The Book of Modern Poems

AuthorHouse

Contents

PoemsOpportunity..................................1Every Time...................................2Breaking the Addiction.......................3Examine Yourself.............................4Nothing Here.................................5My Love for You..............................6Different Directions.........................7I Don't Want to Know.........................8Turn the Other Cheek.........................9Improvement..................................10Generosity...................................11Going........................................12Too Weak.....................................14In Someone Else's Shoes......................16Never Find Love..............................18All I Need...................................20Forgiveness..................................21Nice Guys....................................22Nobody Cares.................................23Pointless....................................24A New Start..................................26Humility.....................................27When I'm Older...............................28Someone Else.................................29Stand Up.....................................30It's Not Right...............................31The Dividing Roads...........................33It's Only in Your Dreams.....................35Honesty......................................37Torn Apart...................................38The Right Time...............................40Adam and Eve.................................42High Expectations............................43I Can't Wait.................................45Total Darkness...............................47Home School..................................49Appreciation.................................51Separated....................................53Guilt........................................55Shallowness..................................57Willpower....................................59For You......................................61Irreplaceable................................63Don't Even Start.............................65Time.........................................67Hollow.......................................69One Blood....................................71Barely Hanging On............................73Trust........................................75It's Too Late................................77Evolution....................................78You Didn't Win...............................80Wondering Why................................82Letting Go...................................84One in a Million.............................86Leading the Way..............................88Before My Eyes...............................89Music........................................91Freedom......................................93Family.......................................96I Want to Live...............................98

Chapter One

There have been so many things, That have caused me regret. The alarm bell in my head rings, With all the mistakes I can't forget. With it, the memory of the past brings, All of the grief and the fret. Sometimes, I wish I could grow wings, Or to the past, have my own private jet.

But no such thing exists, It's useless making lists, Of the past errors you could change with a power booster. It's out of my power and range, To make the past change, But it's within my grasp to change myself for the future.

Right now, there's no time to delay, You must act today, Don't let the opportunity slip away. My past is lost, but the future, I can own it, And right now, time is the opponent, I can't lose even a moment.

Everyone has a time muscle, And I'm going to flex mine. Now's the time to hustle, Because there won't be a next time.

You've only got one chance, To do what you need to do. Take advantage of the circumstance, That has been given to you. This is my only chance; this is my only lifeline, Because opportunity only comes once in a lifetime. Don't focus on what and how things used to be, Or you'll forever lose this precious opportunity.

Every Time

It seems like every time I take a step, A different direction, I have to seek again. Every time I feel I can increase my rep, I lose my strength and become weak again.

Every time I do what I'm ordered, That order changes its mind. And every time I move forward, I keep getting more behind.

When I think I'm almost there, I hear the sound, And I always have to get back. Because every time I gain some ground, There's always another set-back.

There's a storm in my head, And I just want to quit. Because every time I get ahead, I can never get ahead of it. It follows me out of and into bed, And blows out the candle I just lit. My will to go on is dead, No longer do I even care a bit.

My body's torn, bleeding, and making red dirt, I came with a dream, but I just left hurt, It seems like everything I do is a wasted effort. All of my hard work got flushed down the drain, And all I've got left is the regret and pain, Is my entire life in vain?

Every time I tighten the rope, I feel it go slack. Every time I think there's hope, It's just another set-back. But I'm never going down-I'm keeping my eyes up, Because every time I get knocked down, I still rise up.

Breaking the Addiction

This has been going on for too long, I know deep down that it's wrong. It's time to rise above this and be strong, I'm climbing up to the top like King Kong. I've finally had it, Enough of this habit. I'm hopping away like a rabbit, I don't want to be an addict.

There's no room for cowardice, You and I have to be brave. I'm so sick of this, I'm tired of being a slave.

I don't really know, How I got like this. But this habit's got to go, Because I'm in a crisis.

I surely never wanted to become corrupt, But making a mess is easier than cleaning it up. I'm exhausted, and I know it's because of war, But I'll never go back to where I was before. Never again will I cross the wrong-and-right border, Right now, I need to get my life back in order. When something's wrong, it should be made right, And I'm breaking the addiction tonight.

One more second of this compromise, Is one more second of blinded eyes. You can keep saying it's okay, And keep saying you're going to pace yourself. But at the end of the day, How are you going to face yourself?

Whatever it takes, whatever damage or friction, It doesn't matter-I'm breaking the addiction.

Examine Yourself

Pull the plank out of your own eye, Before you tend to the speck in your brother's. You need to examine yourself, Before you look or think about any others.

Examine your own attitude, Before you rebuke someone else. To gain respect and gratitude, You must first examine yourself.

In order to change the world and the masses, You must first change yourself. In others' lives, don't focus on what passes, If you yourself need help.

No one's going to listen to you, If you're also in the wrong. If you're part of the issue, You must first become strong.

Your own actions, try to picture to yourself, Before others, apply scripture to yourself.

Your own actions, you didn't even stop to see, Your own words, you didn't even stop to hear. You're blind to your own hypocrisy, And now no one's going to open an ear.

At yourself, look through another's eyes, Before you open your mouth to criticize. The flaws in others, you've already outlined, It's time to examine yourself with an open mind.

In the world, you can be successful and fine, And jam in your wealth. But you'll never even have time, To examine yourself.

Nothing Here

This world's so full of nice things, With stickers and their pricings, And when you own them, your pride sings. But this time, you came to the wrong store, It has everything you could ever long for, But no matter what, you'll always want more.

The riches and luxury are what we strive for, For empty things, we live our lives for. They'll make you happy and merry, But they're so temporary. Everything we own here will soon disappear, And the beginning of the end is very near.

You've got a great car that you rev in, You earn your bread, but it's unleavened, And you've gained the world, but are you going to Heaven? Your wallet and your house are full, But still, there's a giant hole, What good is it to gain the world and yet lose your soul?

All the things you have on this earth, Away with the wind, they'll be blown. In the end, they have no worth, They'll leave you empty-handed and alone. They're here today, And yet gone tomorrow. They pass away, And only leave sorrow.

The fear of loss is the greatest fear, But as for permanence, there's nothing here.

So store your treasures above, And lay the foundation for your true home, Let go of all you adore and love, Because there's nothing here we really own.

My Love for You

In the depths of my mind, I'll always see and hear you. I'd cross any border or line, Just to be near you.

I've loved you in every instance, No matter where you were or are. I'd tear off any kind of hindrance, Just to get to you, my shining star.

I'd swim across the sea, Just to feel your touch. I wish it were just you and me, And I miss you so much.

I would do anything, Just to spend a second with you. Out of many things, You're the only one who's true.

You, I will always love, And it will always be that way. You, I'll always think of, Even if you or I die today.

I'll love you until my very last breath, And still, I'll love you again. I'll think about you until my death, And still remember you then.

You're so sweet, so lovely, and so fun, To be around. Those days with you, I wished the sun, Would never go down.

I would take a bullet for you, Because my love for you is bullet-proof.

Different Directions

Do I need to yell and shout, To get you to remember about, The times when we used to hang out and laugh? Why are we both in doubt, And fading out, Forgetting the friendship we used to have? As we grew, we were slowly growing apart, And of the end, this is showing the start. In a different direction, you're going to cart, While I'm alone, your light not glowing my heart.

We're relating less and less, And I'm tired of trying to guess, Why we can't stay friends for the rest of our lives. Now I'm a total mess, And I can't say yes, That I'll be able to survive. I feel zapped like a dead moth, While you scoff, And I want to know why I'm the only one who cares. This is making me choke and cough, Why can't we pick up where we left off, Instead of us both being in different pairs?

I remember when things were looking up, While we were both small like a pup, But now, I'm older and getting beaten up and hurled. I'm empty like an unfilled cup, And we're both still not corrupt, But I don't know how long that'll last in this world.

You supported me, and I supported you, But now things are fuzzy and distorted too. You'd pull a knife out of me if it got stabbed in, So tell me how this separation could happen. I can't replace you, and the future's so lonely and gaunt, And to get things how they used to be is all that I want.

I Don't Want to Know

This is the end of the start, Shot with a sharp dart, It's piercing my heart. I wish I were you, My world is blue, And out the window, hope flew.

It's like you're the best fad, While I'm stowed away like cheddar. You got everything I never had, Because you're so much better.

What makes you better, so much better than me? I never want to solve this painful mystery. Is it what you do, your personality? I never want to know the reality. You're conquering the world while I'm inactive, Is it because you're cooler or more attractive? Is it how you look or where you go? You know what-I don't want to know.

You're the loved envy, I feel so alone and empty, And deep inside, there's a fighting frenzy. I'm stuck in the muck, You have all the luck, I feel like giving up.

There's no need to fret it, Everyone loves you fondly. Don't you get it? Nobody wants me.

With the entire world, you've bonded, You got everything that I ever wanted. You endlessly glow while I'm sitting in the last row, Why has this happened to me? I don't want to know.

Turn the Other Cheek

Everybody has some sort of problem, Everyone has issues to work through. It's just matter of how you solve them, That person didn't mean to hurt you.

When your temper is hot, Turn the other cheek. When revenge is your thought, Instead, a solution, seek.

Your hurt, talking it out will wither this, Don't let one fight turn into bitterness. You'll forever ruin yourself and your offender, If you can't control your temper.

Where others can hurt you, Don't get into that position. Look through another's view, And just stop to listen. When your motives are bitter and vengeful, Your attitude should be meek. Of bad thoughts, when you have a head full, Just turn the other cheek.

Talk it out with them and go the extra mile, You'll never have peace until you reconcile. You'll forever wreck your life, If you turn to a gun or a knife. Don't let your feelings prevail, Don't let your head blow. That'll get you in jail, Sitting on death row.

You'll never get out of danger, Unless you control your anger. Through forgiveness, wounds can be mended, And through love, a disaster can be prevented.

Improvement

It's okay to tell me what you think about me, I won't ignore you or shove it away stoutly. I won't cause a riot; I'll just try to listen and be quiet, I won't try to deny it, and I can adjust to a new diet. I won't try to argue, Or hold it against you. If I choose ignorance, I'll soon pay the price, Because only a fool will reject good advice.

How you tell me, I will hence live, I'm soul-searching, and I'm pensive, And I'm not going to get defensive. My mind won't be narrow, Like the Egyptian Pharaoh, Because with reality, you shot into me an arrow. For becoming better, this will be my token, And my heart and my mind are wide open. And I'll never learn to get along, Until I admit that I'm wrong.

I'll make a movement, To make improvement, And if something's wrong, I'll change myself. I won't get, Mad or upset, I'll take all good traits off my dusty shelf. I'll do my best to change me, And I won't get upset or angry. With my conscience, I've had to wrestle, But I'm ready to board this new vessel.

Offences unresolved will keep me all alone, So before that happens, I must forgive and atone. And I'll never revive what has died, Until I swallow my pride. I'll never make beautiful music like on a piano or a fife, And I'll never make improvement until I change my life.

Generosity

There's no desire to share, We just gather up all we can. About others, we don't care, And for himself, it's every man. We celebrate when others are on their last leg, Feeding the monster that controls this plague.

For others, you can't give up what you love and like, Telling them, without words, to go take a hike. But we need to start giving up, Not all we have, but a fraction. We need to start living up, And putting love into action.

For all of our empty earthly things, we should stop caring for, And stop fretting so, For others who are less fortunate, we need to start sharing more, And start letting go.

It won't hurt your health, You aren't going to need stitches. And the way to true wealth, Lies in love, not riches. We endlessly stretch out our hands, In this never-ending free-for-all, Trying to reach for all that we can, When there could be glee for all; If we could just open our eyes, And see through these lies.

No one's asking you to go broke and give up a fortune, But how many lives can you change by giving up a portion? It's more profitable to give up a slice what you save, Because you'll receive back twice what you gave. If you freely give a little, you'll receive a monstrosity, And your life will be enriched by just a little generosity.

Going

You destroyed the years, I'm suppressing my tears, And I hope you can finally be content this time. Another house to pick, My stomach is sick, And you gave away everything that was mine. Around we roam, Another new home, Does anyone really care? I've made an oath, Obeying you both, But this is just not fair.

Going on endless drives, To start new lives, I really can't express how I'm feeling. Packing and unpacking, At the past, hacking, Nothing is ever again going to be appealing. There was nothing to do, And no one I knew, And everyone basically kept to themselves. Doing what I was forced to, This is more than I can chew, Taking and putting back things on the shelves. Going on a long jaunt, No one cares what I want, I'll never again see them or see you. I gave you my trust, But if you couldn't adjust, Then how did you expect me to?

Endless hours of hard labor, Haven't seen a single neighbor, And this whole entire time, I just can't win. I'm so unknown, I just want to be alone, And for months or years, that's all I've ever been. No one to sympathize, Only to criticize, I can't fit in, and I don't have anyone to talk to. My things, got to unpack and sort them, Endless days of emptiness and boredom, And the grave is the only place I want to walk to.

Too Weak

I remember when I first thought, You were everything you were not, And I didn't follow the truth I was taught. I remember having this ideal, Of only following what I feel, And I just kept falling head-over-heel.

I didn't think of what would come undone, I just thought that I needed someone. I just knew I had a hand and thus wanted a glove, And I just wanted-I just needed someone to love. The trust fund that was saved for me, I tried to rob, Instead of trying to unlock it, I just broke the knob, But I don't need to break my heart over a snob. I never should've tried to open the lid, I don't need you, and I never did, And now, I've finally come to a thrashing skid.

I don't need to play stupid games like Red Rover, I was just filled with feelings I couldn't get over, And I tore apart my one and only three-leaf clover. But time has made me stronger, And I no longer, Even want her.

You, it's not like I really don't want to see, But you were too good to even talk to me. I'll never forget the nights I missed you sorely, And I'll never forget the way you ignored me. I was so young, and I've aged since, Back then, I didn't want to seek. I just didn't have the patience, And I was just too weak.

My desire to control my life, I'm starting to let slip, And I'm learning to let go of my foolish plans, I'm starting to loosen my previous death grip, And I'm starting to realize that it's out of my hands.

For you, I'll never be good enough, And life is so tough. Where you were, I could never reach that peak, I was just too weak.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Book of Modern Poemsby Christopher R. Abbott Copyright © 2009 by Christopher R. Abbott. Excerpted by permission.
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