Category Archives: Poems

Poems posted here will be MINE that I wrote over a period of time about many subjects. I will post them under sub-categories that I feel are appropriate for the poem being posted

Hope 2018-90

Posted in Contemplation by

Well, after many occasions of despair by those of this Earth, doing things to one

another, abusing others beyond thinking, it is still good to HOPE, that the world

will or can be one of betterment.

Hope?    2018-90

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 nature’s plentiful bounty?

 

Is there hope- that the inhabitants of the world

Will learn 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?

Den Betts

bettsden@gmail.com  = Email

thebettsden.com          = Blog

Completeness 2018-89

Posted in Contemplation by

Sometimes I wonder what I am doing and if it is correct and worthwhile, and then I take time to think that, at that moment, I am complete in my thoughts and therefore am on the right track of life.

 

Completeness   2018-89

 

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 surreally

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

bettsden@gmail.com  =  Email

thebettsden.com          = Blog

A Man 2018-88

Posted in Contemplation, Religious by

Just how do we feel about those that are not of our kind or looks. It is so easy to be judgmental and turn away from those not like us.  We do have much to learn about being more tolerant and forgiving to others that do not appear like us, or are different in many ways.

A Man   2018-88

I saw a man as if in a dream,

His hair was long like a once called hippy.

 

The sandals he wore appeared as old as he,

The smell of sweat was in the air, not clean.

 

Looks are not true of a man and his beliefs,

But, only are signs of what and how things just are.

 

Should I criticize the longhaired or bare footed,

Or those that are not like me?

 

A man died for me once who was like this,

Would I judge him today like he was then?

 

Do I cast a verdict for those not like me,

The outside looks are not the inside thoughts.

 

The self-righteous man has much to learn,

From those that walk the ways of life.

 

Den Betts

bettsden@gmail.com    email

thebettsden.com             blog

Infernal Internal 2018-87

Posted in Contemplation by

They say the brain is a magnificent organ, capable of doing so much, and I agree. It is extraordinary in its capabilities and what it does as part of the mind of man.

Infernal Internal    2018-87

 

Likened to a line of super Cray’s

in parallel for a mile

A microprocessor of renown

with extraordinary know how

 

The capability of doing much

in unknown ways and time

Its limits of intellect

not found; stay sublime

 

What key, what shibboleth

is required, for the one outside,

to release the master of within

and show itself with pride

 

To give full gifted power

and management of life

and dominate the existence

of man’s everyday strife?

Den Betts

bettsden@gmail.com    = Email

thebettsden.com            =  Blog

Message Heard 2018-86

Posted in Contemplation, Religious by

Ever wonder if you heard something and did not know what it was at the time? Sometimes I have, and it is somewhat disorienting at the time, the unknown, rearing its head when we least expect it.

Message Heard 2018-86

Beside a thatched dwelling

In front of a smoking fire

Bones, stones, and shells,

Fly to a mat of woven grass.

Foretelling a future, a decision

To be made, fate itself in limbo.

 

Frayed leather garments

Darkened by sweat and time

Cling to an old one with the

Insight, interpreting the fall.

The bush resounds; drums beat

Signaling the message told

By the ancient one; for all to hear.

 

Far away, a man dressed in pinstripes,

Moves his head with ear upraised.

The Manhattan intersection beckons

He lingers with a quizzical look, squinting.

The man walks away in the crowd,

Wondering what he heard in the wind.

Peace,

Den Betts  @        bettsden.gmail.com = Email

thebettsden.com      = Blog

Skull 2018-78

Posted in Contemplation by

I will admit that this poem came to be after I held a “plastic” skull I had, which I got for some kind of Halloween thing; not sure.  Anyhow, my thoughts came, I wrote them and now live with my thoughts of how I think about something.  That is ok, that is me; so be it.

 

Skull  2018-78

To hold a skull in hand and pretend

tis poor “Uric” of Hamlet fame,

But, alas, it is only bone

a dead relic of a person long ago.

A reminder of a life form that

thought, laughed and cried,

Which had features, jumped,

and danced with joy.

Now just a calcium deposit

In a grotesque way,

Pitted, holed, and cavities with

rough edges and a strange feel.

Like a picture with substance,

a reality of life itself.

What experiences, identity, features,

Of long ago hidden from view.

To touch my face and feel bone through flesh

and feel what I hold in my hand,

A non-descript top of a frame

holding me together.

 

 

Den Betts        bettsden@gmail.com

Hanging in There 2018-76

Posted in Contemplation by

Hanging in There  2018-76

A simple expression that means so much to some people, but nothing to others. It tells us something, but, in reality, says nothing about us to anybody.

I learned to say this as a means of defense, or at least, a way of not having to explain how I actually was feeling at the time of saying it.

A neighbor, now long ago it seems, always was telling me, “You look great, how’s it going?” This was after my accident in my car, and after spending 7 weeks in the hospital and rehab, and experiencing a year in outpatient rehab at Lake West Hospital in Willoughby, OH.

I knew he was trying to make me feel good, but I finally said to him one day after his question, “Vic, I feel like shit, actually!”  The point is, I realized somewhat then, that I had to come up with a different response, therefore, “I’m hanging in there” became a common refrain to anyone asking or commenting on my condition, at that time period.

So, this has carried over to today and I still use it, when I have episodes that are a carryover from my time of over 25 years ago.  Still have them, will have them, life goes on regardless.

I am not being a smartass or vague or deceitful, but perhaps just somewhat honest. If that bothers any, well that is too bad and tuff; just deal with it. I do a decent job of surviving and interacting with others and try very hard to not be a whining, a feel sorry for self, person about a time in  my life, that changed my life forever.

My “Hanging in There” is the only concession I will allow myself to express how I feel. Therefore, I respectfully say again, deal with it.

Peace,

Den Betts        Email: bettsden@gmail.com   Blog: thebettsden.com

Long Trip 2018-75

Posted in Contemplation, Religious by

Long Trip 2018-75

 

It starts sometime, but is different to all of us. At times, it is planned, but in most cases, it begins all on its own.

There is nobody taking any tickets or checking us in against a list of people that are authorized to go. Also, don’t look for a flight attendant, or conductor, or any official person to guide or direct us.

Once started, our trip is that of many bumps and knocks, mixed with smooth and luxurious times. Every time a dip tells us to be careful a rise welcomes us to a time of pleasure. There are a lot of dips and rises, but we sort of expected that to happen or should have if we gave it any thought.

Occasionally we, can stop and take in the sights and even smell the flowers, along the way, which is always enjoyable.

Any travelling companions we encounter are also experiencing their sights and sounds; similar, but still different than ours. Some don’t finish the trip as we do, but instead have a different journey, so we bid them farewell along the way. And, we wish them all, to have a great time in their own way, as we forge onward to our destination.

How many of us, once we knew where we were going, prepared for it beforehand, and finally knew that we had, or could have, done a better job of doing so? Maybe, when we put our feet on the ground, it will not be too late, not for me to say, but for all of us to find out.

There is a beginning and there is an end and in between, an experience to have to remember. What we do in the in between will determine the end and beyond the end. Our actions, our reactions, and the decisions with our lives, have a bearing, somewhat, on the outcome for eternal life.

Do we take for granted that things will be fine, will be better than the now, and hope for the best? Some can do that, but not knowing the final solution, who would want to take a chance. Again, some will just do what they want to do and with optimism bear with whatever happens.

BUT, to go through the journey with the thought of the future and not care of the consequences, is a foolhardy trip.  It is (hopefully) a long trip, but when the thought of “forever” is in the works, then the little journey we make now is pretty little, but the continuation is really a long trip to have and enjoy.

So, do what you want, I don’t care, because it is YOUR trip and we all have to live with the costs or payment of the experiences we each have in life.

If you believe in a God, if you believe in the hereafter, if you believe in eternity, then consider your actions of today while on the little trip of life.  The long trip includes the little one, and we will see.

Peace,

Den Betts            Email: bettsden@gmail.com      Blog: thebettsden.com

Waterfall 2018-74

Posted in Contemplation, Nature by

I remember writing this when we visited Brandywine Falls, in Cuyahoga National Park, near Cleveland, OH, and it was written to enable someone to “see” the falls through my eyes at the time.  It was a lovely day, the walkway to the falls down below, gave a serene pleasant atmosphere to life then.  If ever, get a chance, go see and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!!!!!

Waterfall  2018-74

The wandering cool stream gently sped

Moving toward the precipice close ahead

Funnels of rock squeeze the flowing water

Pushing it toward the outcrop faster

Emerald greed moss nurtured by its flow

Mingle with the ferns above and below

Molecules of wetness leap in the air

In bursting spray without a care

Once blue-brown now white, so white,

Plunging down with all its might

A constant thunder and roar make a bellow

And becomes louder as it races below

The cascading cataract frozen in flight

Smashes on the boulders with all its might

Reaching for the sky it falls, near the shore

Then continues flowing gently as ever before

Den Betts        email:  bettsden@gmail.com  blog: thebettsden.com

 

Knight Slayed 2018-73

Posted in Contemplation by

Written when the mission was just existing in life, and this came to mind. Not sure now, of the exact reason of what the intent was; to make a point perhaps. Do people look at life this way, as I did so many years ago? It is a wonder I did not succumb to a downward trend and end up like the knight.

 

Knight Slayed  2018-73

 

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        Email: bettsden@gmail.com

Word Press site:  thebettsden.com