Category Archives: Poems

Who Am I and Who Are You? 2016-33

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The following is a question, I ask of me, but perhaps thee should also ask of thyself. Once more, who am I, but also who are you in reality? We think we know ourselves as being who and what we are as we exist, once more, as we are, but I continue to ask……………………

 

          Who Am I and Who Are You?  2016-33

A question asked with an answer hopefully given, but sometimes NOT!!!

I look into a mirror and what or who do I see? The person looking back is me, or is it another person other than I, the real me?

Am I the person I think I am or another person other than what I think? I want me to be me, the way I am or what I want to be, but am I?

My ego kicks in and states to me, I really am who I think I am, but then, my alter ego comes out and contradicts my Self, and says NOT SO, NOT SO!!!!!!

Are we all deceived and in reality just going through life in a melancholy way? Or can we, be honest with ourselves and admit we are not so sure?

Questions upon questions get in the way of coming to terms with life’s fact check of who and how we actually are to each other, and to our own selves!

Dang!!! I wish I did not ask the question! Now, I have to contemplate my existence in living with myself in a different way. What about you, too?

Den Betts

 

Promises 2016-32

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How many times have we promised something to someone? How many times have we done so, with the knowledge we will not fulfill the promise? This is a common trait in life and one thing that is usually forgiven if we do not keep the promise; or is it forgiven? It depends on the promise and the person we made the promise to, I would guess……

 

I think of the times I promised my God that I would do this or that if He would do something in particular, but did I do what I promised Him eventually?; don’t know or will not say…

 

Promises 2016-32

 

A politician saying what he will,

 

Again, again and once more again,

 

A bride and groom at the alter,

 

Making a forever wish

 

The soldier going off to a war,

 

With words of the expectation of return

 

A rainbow in the mist and sun,

 

Saying no more floods.

 

A promise made with deceit, love

 

hope and faith.

 

Den Betts

 

Hope? 2016-31

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I think of this question as a child asking “Why?”, where there is NO answer at times when the word is asked. I am aware of how life happens and what we CAN hope for, yet fully understand that, at times,  the reality will probably not occur. I understand this, but “I still hope!…….

                    Hope?   2016-31

Is there hope – that the world will wake up

To a common goal of the survival of mankind?

That future generations will be able to breath,

To eat, to drink of natures plentiful bounty?

 

Is there hope- that the inhabitants of the world

Will lean to live in peace with one another?

Co-existing with mutual respect of each other

Realizing each has rights to separate individuality?

 

Is there hope- that the hunger, the health, the overall

Needs of those of the world will be acknowledged?

To have action instead of promises, to have results

Instead of delays, to give hope instead of despair?

 

Hope is just a word, for some to just think,

But it is a feeling of something to hold on to,

To give us some peace in our mindset of life,

And make us believe in other than strife……..

Den Betts

Completeness 2016-30

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Heavy thoughts from the nimble mind of mine. I wrote this when my brain was not complete, but working on being so. I now look back and realize where I was and feel good on where I am today. To feel complete, yet knowing where one has been, is a great feeling of worth, and, in the knowing, is a joy of life………………….

Completeness 2016-30

Completeness, emulating from within

Realized by and from the solitude of thought

A self assurance of the whole

Mind and body melded into one lot.

 

Not vain, nor smug, but instead a feeling of reality

Knowing things are because, just because!

No self doubt or second thoughts of scurrility

Instead an euphoria of positive alpha waves

 

At last, peace within oneself, at last, at last,

The limits, capabilities, strengths and weaknesses

All known, acknowledged, confronted head on

Turmoil gone, nothing reigning except completeness

 

A dream, a wish, or an actual way of life

Everyday living a constant battle to conquer

The thought process known, or not comprehended

Time, the constant, will tell, will concur, will be!!!

Den Betts

 

Joys of Pain 2016-29

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How can pain be enjoyable; that is the question. Well, I read a book one time ( it was probably a military one) and the man said “Pain lets you know you are alive.”, which was sorta dumb, but maybe true….. I am sure there are many other ways on finding out you are alive, but it sounded neat at the time. I wrote this in a somewhat different perspective and here it is for your perusal….

Joys of Pain 2016-29

Pain is not a joy of life

but instead a joy of knowing

 

Knowing where the hurt

is located and finding it

 

Realizing where the

mind needs fulfilling

 

Seeing where the spot

needs fixed or repaired

 

Feeling where the heart

needs comfort with care

 

But most of all, the joy of pain

Really does let us know we are living.

Den Betts

 

Knight Slayed 2016-28

Posted in Contemplation, Poems, Religious by

Where did this come from; don’t know. But do realize that the hero does not ALWAYS win in life. That is the way of life itself. When we wish upon a star for those things from afar, sometimes our wishes are not met.  Yet on the other hand when we do pray for something, sometimes our prayers are answered, but not at times, the way that we want them to be.

Knight Slayed 2016-28

Upon the mighty steed he went

looking forward, toward the fight.

Dressed in shining white he traveled,

to hunt, to make the dragon bleed.

With good intentions and mind naïve

a promise to save mankind, at least.

The people cheered and rallied him on,

to stay the course toward the beast.

 

He told them all he would not fail,

or fall from favor to them all.

His goal was honorable, or so it seemed,

the mission not quite the Holy Grail.

Truth shall win he yelled, so let us begin,

as he charged toward the fray.

A moments respite then the battle was begun,

no fun, but fair, he thought he knew.

A parry here, a jab there, a start;

a two way beginning of a witches brew.

No magic Merlin to help his cause,

only him to combat the brute.

 

In a second of time, an infinity to some,

the knight lay withered on the ground.

The dragon reared upon his legs, looked down,

and sneered at the puny form of man.

“How dare you fight the master of life,

the system always wins.”

Den Betts

Communicating 2016-25

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Communicating 2016-25

This is a much discussed subject at times. Either we do or we do NOT communicate with each other at times. My friend Dan Webster, states that communication is the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing or signs.

Of course the method of HOW we communicate is also part of the equation of communicating. We do so by using the telephone, radio, TV or even the archaic way of using the telegraph. Add to that the personal computer or call it the “smart phone” as a separate and new way, plus any other means of sending ideas, orders, etc. of an everyday life of existence.

There is a whole bunch of info on this word and I would hope you would research more by going places (like Wikipedia) that will bore you to death (like this blog??) about the subject. My intent is not to do so, but it might happen.

I want to key in on one facet of communication. The act of doing so with those we know, such as family members, those at work and especially those we live with daily.

It is SO important to interact with those we know on a regular basis. It is MORE important that we do so in a civil way and not in a way of animosity or anger that is a destroying way of expression. It is important for family members to understand communication as a trusted way which leads to a well-constructed family; simple as that or not as simple in reality.

I remember someone that HATED the word communication. I know now that I was breaking one of the rules of communication and was actually “preaching” instead of communicating. No wonder that person was so upset, nobody likes to be preached to instead of just talking to in a constructive manner.

There are so many other rules we must consider when communicating to someone. Watching out for ambiguity of words or phrases is one. Another is physical location where there is distance as something to consider. Strange or difficult words or understanding linguistic abilities is something we have to throw into the equation of talking to someone. The barriers of physiological means such as hearing loss or other disabilities are also a factor. A big one is the cultural differences of people from different parts of the country, dialects, etc. is something that has to be taken into account.

You get the idea. There are many barriers to understanding that lead to the failure to communicate to each other in a normal way. Where I try to say something and am not understood, I am partly to blame at times and for this I am sorry.  It is also a two way street and the other person could try to meet me part way to communicating in a civil, normal, understanding way to make our talk, one of understanding each other; even if we do NOT agree with what we are saying at the time. This is something to consider when discussing politics —- keep the anger out if you can………

Den Betts

Let George Do It 2016-24

Posted in Contemplation, Poems by

                                     Let George Do It    2016-24

 

Involvement is a tiring thing

for the body and mind combined; as

making a stance, a decision to act

creates turmoil beyond the normal kind.

 

When a chore or deed has to be done

it’s sometimes hard to stay, much

easier to walk away, but at times hard to

look at self, knowing you could have helped.

 

Unless, of course, you have, old George

to fight the battles and do the chores,

the deeds are done, your hands are clean,

but look again, really are they?

 

To be just a receiver and not a doer

is not a proud thing to stand on, but

consciousness is not measured on a scale;

only in the mind of self, one on one.

 

George is a tired person doing everything

he needs help in the mundane tasks,

be glad your name is not George,

but if so, its sad; too bad…..

 

Den Betts

Chautauqua 2016-23

Posted in Contemplation, Poems by

I remember reading James Michener’s “The Fires of Spring” when I was quite young. I wrote about this before and inserted a paragraph from the book then that stayed with me for so many decades. (See 2015-100). In the book, a young lad experienced life in Eastern Penna around the early 1900’s. In the story, a group of people came to town and “Did a Chautauqua”, which in essence was a troupe of people doing orations, minstrel acts, etc. from town to town, under a tent.  There is a place, Chautauqua. NY (corrected), that has retreats and other happenings and my friend Dorothy goes there from time to time…..

Chautauqua 2016-23

The soliloquy of a Chautauqua

so supreme, told in a manner

to enlighten those surrounding

the orator speaking loudly

 

Thoughts and opinions thrown

out to Americana to contemplate,

think out, and perhaps if agreed

with, then acted upon.

 

Listeners with cocked heads trying

to ascertain meaning from all the

spoken words, ears straining to

decipher words sometimes said

 

 

Chautauqua days gone by, supplanted

by a box blaring out words and then

later pictures that replace the minds

magic of imagination.

Den Betts

 

Changing Ways 2016-22

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When we exist in the way we have been and do not try to change, it tells us something. For instance, if we were an unbeliever in God and became a believer we could be seen as making a positive change —perhaps. If we are the opposite in nature and become an unbeliever, then some would say we are making a negative change. Just a thought…. I still maintain that making ANY change can be life changing itself and it is up to us, individually, to decide if it is good or bad..

 

Changing Ways 2016-22

I have been the way I am for so long now,

Is it possible to change the way I act?

 

We all have life’s experiences in our head

Running in our mind like an old VCR.

 

Cutting the tape to insert a new way,

Is difficult to contemplate.

 

A new way of doing things, so much different,

When being used to repetition and habit.

 

Teaching an old dog new tricks is easier,

He doesn’t have a mind with great thought.

 

Saying “No” or agreeing with “Yes” to new ways,

Is something to get used to I’m sure.

 

Accepting the changes is the challenge,

And I’m not used to saying “I can’t”…..

Den Betts