Poems by Michael J Sumner

Variations on an Ode to Man

In this world of diverse life forms,
Man stands out above all others.
We have shelter to hide from storms,
and can recognize sisters and brothers.
We have emotions, sadness and compassion,
we have love and beauty, and even fashion.

Man creates technology, planes and cars
We have viewed and discovered life's secret backbone,
through machines we can measure stars.
We have created government with more than one throne.
"Our medicine saves lives" we can proudly chant,
with the lungs, limb and livers we transplant.

Man can harness energy, heat and light,
We have electric engines and boxes of entertainment.
We have electric weapons that show our might,
wires for transmission, batteries are containment.
But like in territorial animals, violence is fulfilling,
We use energy for bombs that fuel our need for killing.

We are no more than savage roosters,
Killing just to show our power,
With guns and swords and rocket boosters,
We cause blood to pour like water from a shower,
Forever we are caught, uselessly we kill each other,
Never will we learn peace among our brothers.

Michael J. Sumner

they say some things are better left unsaid,

but nothing one can say matters when you're dead.

taken from my arms at the age of sixteen,

in a string of events that changed my dreams,

Not only the dreams I have while i'm sleeping,

but everything I gained when I kept you from weeping.

'I miss you' isn't even nearly close to a proper expression,

of the feelings I get when I process my recollection,

of you're departure that ended your depression.

The only way to cope is through mental repression.

On the inside of my eyelids I can still see your face,

The soft skin and eyes that made my heart race.

Like a song whose meaning makes your spine numb,

I had such emotions whose voice was too dumb.

Truly, I couldn't put my feelings to words,

Or begin to explain how much it hurts,

to hold all these words that I failed to deliver,

and the way I allowed my volition to slither,

away to die like a snake through the grass,

feeling my emotions in the sound from the brass.

I just could never find my strength inside,

like a tape of endless lengths of pride,

set ablaze just for me; so i could watch it die.