Post by Master of Tacos on Oct 8, 2020 19:17:35 GMT -5
Welcome to the October Poet Laureate Contest, with poems centered on regret[/a]. Below are the poems I received. Anyone may vote in this contest, and the poem with the most votes earns its author the title of Poet Laureate! Remember, still do NOT share the authorship of any entry with anyone but Free Las Pinas until the contest is over. Voting will be open until 8 P.M. EDT on October 16.
Please give the poets their due courtesy and read over all the poems before voting.
Good luck to everyone, and may the best poem win!
Entry #1
The Quiet Throne
On top you stand alone,
and you have given everything to get there.
You sit on this lonely throne,
and you wonder, was it all fair.
How many dreams did you crush?
Who was hurt during your rise?
Because it was all a rush,
or was it all a bunch of lies.
They told you to be the best,
But did they tell you about the pain?
The endless time put into the contest,
through the snow, mud, and rain.
You pushed your friends and family away,
and only walked a lone path.
You hold the darkness at bay,
ever feeling life's wrath.
The aches and pain of it all,
never seem to disappear.
There is no one for you too call,
as you sit here in fear.
You look back and wonder,
what was it all for?
And as you hear the thunder,
what if you chose a different door?
On top you stand alone,
and you have given everything to get there.
You sit on this lonely throne,
and you wonder, was it all fair.
How many dreams did you crush?
Who was hurt during your rise?
Because it was all a rush,
or was it all a bunch of lies.
They told you to be the best,
But did they tell you about the pain?
The endless time put into the contest,
through the snow, mud, and rain.
You pushed your friends and family away,
and only walked a lone path.
You hold the darkness at bay,
ever feeling life's wrath.
The aches and pain of it all,
never seem to disappear.
There is no one for you too call,
as you sit here in fear.
You look back and wonder,
what was it all for?
And as you hear the thunder,
what if you chose a different door?
Entry #2
Untitled
As I look out to the ocean, I let
my heart and emotions run free, yet
why can't I leave
and just let the sea
sweep away and away my regret?
As I look out to the ocean, I let
my heart and emotions run free, yet
why can't I leave
and just let the sea
sweep away and away my regret?
Entry #3
No Regrets
As I gaze back, upon my life,
At all that I’ve done wrong,
Mistakes and guilt and massive shame,
My list of faults is long.
I weep for all the suffering,
And pain I did inflict,
I cringe to hear the things I’ve said,
The times I’ve been too strict.
My body’s paid a heavy price,
My family paid it too,
Employers, parents, none were spared,
Especially not you.
And yet, regret, I do not feel,
Sounds heartless, hear me, please,
As penance I would gladly spend,
My days upon my knees.
If to the past I could return,
And do things differently,
I’d still refrain to change one thing,
And Why is plain to see.
‘Cause if I’d never done the things,
That caused me pain in life,
I’d ne’er have been in place to meet,
My love and future wife.
And without her, it follows suit,
My children too, I’d lose.
And that is why I don’t regret,
Again this life I’d choose.
As I gaze back, upon my life,
At all that I’ve done wrong,
Mistakes and guilt and massive shame,
My list of faults is long.
I weep for all the suffering,
And pain I did inflict,
I cringe to hear the things I’ve said,
The times I’ve been too strict.
My body’s paid a heavy price,
My family paid it too,
Employers, parents, none were spared,
Especially not you.
And yet, regret, I do not feel,
Sounds heartless, hear me, please,
As penance I would gladly spend,
My days upon my knees.
If to the past I could return,
And do things differently,
I’d still refrain to change one thing,
And Why is plain to see.
‘Cause if I’d never done the things,
That caused me pain in life,
I’d ne’er have been in place to meet,
My love and future wife.
And without her, it follows suit,
My children too, I’d lose.
And that is why I don’t regret,
Again this life I’d choose.
Entry #4
On Regret
If only I'd turned right, not left
I might be somewhere better now
If only I'd said no, not yes
My life might be on highest bough
To cast ones thought back into past
Oft times when feeling lonely
And weave a tale of could have beens
And better nows, if only?
It is a wasted effort, friend
In dreamy false perspective
Those thoughts are no means to an end
Regret's a poor elective
Be Zen about the path you're on
It is the life you have, but one
Embrace the choices that you've made
Don't let your mind to others, run
Remorse, it isn't quite the same
It serves a wider purpose
Sometimes we need to feel some shame
For choices that usurp us
But then a time must come, beyond
When we allow ourselves to heal
Forgive ourselves and not despond
And so the process is a wheel
On which to turn and grow anew
Instead of pointless second guesses
Done is done, so why review
The options that led to these messes?
Stay in the moment every day
Don't pine for choices in reverse
If you had gone the other way
Things might have turned out even worse
If only I'd turned right, not left
I might be somewhere better now
If only I'd said no, not yes
My life might be on highest bough
To cast ones thought back into past
Oft times when feeling lonely
And weave a tale of could have beens
And better nows, if only?
It is a wasted effort, friend
In dreamy false perspective
Those thoughts are no means to an end
Regret's a poor elective
Be Zen about the path you're on
It is the life you have, but one
Embrace the choices that you've made
Don't let your mind to others, run
Remorse, it isn't quite the same
It serves a wider purpose
Sometimes we need to feel some shame
For choices that usurp us
But then a time must come, beyond
When we allow ourselves to heal
Forgive ourselves and not despond
And so the process is a wheel
On which to turn and grow anew
Instead of pointless second guesses
Done is done, so why review
The options that led to these messes?
Stay in the moment every day
Don't pine for choices in reverse
If you had gone the other way
Things might have turned out even worse