LIKE A TRYING TO BE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE KIND OF PERSON
IT MAKES ME FEEL WEIRD
Jan 20, 2015
Jan 20, 2015 at 6:03 AM UTC
There is a dollhouse in the middle of the bedroom.
It is pink.
The dolls are sitting in the kitchen.
They drink.
They sit in silence. They drink in silence.
No clink.
Their hair is long and blonde.
The makeup on their faces is too strong.
The conversation was dead
Even before it started
They just stare at the table –
The only thing that is stable.
They are gentle, petite and nice
Are they the candy for your eyes?
Every morning they put on their mask
Which makes them reliable
The scripture on their grave will read
‘Likeable’.
One of them is pregnant
There is a baby in her belly.
She can give birth anytime if you need
A programmed life is not a crime.
Indeed! We should celebrate her capability
Of making it easier for society.
There is a dollhouse in the bedroom.
It is pink.
The dolls are sitting in the kitchen.
They drink.
What’s in the tiny cups? Some tea.
Exactly the way it should be
Because ladies are modest
They never do their best
It can be intimidating
And might reduce their chances of dating.
And little girls follow. They obey.
Nobody tells them that they can disobey.
They are captives of their homes
And they don’t even know.
Of course. It’s part of the show.
This is how the world is constructed:
Women are the pillars and men construct it.
They hold the weight of the world
Without even noticing.
Their possibilities of moving aren’t promising.
Each direction is blocked:
If they come out from under their burden,
Fewer people will be bearing the same weight.
And boy! The world will see the hate!
Men would have to step in and take responsibility
But they don’t want to acknowledge how strong gravity is.
Earthly forces keep you on the ground
And you cannot move upwards
The invisible ceiling is pushing you back
Your feet sink in the soil under the pressure.
We are in it together.
We are in it together. In the dollhouse.
In the bedroom.
Our clothes are pink.
We sit in the kitchen
And drink.
We sit in silence.
We drink in silence.
No clink.
Our makeup is strong and we know
It’s wrong but nobody mentions there is a way out of conventions.
A man pours tea into our cups.
We don’t know any other beverage
Though its quality is below average.
We were raised on a potion
Brewed with patriarchal notion.
Jan 19, 2019
Jan 19, 2019 at 3:59 PM UTC
I know myself, and i know i'm nice,
So why would you act as cold as ice?,
You're horrid to me, and it hurts me so bad,
And i thought you were a funny, likeable lad.
But my skin is thick, and i have many friends,
Who will step up to the plate, and see me to the end,
So bring it, this unprovoked attack at my expense,
I'm blameless, nice, and will never sit on the fence.
If you wanted to blame me, why didn't you just say?,
Instead of attacking me, and then running away?,
It seems like you target who you feel like, at that time,
So please, leave me and mine, to do what we love, to just rhyme.....
This is my attempt at speaking my mind, as everyone keeps saying, we are welcome to do so. But when i do,, i get attacked,albeit from afar, which frankly ****** me off!!!!!
Oct 30, 2010
Oct 30, 2010 at 6:46 AM UTC
violet lips
on violet lips
why would you like me (i
changed
this
line
10 times
for
you)
look at other boys, 10000000 times more loveable than me
10000000 times more likeable than me
but yeah me, i change lines 10 times for girls as magnificent as you
so one chance would be appreciated
p.s.
violet lips
on violet lips
Sep 25, 2014
Sep 25, 2014 at 7:38 AM UTC
I resist
the temptation
to become fond
of politicians
who entertain me
with clever lines
said with likeable energetic-charisma;
Instead,
I do my best
to evaluate
how a politician’s policy-proposals
will affect
the joy and happiness
of myself
and others in society.
Aug 8, 2019
Aug 8, 2019 at 1:48 AM UTC
i saw you the other day
and you tried to stop
me to say
that you liked to practice
with me some day ....
some words you thought
gelled with your thoughts
but i was in a rush
kept on walking
i didn't look back
i didn't turn back
.....till i ..
i stopped to look back
oh no!! ...poor nettie
do come back ....
im so selfish ....
so inhuman
i ran back.. but you
you where gone
#hey ...i called
wait.....lets stay and chat
come join me
come ...don't be sad
but you kept walking
just walking further ,further away
.............................................................................
you never thought you
were special or likeable ....
but im telling you that you are beautiful and flawless
never thought you mattered
or held any importance
but your the most human of any human Ive met
you feel and felt deeply
and that's what makes you human
for Antoinette
Jul 2, 2015
Jul 2, 2015 at 3:18 AM UTC
I don't know if I deserve to be sad that you died
It feels like I didn't earn it
Like if I'm sad I'm pretending for attention
I don't know if we were close enough
I don't think I texted you back enough
or respected you enough
After so many years of resentment I don't know if I get to love you
It doesn't feel like my loss.
It feels like my siblings lost their dad
And my mom lost her husband
And I'm so sad for my family
but it doesn't feel like my father died.
Everyone tells me that you were a good person
And I believe them
But I don't think I thought so when you were still here
And now we share the same sins
It's the first thing we've had in common
When I was writing your eulogy it felt like I was writing a paper
It was like I was writing it for someone else
Someone who knew their dad
Someone who liked their dad
Someone who was liked by their dad.
The only thing we understood about each other was the bad parts
Because we recognized them.
And neither of us liked either of us.
If you were such a bad person I think I am too
The passive aggressiveness
The drinking to be likeable
The sneakiness
The lust
The pride
My personality is like mom's but my vices are from you.
I don't think we were so distant because we didn't understand each other
I think we disliked each other because we understood each other perfectly.
Dec 13, 2022
Dec 13, 2022 at 4:14 PM UTC