Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 50

Consideration

Thelimits of respect and favor

Stretchunbounded on all sides,

Gameless,blameless, even shameless,

Noone can intimidate the

Dauntlesssteed upon whose back

Considerationrides.

Thesimple truth of tact is

Fartoo valued to innumerate

 

Nothingwrong with looking inward

Wheredesire is overgrown,

Butthe sweet reality is knowing

Weare not alone.

 

Everyother has a need,

Apassion and a dream

Furiousto score the spotlight,

Desperateenough to scheme.

 

Weare wise to sate the selfdom,

Gorgethe goblin with respect.

Inthe end and in return

Weget back more than we expect.

 

Confidence

Childrenlearn from tender years

Aboutthe little train that could

Whohad to overcome some somber doubts

Beforehe understood

Determination,clear and simple,

Magnifiesthe likelihood of

Reachingcherished destinations

Theway he always hoped he would.

 

Everyarduous situation,

Everyfrown or cautious smile,

Everychallenge to adventurousness

Becomesa test or trial.

Andwhile the winsome winds of

Wisdommay not flow mile after mile,

Thebold pluck of tenacity

Exceedsthe need to reconcile.

 

Thereare times to back away,

Toknuckle under in defense,

Butpassion and determination

Overcomeswith confidence.

 

Compassion

Ina world where hearts are hardened

Fromthe brine of stormy seas

Poundingwith relentless fury,

Batteredby the broad debris.

Hardto deal with sympathy

Andfeel the plight that others know

Whenevery turn tends to confirm

We’redrowning in the undertow.

 

Prayingfor epiphany or

Maybesome grand miracle

Wherewe might be a giving tree

Andfeel magnanimous and full.

Evenwith the smallest gesture:

(Kinderdiscourse, simple smiles)

Newdirections break horizons

Stretchingon for miles and miles.

 

Choirsof angels beckoning with

Softnesspurified by light from

Somewherefar beyond the spectrum

Knownto ethnologic sight.

Sweetcompassion, mercy forward,

Filledwith tender clemency,

Featheredwith the grace of kindness,

Underscoredwith empathy.

 

Commitment

Theworld can be a frightful beast

Withgnarled fangs and cuspate claws

Thatauthor pause, creating cause for

Hesitationto commit.

 

Decisionthis, selection that,

Theoddest twist of tit for tat,

Thesinking feeling of concern for

Premonitionsof regret.

 

Fearinvokes the perfect storm of

Doubtand indecisiveness,

Trailslined with divisiveness

Ofbaleful bane and benefit.

 

Cannotopt for second best

Whenmettle quickens to the test.

Makea choice, reject the rest

Withno prerequisite.

 

There’sno need to please the masses.

Seizethe moment ere it passes.

Thismay be the perfect fit

Iffate is kind and you commit.

 

Cleanliness

Icannot speak to Godliness, as

It’snever been my bailiwick.

Ifholy scripture was my sea

I’dwind up floating like a brick.

 

Butcleanliness is something that,

Asage advances, I embrace with

Openvisage as a sign of

Eleganceand humble grace.

 

Thegreat unwashed may have their reasons,

Muckand mud may have a season, but

Itseems barely short of treason

Withsoap and water near at hand.

 

Stopthe crying, no more sighing,

Doesn’ttake a lot of trying.

Thereis simply no denying,

Noway to misunderstand.

 

Nastyhas a time and place.

Grungyhas its hour,

Butwhen the dirty work is done

Bekind enough to bathe or shower.

 

Caution

Dangerwalks on narrow paws. It

Prowlsand stalks on quiet haunches,

Shadowingthe tremulous and fearful

Massesto their peril.

 

Virgincorners wreak from watchful

Challengesof gut and grit

Puttingmind and matter to the test

Againstthe fit and feral.

 

Littlewonder caution speaks in

Measuredwhispers, “Warning, warning.

Takeyour time as you approach

Thisnameless path. Use extra care.”

 

Breakthe reckless roller coaster rush

Thatwants to bleed the bone by

Headingherald’s harbinger to

Sidestephazard’s baited snare.

 

Choicesseethe with consequences

Wherethe seas of fortune flow.

Caution,deftly contemplated

Helpsavoid the undertow.

 

Charity

Wedgedbetween a smoky screen

Ofmuddled muck and clarity

Wherechoices wan to fits of pain

Andhope grows cold and ashen.

 

Noone wants to be the one

Inneed of parceled charity,

Evenwhen the offer comes from

Kindnessand compassion.

 

Weare one when come undone

Andstanding in harm’s path

Wherefate demands a helping hand

Toassuage fiendish wrath.

 

Toooften pride’s impediment

Standsstaunch in firm embrace

Tilcharity is left to

Disappearwithout a single trace.

 

Butwhen accepted as is given,

Withhumility,

Shecarries high her

Consequentialbanner of nobility.

 

Caring

Godwill bless the caring soul

Withtreasures unexplainable

Tothose whose focus can extend

Beyondtheir own perimeter.

 

Expandingauras often offer

Fosteringthat otherwise might

Gounnoticed in a world

Ambiguousand immature.

 

Inthe tasking and the asking

Willwe stop to lend a hand?

Inthe helter of the skelter

Shallwe help our fellow man?

 

Wetake and shake an offered hand

Presentedwith sincerity,

Thenfill our hearts with kindness

Forthe plight of all humanity.

 

Hasteto attend a needing friend,

Giveear to his concern.

Younever can be certain when

There’llbe a lesson to be learned.

 

Bravery

I’dlike to think that I am brave,

Butin the ‘over all’ of things

Ishudder as I stutter and I

Wonderjust what I would do

If,when confronted with the dangers

Tribulationoften brings,

Iwould rise to the occasion

Ormelt into a mound of goo.

 

Faceto face with fierce encounter

MightI find the fearless fervor

Toresist the fancy of flight,

Staymy station, test my might.

Ordo I quiver, shake and shiver

Everhapless to deliver,

Fearfulto rise to the height and

Dowhat I believe is right.

 

Mournfulwoe? Unnecessary.

Nowant for reckless rant or rue.

Whentime sings out for bravery

I’msure I will do what I have to do.

 

Benevolence

Plyme not with compensation

Forany gift of charity.

Iask for nothing in return

Butcommonplace civility.

 

Manymay, in many ways,

Begrudgeblind generosity

Withbut one question to be answered:

“What’sin it for me?”

 

Benevolencebegs no return,

Nopayment for its gracious favor.

Allit needs are fronds of fondness

Bathedin altruistic flavor.

 

Kindnessmakes its own reward

Tostroke congenial behavior.

Steadfastto the test of time

Itssweetness is a treat to savor.

 

Theworld may judge us with despair,

Devoidof human common sense,

Butpraise to he whose epilogue

Isone of pure benevolence.