This challenge comes from New York poet Joe Tessitore. He asks you to use the following couplet in a poem. Post your version in the comments section below:
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How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
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Oh Adam, you have blown me away! I am so gratified that you have found this poem to be everything…
A cute poem that is playful and half-serious, very much like John Donne's seduction poem "The Flea." That poem is…
Light verse is always a treat, and you've given us three witty, pithy gems. "Varicosely" is a clever pun. "Rejection…
One of my favorite stories from one of my favorite saints, set charmingly to verse. Just the right length, too,…
I'm glad to see accentual alliterative verse appear here, the purest English form. You capture the spirit of the Old…
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
That forces us to compromise
Our soul, our minds, our eyes
Yet take heed from the clouds comes sun
From tattered soil a vine is spun
Snatched from defeat, victory won
From a mother’s womb a beautiful son
The fossil industry flaunts its stuff
And cries “We cannot fart enough!”
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
How Very Much…
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies –
The baiting, grating grind of hate;
The jarring, sparring, slating spate
Of venom spewed to demonize?
I ache for cruelty’s swift demise;
Oh how I fret and agonize
Over our unearthly state –
How very much.
The day will come to exorcise
The demons keen to terrorize.
Each fiend will meet the foulest fate.
I hear the creak of heaven’s gate.
Oh how I long for love’s sky-highs –
How very much.
Above It All
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies
From bullies born to brutalize –
Those selfish souls in virtue’s guise
Who daunt the heart and haunt the eyes
And turn their backs on helpless cries?
My heart is crushed. My hope is slim.
I’m minus verve. I’ve lost my vim.
The sun’s gone out. The stars are dim.
Tomorrow’s looking reaper-grim.
I long to tear brutes limb from limb…
Instead I kneel and pray to Him.
The beauty of your words and kindred heart
Feel like a home much sought for from the start
They resonate with life and wisdom too
What joy to find a poet such as you
Of course the above isn’t a great poem; it’s just how I feel this moment. This is the first time I’ve ever found a place that seems like I might fit. I love to write, but even if I just get to read here, it will be, and is so far, a great blessing.
Jan, I thoroughly appreciate your beautiful, poetic words. You do fit, and I look forward to reading your poetry… it will brighten these pages. Thank you!
I’m blaming Exxon, blaming Shell
But I am BUYING oil as well.
I drive my car and use my phone,
From these sins I shall not atone.
How very much I do despise
Hypocrisy, stoked fear and lies!
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies
That spins reality and tries
To pull the wool over my eyes
Attempting to deceive me.
When wolves pretend they’re sheep-allies
And try to catch me by surprise
By twisting words so I’ll surmise
That lies are truth and truth are lies
Such things do sore aggrieve me.
When every apparatchik cries
That Uncle Sam and apple pies
And every Stars and Stripes that flies
Are racist symbols in disguise;
I won’t be fooled, believe me.
When CCP and Facebook spies
And mainstream media devise
A plan for me to compromise
My faith and conscience to be “wise,”
I wish that they would leave me.
So as I cross this Bridge of Sighs
And though they threaten, terrorize
And censor when I criticize
I’ll keep my eyes fixed on the prize
Till tyranny meets its demise
And freedom, liberty arise
To rescue and relieve me.
Wow! This poem gives such exquisite expression to the heart cries of so many in this time of relentless attacks, lies, treachery, and crimes against humanity. After reading it, I felt much less alone.
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
The answer is to trust your eyes
and common sense, not theorise
and make up stuff to get a rise
and earn that fifteen-minute’s prize.
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies.
The puke, the piss, the stench of it,
The false pretence of their remit.
The ease of which they make their din
With smiles wrought of porcelain.
The puke, the piss, the stench of it,
The witless fools that fall for it.
Talk about tyranny, fear and lies… that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Unless you’d like to keep the lies…
Trust your common sense and trust your eyes:
https://rumble.com/vlwish-dr.-bryan-ardis-reopen-america-tour-grand-rapids-mi.html
It’s only about 18 minutes long.
You owe it to yourself and your loved ones.
We once were proud and adamant
And made mistakes. I do admit
To that, but still we had our drive,
Our pride and courage kept us live
And lithe; on course. It’s all we had
Our lives were sparse, but we were glad
To live in blessed harmony,
For most part happy. We could see
Some better ways, and took to them
Beneath our country’s diadem.
Then one by one our freedoms fell
That crack within the Liberty Bell
Foretold this time, when no one knows
Where poison oak or red rose grows
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
Very poignant reflection contrasting times past with times present. I had never thought of the crack in the liberty bell as “prophetic” of trouble ahead due to internal weaknesses in the “metal” of our national life. I find it providentially fascinating that a bell associated with our nation’s founding and named “Liberty” would have a crack in it– a testimony to the fragile nature of freedom in this fallen world, especially political freedom forged from the metal alloy known as “e pluribus unum.”
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
For if the king doth have no spize
I say unto him, you are my prize.
The people of far and yonder,
mustn’t have to walk and wander,
For if the king doth tell no lies,
I speak unto you, he is our prize.
Though such a man is not alive,
The man that stands there is a lie.
He will not sing a lullaby,
He says he will not let his people die.
I wish our king was not a die
That rolled and rolled and made me cry,
I wish our king was but a god,
A king that lifted all this fog.
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies,
A carapace of news that’s fake
Now shrouds the truth make no mistake
That it’s the law, you realise
That’s swathed in words that seem so wise.
The many pundits, they advise
We check and countercheck the cries,
We research data, check the facts
See where pixels mix don’t match.
But it’s so hard to analyse
Give up! Give in to fear and lies.
Life’s so much easier on the eyes
With false eyelashes, wigs, and dyes
Why bother with the truth, a blend
Of fact and fiction serves the end.
It’s then that you will realise
There’s naught to fear in all the lies.
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies;
For lies, like slithering snakes can wind
Around men´s thoughts and choke the mind.
Like deadly vipers, lies can sink
Their fangs in brains that used to think,
And by their poison paralyze
The wits of those who once were wise.
Lies cast a blinding pall of smoke
On sleeping souls who think they´re “woke,”
Who, filled with fierce fanatic zeal,
Mistake mere hype for what is real.
But just as bad, if truth be told,
Are fears that in their firm grasp hold
Once valiant souls like iron chains;
For fear, from brave hearts, courage drains.
Fear mows men down like withering blades
Of grass, and makes them pale shades,
Mere echoes of their former selves,
Discarded shoes on dusty shelves.
For all whose hearts to fear are wed
Turn into zombies, pale, undead,
Who´ve lost all vigor, vim and fight
As victims to fear´s vampire bite.
That vicious bite turns him who´s bitten
From lion into craven kitten.
A ghost too spooked to scare a mouse,
Who can´t say “boo” or haunt a house.
Now fear is falsehood´s thuggish twin,
Who helps his clever sibling win
Dominion over people´s lives,
By treating them like battered wives.
Thus, fear and falsehood help each other
To stay on top of those they smother;
By threats and fraud and many a ruse,
They hold men hostage to abuse.
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How sad to see men grow so dense
When lies and fear kill common sense;
To fight these tyrants, here´s the key–
From fear and lies, the truth sets free!
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
The same as which I do loathe,
A system that disrespects love and hope.
It’s what is under the hood ,
That is no good;
Secret societies
Of fears and lies.
Though what’s in the air,
Needs no repair…
Let us fix a system that is broke,
For this love and hope.
Best Intentions
How very much I do despise
The tyranny of fear and lies
That from the mouths of zealots rise.
The experts have no bona fides
And skin as thick as hippo hides,
Yet still they act as expert guides
Of mask and jab, much more besides.
Let’s face the fact that man should be
As God intended; wise and free,
Not cowed in fear, made blind to see,
And silenced should they disagree.
What an incredible group of writers this is, and what an honor it is to be one of you.
Joe, your humility is more than refreshing!
It’s a tsunami of poetic humility.
Thank you.
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
The dove will tell you with her sighs,
And wise old raven with his cries–
So heed, before the croaking dies.
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
The south end of a flying rat,
From eating jalapenos (fat),
He had granola for dessert;
Beneath him! illustrates the hurt,
That brings my anger and my pain,
Which culminates in my disdain.
Loss of liberty
is not blatantly monumental.
Ease the patriot’s pain.
Just make it incremental.
Little doses of deception
are much easier to sup
daintily disguised dictatorship
in a China communist cup.
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies!
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies,
Because the Lord abides with me
In case when earthly comforts flee.
I’ll follow your example too,
My Lord, until their plots fall through.
Though I have to walk through the pain,
I patiently long for your reign.
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for your comment!
I’m very glad to know that we could share our christian hope each other through my little poem. “Let light shine out of darkness” (2 Cor. 4:6), I believe that our God continuously tell us so when we walk in the darkness.
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
forced to look through blind mens eyes
asked find hope in a hay stack
my brothers knife still in my back
to let you feed me lies, jaw a slack
took my soul yet call me free
take my labor and murder me
rather dead, then sans liberty
This has got to be better than the first attempt,
How much I do despise the tyranny of fear and lies
Is human life virtual? Now that is the question.
Some so-called experts think so, but
Whatever virtual means, I am not certain.
The definition of virtual is to exist in the mind
In essence but not in fact, or to be programmed.
Is human life virtual? That is the question.
But virtual is a tricky concept to understand
Since we are made of flesh and blood; so
Whatever virtual means, I am not certain.
Moreover is the true nature of the universe
Beyond human comprehension and perception;
Is human life virtual? That is the question.
Is human reality created by someone
To keep us enslaved? But for what purpose?
Whatever virtual means, I am not certain.
Some speculate that we choose the programme
Even tyranny and strife. Do I despise fear and lies?
Is human life virtual? That is the question, although
Whatever virtual means I am not certain.
Why do I always spot errors
after I have posted?!
A Haiku
To submit or not,
Tyranny of fear and lies,
Skating on thin ice.
Some how sent this on its own too-
seems that to submit or not has
a mind of its own!
Two Haiku
to submit or not,
tyranny of fear and lies,
skating on thin ice.
delicate snowflakes glide
blanketing the world with ice,
stalagmites stand tall
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies
Yet I do fall under its guise
And tbose times my soul e’er slow dies
I really like this. I love your couplet
it works perfectly with the one given,
result, a short poem with a big impact.
Thoughts Aloud
To think I thought, “I know you well,”
Only to think I might yet, still,
Have the time to learn what I missed,
Your eyes wide open when we kiss,
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
I dreamed I saw you, naked, bare,
A lone figure leaning just there,
Arms wound round to shield dainty breasts,
What’s mine is yours, but t’was a test,
How do you cope when this person dies
Peeling faded layers of his disguise?
I flake away what is not real,
Chip marble shavings to reveal,
Who I am, have been, underneath,
Though I planned not to show you anything,
How can you say you are surprised
When I shed my mask of alibis?
We agreed to keep it casual,
Then you happened, oh so gradual,
Take my name or just my sock drawer,
You own this house and so much more,
How mad will you be that I broke,
That this burning fire is not just smoke?
Let me love you how I want to,
Hoist your waist high and hold onto,
All you are, and will never be,
Continuing as “you and me,”
How do you watch us without seeing
When you changed it all just by being?
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
Sadly, in truth “I do not care”
About a child’s whimpered cries
To be honest and very fair
It’s not my problem, their despair
I only came to look the part,
First Lady perched atop jet stair
I wasn’t like this at the start
Better or worse, I did my part
Married power and married might
But now I’m stuck with that old fart
So here I am, never contrite
You marvel at my awesome height
I get to live in house of White
I get to live in house of White
The tyranny of fear and lies
Glows strong in “President” biden’s beady, shady eyes!!
WHO wins a job, hiding in their basement, while allies scheme
Skulks out when ordered and lies, promising a “better” American dream!
Voters never mattered- China machines and corrupt electoral twits and more
Stopped the count-seeing another hillary slaughter like the election before
If they pulled it off once- trust me they are scheming again
Wake up America or you’ll vote in Tyranny and lies biden to win
The colors of America, are NOT black and white-
They are red, white and blue
I voted the last time- for the Right
I suggest you do too…
Or, when the darkness covers America’s skies
You’ll be looking into the face of Tyranny and lies!
And just to be clear… as you have seen-
Tyranny doesn’t just lie-they do it with a smile and are effing MEAN!
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
Bedroom eyes
Beneath my thighs
Leaves me fearfully guessing even the wisest guy
He hides his lies
The tyranny of fear and lies
I so despise
Beautiful!
How very much do I despise
the tyranny of herein lies,
for who knows who may be in there?
Perhaps it may be even bare
of aught but emptiness inside
as all was lost on Styx’s tide?
Or even just one bone alone,
(so prone to be from the unknown),
which well may not be bona fide
if someone callous all elide
and failed to tell us all he lied
about the pride of one who died?
Or just a plaster boney clone?
(Or even worse a coney blown),
which would, one surely must surmise
be very hard to recognise
and impinge on the field of doubt
if one herein, put in, got out
and went upon their merry way
thus leaving me be Mused today.
How very much do I despise
the Tyranny of fear and lies
that aliens inside devise
to hide subvert and demonise
our tribal laws, erase mores
to cause divide as law decays.
To isolate so souls alone
can then be cowed to then condone,
so people’s tribes refuse to fight
reduction to the catamite,
to then destroy the female role
and kill the very tribal soul.
We must discern to learn the guile
of evil cesspit hebephiles.
How wary must two eyes devise
the villainy of beer and pies.
The smash of glass, the raucous shout,
a warning roar of louts about.
The thumping feet, the violent bang,
the sirens shrieking at the gang,
the shouts and shrieks now so obscene
as they then try to flee the scene.
The cause of all this vile discourse?
False courage from tomato sauce.
Undoubtedly tomato sauce
which turns the fine into the coarse
and makes our peaceful folk resent
the aftermath of sports events.
Which adds a gloss unto the dross,
and will emboss a total loss.
That horrid brutish condiment
that will divorce the best intent.
That all sports innocents dements.
Will unadvise unwise dissents.
We must be prepared to source
a label for tomato sauce,
to save our babes from new remorse
and wasteful chores for our law force.
Wonderful!
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
Not much; I’ve gotten used to it,
This Soviet-style life surfeit.
I just don’t buy the Party line
So I, too, lie, and it’s all fine.
To tyrants of falsehood and fear
I tell the things they want to hear.
They warned that I had to espouse
Their falsehoods or they’d burn my house,
They’d poison Max, my wealth preempt,
Protract a lawsuit for contempt
Because wrongthink’s a major crime,
But that’s how things are in our time.
Sheesh, that was amateurish. Maybe this one’s a little better:
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
To despots of falsehood and fear
I say what they demand to hear,
I parrot back the Party line.
I hate it, but I have no spine.
Despairing if I don’t espouse
Their falsehoods, they will take my house,
Imperil job, or wealth preempt,
Protract a lawsuit for contempt.
Oh, would I’d illustrate the courage
To stand up to dogmatic scourge!
So very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies!
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
Not much, when I again surmise
The father of them finally dies
The place is hot where satan goes
A chasm keeps the lies with those
Away from us who get to stay
In heaven where the Truth holds sway
How very much do I despise
The tyranny of fear and lies?
That schism in humanity
embedded in our history.
Introduced in aeons gone by
by those that seek to take our lives.
Fought in hidden realms few can see
attacks on minds relentlessly.
Closing hearts so we suffocate
turn on each other lost to hate.
But those false kings of tyranny
dont understand their enemy.
Our secret weapon our soul song
shining light truths on all that’s wrong.
For we’re more powerful you see
standing in love now consciously.
Thwarting their quest for our genome,
as we all make our way back home.
How Very Much do I Despise the Tyranny of Fear and Lies
My disapproval of them sparks my action
And fully speeds me on, with total traction
I must protect my mind from lies
From phony Newspeak, I despise
A while ago, I shed the television
Without a hint of indecision
I cast it far into the legendary Lake
And those twelve years have given me a break
So that’s how much that I despise
Their spewing fear and filthy lies!