Category Archives: Poems

Revelation 2015-18

Posted in Contemplation by

                                                Revelation 2015-18

I penned this when thinking about what I said to someone and then had moments of thought about what I actually said. What I told him was what I perceived as the truth and I wondered how he “took” it. Honesty is hard sometimes in the telling and hearing.

When does the spoken word

sound like a hacking cough

for all to hear even though

we do not want to hear?

 

Do we hear what we want to hear

and not what is said or

is what said, what we hear

or instead, what is not meant?

 

Is the truth a rasping sound

that grates our ears,

that makes our spine, our

ribs – chill with icy feeling?

 

Should we reject the words

and comfort ourselves with lies or

perhaps we should listen and hear

and realize in honesty – the truth?

 

What is said is not to discomfort

but enlighten for understanding and

to know,  may create compassion

and to hear may help with the understanding.

Den Betts

Great to be Alive 2015-17

Posted in Contemplation by

Great to be Alive      2015-17

Sometimes it is perhaps best to just appreciate life as you live it and go on from there. Too many times we, or I, do not do so, but instead get wrapped up in everyday things that take up our time, but do not contribute to a peaceful and meaningful one. So, leave you with this poem that I wrote awhile back and hopefully you will see what I mean.

To see a rainbow cross the sky

on a slow sultry day

And smell the newly cut grass,

or golden mown hay,

Love to feel the wind

blow across my face,

and trace with my fingertips

the edge of pretty lace,

To hear far off distant sounds

of a whistling rumbling train,

and listen to the pitter patter,

of a soft spring rain.

To taste a sparkling fizzy Coke,

on a warm summer’s night

or the malty flavor, at times,

of a cool Bud Light.

 

But most of all, the joy of life

is of letting my mind roam,

And being able to write

a simple little poem……….

Den Betts

The Moon 2015-15

Posted in Nature by

The Moon           2015-15

The moon, hanging quietly in the darkened sky,

Eerie and scary as it looks down at all.

Peeking in and out of gray wispy clouds,

Sending its faint cool light to those that see.

Shadows, causing strange shapes to appear,

Making them look like things that are not there.

Mighty forces, causing rising tides up and then down,

Changing the depth of the shore line, once more.

Silhouettes of animals howling in the wind,

Telling the world of their existence; stand clear.

Lovers holding hands, cheek to cheek,

Thinking of ways the future will bring.

The moon, majestic, big and so bold,

Affecting us all with its power to behold.

Den Betts

Conquest of Earth 2015-14

Posted in Humor by

How scary to think of aliens coming down to earth and taking over.  I think of any “being” conquering earth and its inhabitants is beyond imagination and belongs in a movie. Movies like “War of the Worlds” from H.G.Wells or “Independence Day” of not so long ago. So, sometimes I am not so truthful, as you will see………

Conquest of Earth      2015-14

The airwaves crackled with dire warnings

While the Earthlings scattered to and fro

“It” descended down from the heavens

Looking, aiming for a point on Earth

It was the first, with many to follow,

And, it was proud to be the very first

They would envelop the land below them,

Letting nothing escape their grasp

It hovered in an airpocket, then went down,

Looking, aiming for a place to claim

Ah, ahead, and Earthboy, five or six,

Standing innocently, looking up

Does he know, was he told, forewarned,

Of the conquest to occur this day

A spiral, then an uprise for just a moment,

To align its sights and head below

Now, Yes, NOW, make the move

While the childs eyes are elsewhere

With points read to impale, to entangle,

To snarl and to catch and hold

“Follow me!” it said, to the millions of others,

As the first snowflake landed on the woolen cap

Den Betts

Sacrifice 2015-11

Posted in Religious type by

I thought I better post this before it becomes February. Since we just celebrated Christmas and Easter will be upon us soon, this might be good to read now – DB

 

Sacrifice   2015-11

It is January,2015 as I write this about- sacrifice. The Christian world will be celebrating Easter on April 5, 2015 and, of course, Good Friday on the 3rd. The way my life is going, it will be here in no time, so I thought I would get a head start on the subject.

What is Good Friday and Easter?  When I was a kid Easter meant chocolate and yellow colored marshmallow chicks that we ate, but it meant nothing else.  Christmas was something about getting toys and having a big meal, but in both cases, nothing about church, Jesus Christ or what those days really meant. I found that was my loss and I did not know it at the time.

So, what is sacrifice? I heard something stated about Christmas in that it was the prelude to Easter! Wow, never thought about it in any way. But when you do think about it, the birth of Jesus Christ was for us  as people on Earth, and it was in the Sacrifice at Good Friday that led up to Easter that was why there are Christians today.

What is sacrifice again?    Food for thought:   Romans 3:22-25 “This righteousness from God comes through faith is Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of  His blood.”

Another verse would be from Hebrews, Chapter 10: 8-10   “ 8.First, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

I believe I am adding the above two Chapters in defense of my using the word sacrifice in conjunction with speaking about Jesus Christ.  I was told, at one time, that it, the crucifixion, should not be looked at as a sacrifice by the man-God Jesus, but I really cannot remember the exact WHY I should not do so. I ignore that request anyhow, and when I pray, part of my prayers say, “and thank you Jesus for your sacrifice, so that I have the chance of eternal life”. I have been told many things during my lifetime that I take with a grain of salt and discount them for one reason or another.

I can remember recently (in the last couple of years) whereas I “projected myself, in my mind, to be at the foot of the cross and watching Jesus die, so that my sins, and all other peoples, can be forgiven, because of this selfless act. It was eerie, scary, and life like to me at the time.  You can read in the Bible the things that happened to Jesus on Good Friday, but I felt His presence, felt his pain and suffering all at the same time.

Jesus Christ SUFFERED, so that we may live again. I fear not death, because I will have the chance to be with Him in what people call Heaven or Paradise.  Those that do not believe, I can only hope the best for them and do pray they will join me through the grace of God.

So, Christmas is more than toys, and Easter is more than good things to eat. There is meaning in the holidays more than what many of us acknowledge. Nobody knows the exact day of the birth of Jesus, but we do celebrate it on Dec 25th or the Orthodox do on Jan 6th. They are joyous days for the Christian faith, and I am so glad I have seen the light, of knowing what they mean now.

Den Betts

Beware – Be Aware 2015-10

Posted in Statement by

This could be a sister poem of the one I wrote titled “Apathy”; to a degree. This would be a challenge to those that feel they are in control, whereas WE are really, or should be, involved in things that occur.

Beware – Be Aware    2015-10

“Beware! Beware! The end of time is near”

So says the man with placard pointed to the sky.

A pessimist to the nth degree is he,

to give up on the hope of man today.

 

But, it should be realized that things aren’t right

Or even close to the ways the world should be.

The leaders and power players of each composite group,

Show that “they know” what is good for us all.

 

In Belfast of past, the Middle East now, South America,

Perhaps here in the U.S. too; they all think alike.

Take away their power and they will be one of us,

So no peace they say, cause a stir and unrest.

 

In the name of religion, the wars are fought, and,

In the name of heritage or culture, people die.

But, it’s also in the name of power and greed,

And continued dissent for its own sake, indeed!

 

An answer to all the troubles would leave them,

With nothing to do, no longer in charge.

If the people were to be more involved,

With the underlings helping out too.

 

Then a man could be on a street corner,

With a sign telling a different tune.

One that challenged the leaders by saying,

“Be Aware! Be Aware!, change is coming soon!”

Den Betts

Apathy 2015-09

Posted in Statement by

I was at a meeting and a person said, “Why don’t they do something about – – – – “. I thought about it and realized, that person was the one that COULD do something. How many things do we look at and say the same thing or just shake our heads and wonder?

We see things and they register in our mind, but the act of doing is missing. Most of us are guilty of this “apathy” of thought over the course of our lives, perhaps NOT daily though, but at times. Some things are beyond our immediate way of doing, but some are capable of us getting involved. Such is life!!!!

            Apathy  2015-09

The lack of feelings or emotions

I am told is the meaning, but not all

Is meant by so few of words.

It is the seeing a beggar on a street

Or a dying neighbor you will never again meet

The scoundrel of a politician elected on and on

Or drug busts downtown, not here you state, relief

The high school terrors in the halls, care less now

Your kids are through and gone, thank God you say.

A drunkard lying in the gutter, in his filth,

disgusting, why don’t they do something about it.

An unwed mother, out of school, only 16, when

will they learn, should have known better, right?

Don’t give a damn you say, not for you to take

care of their problems, enough of your own, let

alone take care of the world  besides.

The things you see now could be your own someday

and the one who cares less then, could be like you now

Care at least, do something besides exist for yourself

without any emotion of others and their plights.

There, but for grace of God goes I – – could be a fact

of life in a blink of an eye

Den Betts

Human-Animal 2015-08

Posted in Statement by

I originally wrote this poem right after the horror in NYC at the World Trade Center and thought then, WHAT kind or type of human could do things like they do, to each other. We, as humans, are so inhuman to each other at times. Indeed, lower animals that are looked down on, could, if they were able to, call US the true animalistic specie on Earth. They basically kill for food, in most cases, and not for the reasons we do as humans. I post this today, due to the terror killing in France of journalists.

Human-Animal      2015-08

The human with the high developed brain,

Supposed to be the most intelligent animal.

Doing things to self and others in many ways

That go beyond belief and understanding

Newscasts describe the horrors that happen,

Graphic in ways that boggle the mind.

Lower species struggle for survival,

Not killing for power, greed or envy.

They if with thought, would think with dismay,

Why they are classified for their sub-human actions.

We as humans should be ashamed in a way

For thinking of ourselves as the most supreme.

There is no excuse for this treating of each other.

NONE WHATSOEVER

Den Betts

Blast of Cold 2015-07

Posted in Nature by

BRRRRrrrrrr!  To read this poem makes me shiver and wish I lived in Florida! Not a long poem, but one that lets you know what weather is like in winter. “Icy breath” and “blue blasts” makes one feel the coldness of winter and wants the season of Spring to hurry up and get here. There is MUCH to look forward to winter, but the storms, the heavy snowfalls and raging winds are the downside to the pretty and all so charming aspects of the season…….. I posted this on the coldest day of 2015, so far.

Blast of Cold      2015-07

A winter wind whispering in my ear,

Forewarning of days with icy breath.

Hark, hark, the autumn’s done

This one, never to return.

Promise of Spring so far away,

Distant as swirls fly about,

Bundle up against the cold,

The blue blasts of blowing wind,

Another season has arrived,

To take its turn with life.

Den Betts