Not only the longest poem I have ever written, but the most time I have spent on one and in my opinion one of the best I have ever written. (Long is defined by more than ten stanzas. At least, for me.)
The Teapot - a long poem
With fearful energy his eyes opened
he had not one more moment to spend
he jumped and turned quickly to face the large frame
and prepared reluctantly to face his own shame.
The large frame was a nemesis of his
a man who sought to steal every last of his biz
man against man, flesh against flesh
Dan against Sam, friendship enmeshed.
What an embarassment he had made
to think that all friends are already paid
what else could he have done
before he got hurt like a gun.
Set the differences aside
peel away all the anger
what could be left.
They circled 'round and 'round like bait
showing each other bitter hate
hate only grows by repetition
till everything else is one bad concoction.
They say that emotion gives way
when you het your stress boil 'way
then after the steam rises from the pot
there is no water let to rot.
Like mad birds in a love dance
they fought as if they were in a trance
blood dripped down from their lonely faces
when would they wake up and see the great oasis?
Set the differences aside
peel away all the anger
what could be left.
Why do people see only the blindness of emotions
they carve long and hard to form great concoctions
then after all the work is done they ask themselves sadly,
"Why do I scrounge around with blindness and stupidity?"
Blow after blow they dealt themselves mugs of anger
the teapot never seemed to run out of water
when down on his knees Dan fell to the ground
and Sam reeled back for the finishing pound.
After all the water left the pot
the curtain of steam left Samuel hot
and made him realize that, like a glove,
anger makes no room for love.
Set the differences aside
peel away all the anger
what could be left but love.
How hard it must be to think twice
you must realize that before you're enticed
and no matter how big the teapot is, moreover,
you never wake up until the dream is over.
