February 2008 Poet of the Month: bags123

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heinzs
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February 2008 Poet of the Month: bags123

Post by heinzs » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:53 am

Congratulations Gerry! You have been selected as our "Poet of the Month" for February, 2008!

:thewave: :thewave: :cheers:

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heinzs
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Re: Poet of the Month: February 2008, bags123

Post by heinzs » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:53 am

Here are some of Gerry's "highlights":

Saratoga

Short races that we used to run
on wooded paths above the lake
Between red oaks, and knotty pines,
as afternoons were growing late
My innocence is intertwined
When Saratoga comes to mind

There summer still can sooth my soul
Reflecting warmth from long ago
Surrounding me with thoughts I’ll find
on scattered trails both high, and low
Around the hills we used to climb
When Saratoga comes to mind

Perhaps,…now that I’m growing old
Consumed by all I’ve tried to be
Engraved with hope, but etched by lines
much deeper than most people see
Impressed on me by younger times
When Saratoga comes to mind

viewtopic.php?f=67&t=54849&p=404794#p404794
_________________________________

Cuchullin's Hounds

LONG PAST
THAT GALLANT EASTER DAY
TWAS SUNDAY MORN
THE 5TH OF MAY
BLACK AND TANS
HAD BURNED OUR HOME
THEN LEFT
MY FATHER DIEING

MY MOTHER STOOD
TOO PROUD TO CRY
WITH ONE LAST KISS
SHE SAID GOODBYE
THEN GATHERED ME
BEYOND THE FLAMES
TO TELL OF ERIN'S
HEROS

"FROM FINN McCOOL'S
OWN FENIAN BAND
TILL NOW AS ENGLAND
RULES OUR LAND
THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN
A BROTHERHOOD
TO DEFEND
OUR IRISH NATION

DEFIANT LADS
WHO ARN'T AFRAID
FOR FREEDOMS CAUSE
THEIR OATHS ARE MADE
BY BLOOD AND BONES
EARTH AND SKY
THEY'LL CLEAR
THE MURKY WATERS

YOUR FATHER
WAS A CHOSEN ONE
A LEADER OF
CUCHULLIN'S SONS
BRAVE AND FIERCE
HIS HOUNDS DID FIGHT
ALL AGAINST
THE TYRANTS SOLDIERS

JUST NOW MY LOVE
A LAST COLD FACT
THE DEVIL WEARS
A UNION JACK
WE SUFFER
ON OUR BENDED KNEES
ASKING WHERE IS
GOD'S DEFENDING

MAY SAINT MICHAEL
TEACH YOU HOW TO STAND
PLACE HIS BRIGHT SWORD
IN GROWING HANDS
TO RID THESE DEMONS
FROM OUR LAND
AVENGE YOUR
FATHER'S MEMORY"

I GREW UP QUICK
THEN WENT AWAY
IN BELFAST JOINED
THE I.R.A.
I MARRIED AND WE
HAD A SON
JUST BEFORE
THE BULLET HIT ME

SO...THIS IS WHY
THE BELLS HAVE RUNG....
THE BATTLES FOUGHT...
BUT NEVER WON
FROM WAY UP HERE
I SCAN THE CROWD.........
CUCHULLIN'S HOUNDS
ADVANCING

viewtopic.php?f=67&t=54797
______________________________

Danu's Children

On the ancient emerald isle's sod
beneath the barrow mounds
Danu's faery children wait
as eons make their rounds

These faery folk, as some have said,
love contemplations long
a saga lasts one thousand years
their language is a song

From among'st the four fair corners
which square this magic land
we mere mortals made our offerings
where sacred oak trees stand

So its been for generations
traditions never ceased
we offered golden promises
they gave us health and peace

Then one dark day, a man appeared
"Padraic" his given name
proclaiming God lived in the sky
and we should be ashamed

"You give gifts to fallen angels"
"draw milk from Satan's cows"
"Your crops are culled from demons fields"
"Repent...and do it now!"

"False idols must be broken down"
"the Druids forced to pay"
"great churchs built with earth and stone"
"old ways...be cast away!"

"In Christs mercy he has found you"
"upon this pagan isle"
"Rejoice down on your bended knee"
"to earn our fathers smile"

Now many follow Padraic's way
a saint you should'nt cross
while Danu's children sing and dance
beneath the rock and moss.

Time flows for them eternally
They don't share human haste,
and when we've gasped our last cold breath
again the sun they'll taste.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=54796&p=404620#p404620
______________________________________

Dragon Ships

On dragon ships
men scan the skies
Perplexed, they ask
the reasons why?
They sail so far
from friendly fjords
to find an
unknown future.

Their leader stands
from rough hewn oars
These waters never
seen before,
but sagas tell of
gold, and land
that's ripe now
for the taking

"Be strong Norsemen
and persevere!
This voyage
fills your hearts with fear.
By dawn we'll land
on foreign soil
Keep weapons sharp
and ready".

With morning sun
a guard conveys
Four distant ships
assault his gaze
A raven's crest
is flown on high
"Flee now... or we'll
be slaughtered".

A warlord grips
his heavy sword
The Bishop waits,
as he kneels toward
The altar of
the one true God
requesting his
protection

He rises from
his age-ed knees
His men will fight
They've all agreed
Out numbered by
the heathen hordes
Faith goes before
the battle

Thor's army
disembarks its ships
A viking creed
escapes their lips
" If I should I die
a valient death,
Valhalla bids
me enter".

Berserkers drink
their bitter herbs
Ferocity will not
be curbed
The first in battle,
last to die
Blood lust, has been
created

They march
unlimbered
too the fore
Scars mark this place
like those before
To kill the weak ,
then take what's left
Survival of
the fittest

The warlord sees
his own demise
Considers what
to compromise.
"I'll give you half
my gold and food
Our women yours
for taking".

The pagan chief
who hears these pleas
laughs with distaste
and then decrees;
That such a man
deserves to die
The world's best rid
of cowards.

Across the shallow
walls they came
Defenses fell
by weight of shame
The warlords head
adornes the prow ,
while dragon ships
sail homeward.

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=54801
_________________________________________

Access Gerry's archive in the Poetry Vault: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=24243
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An' it harm none, do what ye will. Blessed Be.
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My Poet's Page Archive | Topics I've started

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bags123
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Location: Upstate

Re: Poet of the Month: February 2008, bags123

Post by bags123 » Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:00 am

Thank you guys. I'm honored.
I prefer to keep an open mind,....but not so much that my brains fall out.- Carl Sagan
Your brain is like an umbrella. It only works when it's open- Someone Smart


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March 2011

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