What Is Your Favorite "Manly" Poem?

[olkofri]

I always thought chili was a salsa.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I always thought chili was a salsa.

Salsa is a salad. puf

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

It's not really 'manly' but my favourite poem is by John Lennon:

“Good Dog Nigel”:

Arf, Arf, he goes, a merry sight,
Our little hairy friend,
Arf, Arf, upon the lampost bright
Arfing round the bend.
Nice dog! Goo boy,
Waggie tail and beg,
Clever Nigel, jump for joy

Because we’re putting you to sleep at three of the clock, Nigel.


My dad used to read it to me and my brother when we were little and it still makes me chuckle today.

Chris.

 

[gatorlope]

Hunters’ Moon
(6/4/2001- 1:25 AM)

I woke up suddenly tonight,
I hadn’t moved from where I’d lain to sleep,
I’d been exhausted and slept so deep,
But I woke to see my windows bright.

I quietly moved to the pane
And I could see my yard as if it were daylight,
Even though it was still very near to midnight,
It truly was very strange.

To see the world swathed in moonlight.
Unbidden, the thought shot into my brain,
From some predatory place where it had lain,
“My God!! It’s a Hunters’ Moon tonight!”

The world was lit to favor stalkers,
For nothing could be hidden from their sight
And on this beautifully lit June night
The world belongs to ghostly walkers.

I shivered with eerie delight,
To see the world before me so brightly lit,
I moved to the door and stepped out into it,
To stand bathed in that bright moonlight.

So I savored this contemplation,
As I stepped out into that nocturnal light,
Contemplating another Age when I might
Have sallied forth on this occasion...

Stalking game in a strangely lit night,
Going forth with flintlock, bow or spear in hand,
Venturing to hunt as a predatory man,
Taking advantage of bright moonlight.

This was indeed a spectral night,
Where one could freely walk and converse with ghosts,
Lunacy follows the full moon with spectral hosts,
Trying to sleep is futile tonight..

In truth, the moon is full two days hence,
A time when lunacy and crime prowl the night
And “righteous” folk lock their doors in fright,
To ward against evils’ influence.

It’s futile to guard against the light,
For it only unleashes what is in the heart,
Whether it’s good or evil, it’s only part
Of the dark beauty of the pale moonlight.

 

[aquadoc]

Grab any volume of poetry written by Bukowski and you will know manly poems.

"That's the problem with drinking, I thought, as I poured myself a drink. If something bad happens you drink in an attempt to forget; if something good happens you drink in order to celebrate; and if nothing happens you drink to make something happen."
—Charles Bukowski, Women

“Drink, f*** and smoke plenty of cigarettes.” — Charles Bukowski, Hot Water Music

 

[shanez]

 

[lochinvar]

Nearly forgot

"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die"
Abdul Alhazred.....or was it Lovecraft

 

[gamzultovah]

Nearly forgot

"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die"
Abdul Alhazred.....or was it Lovecraft

Reminiscent of this sonnet by John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

 

[gamzultovah]

The other angle here is an assumption of like-mindedness.

We here are like-minded only in that we enjoy the tobacco pipe.

Beyond that, we are all over the chart, just like every other sample group.

The same people that you have trouble spending time with in real life, you're likely to have trouble interacting with here when the topic strays from that one common bond.

Fortunately, our hosts do a fine job in keeping the worst of it pruned away.

The world's shortest poem?

Adam had 'em.

View attachment 2326

In my entire life I've never had any trouble with a person who smokes a pipe. Have I met posers who smoke a pipe, yes. But they normally don't have any inclination to associate was other pipers or the want to interact on such forums.

Now trolling I can better understand, but again, I've never met a person who smokes a pipe that I would consider inclined to troll. So, in this respect, I consider people of the briar likeminded.

Not that I'm thin skinned, but this feigning outrage and general whining discontent everywhere on the interweb is...well...extremely unmanly.

Unlike you and your style which is witty, biting, sardonic and sometimes, sarcastic. This I both get and enjoy. It is manly in it's own unique, poetic way.

 

[tobefrank]

I’ve always liked the below song lyrics by Faith No More.

Just A Man
Sky is clear tonight
Sky is clear tomorrow

A star is out
I reach for one to sparkle in my hand
A star is out
I will not touch you, I am just a man

Sky is clear tonight
Sky is clear tomorrow

And every night I shut my eyes
So I don't have to see the light
Shining so bright
I'll dream about a cloudy sky, a cloudy sky

"Man was born to love
Though often he has sought
Like Icarus, to fly too high.
And far too lonely than he ought
To kiss the sum of east and west
And hold the world at his behest
To hold the terrible power
To whom only gods are blessed
But me, I am just a man"

And every night I shut my eyes
So I don't have to see the light
Shining so bright
I'll dream about a cloudy sky, a cloudy sky

And every night I shut my eyes
But now I've got them open wide
You've fallen into my hands
And now you're burning me
You're burning me

 

[jaytex1969]

In my entire life I've never had any trouble with a person who smokes a pipe....

I concur. The big problem, in my opinion, is the "manufactured" outrage coming from media and a few fringe organizations (in both directions, politically).

I know I begin to tread dangerously in actually discussing national problems, but life is all interconnected.

Two generations ago, men and women of reason and opposed philosophies went into a room and stayed there until they found the workable solution for everyone.

A few loud, stingy, whiny fucks in each camp decided we all HAD to be thin skinned, easily offended drama queens over EVERY THING.

The media focused on these worst elements, as media always does and the wingnuts on both ends continued to froth and flail until they got their "movement".

Most civilized humans lived closer to the well adjusted center before this mass brain washing occurred and we were able to shake hands, look one another in the eye and find enough common purchase for accomplishment.

Now, we've devolved into mimicking chimpanzees flinging poo and screeching at one another, from the top offices of the land to the average person on the street.

Once we figure out how to disenfranchise this mindless 2 party opposition that the founders warned us of, we might get back to the business of the pursuit of happiness.

IBTL, haha...

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I concur. The big problem, in my opinion, is the "manufactured" outrage coming from media and a few fringe organizations (in both directions, politically).

I have had maybe five people cough as I walked by smoking my pipe. I have traveled quite a bit, and I have yet to find a Starbucks that doesn't allow me to smoke at their tables outside, most restaurants also. Overwhelmingly, I hear praises for pipes when I am out and about with mine.

But, of course I am nice, smile, and I try my best not to look offensive in any way.

When I am faced with anti-smoking posters and policies, I always ask if this pertains to pipes, and never has anyone told me that it did. It was always those evil goat fucking cigarettes that they are opposed to. And, I agree with the hatred of those things 100%. Even when smoking my pipes, if someone wants to set next to me and smoke a cigarette, I start coughing and move away from the rude son of a bitch.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Then there's this:
Paul Revere’s Ride
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"LISTEN, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light, —
One, if by land, and two, if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm.”

From The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1903

More at LINK to complete poem

 

[gamzultovah]

I concur. The big problem, in my opinion, is the "manufactured" outrage coming from media and a few fringe organizations (in both directions, politically).

I know I begin to tread dangerously in actually discussing national problems, but life is all interconnected.

Two generations ago, men and women of reason and opposed philosophies went into a room and stayed there until they found the workable solution for everyone.

A few loud, stingy, whiny fucks in each camp decided we all HAD to be thin skinned, easily offended drama queens over EVERY THING.

The media focused on these worst elements, as media always does and the wingnuts on both ends continued to froth and flail until they got their "movement".

Most civilized humans lived closer to the well adjusted center before this mass brain washing occurred and we were able to shake hands, look one another in the eye and find enough common purchase for accomplishment.

Now, we've devolved into mimicking chimpanzees flinging poo and screeching at one another, from the top offices of the land to the average person on the street.

Once we figure out how to disenfranchise this mindless 2 party opposition that the founders warned us of, we might get back to the business of the pursuit of happiness.

IBTL, haha...

View attachment 2541

I agree with everything you wrote, Jay. I was hoping to avoid that here...but I guess I'm just going to have to look the other way if I'm going to enjoy this forum. Thanks.

 

[weezell]

Now, we've devolved into mimicking chimpanzees flinging poo and screeching at one another,

Spider monkeys please, chimps are smarter than that (us)...

 

[Chasing Embers]

Spider monkeys please,

Okay, I can live with that.

 

[danimalia]

Has anyone mentioned Wilfred Owen? He was an officer in the British military during WWI and died there, and wrote some of the most devastating war poetry. Here are a couple

Disabled

BY WILFRED OWEN
He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark,
And shivered in his ghastly suit of grey,
Legless, sewn short at elbow. Through the park
Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn,
Voices of play and pleasure after day,
Till gathering sleep had mothered them from him.

* * * * *

About this time Town used to swing so gay
When glow-lamps budded in the light-blue trees,
And girls glanced lovelier as the air grew dim,—
In the old times, before he threw away his knees.
Now he will never feel again how slim
Girls' waists are, or how warm their subtle hands,
All of them touch him like some queer disease.

* * * * *

There was an artist silly for his face,
For it was younger than his youth, last year.
Now, he is old; his back will never brace;
He's lost his colour very far from here,
Poured it down shell-holes till the veins ran dry,
And half his lifetime lapsed in the hot race
And leap of purple spurted from his thigh.

* * * * *

One time he liked a blood-smear down his leg,
After the matches carried shoulder-high.
It was after football, when he'd drunk a peg,
He thought he'd better join. He wonders why.
Someone had said he'd look a god in kilts.
That's why; and maybe, too, to please his Meg,
Aye, that was it, to please the giddy jilts,
He asked to join. He didn't have to beg;
Smiling they wrote his lie: aged nineteen years.
Germans he scarcely thought of, all their guilt,
And Austria's, did not move him. And no fears
Of Fear came yet. He thought of jewelled hilts
For daggers in plaid socks; of smart salutes;
And care of arms; and leave; and pay arrears;
Esprit de corps; and hints for young recruits.
And soon, he was drafted out with drums and cheers.

* * * * *

Some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer Goal.
Only a solemn man who brought him fruits
Thanked him; and then inquired about his soul.

* * * * *

Now, he will spend a few sick years in institutes,
And do what things the rules consider wise,
And take whatever pity they may dole.
Tonight he noticed how the women's eyes
Passed from him to the strong men that were whole.
How cold and late it is! Why don't they come
And put him into bed? Why don't they come?

Anthem for Doomed Youth

BY WILFRED OWEN
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
— Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Wifred Owen! Good find. I immediately thought of tear gas when I saw his name.

 

[puffermark]

To be recited with Aussie accent:

As I was walking through Earl's Court,
into a pub I was lured.
Where a nosy pom asked "Where you from?"
as I downed the amber fluid.

I said "Get it straight, I'm an Aussie mate,
and I'm fixing to get plastered.
'Cos the beer is crook, and the birds all look like you,
you pommy ba...."

 

[jpmcwjr]

Hmmm. The one above is manly if you consider inviting someone to punch you out in a pub is a "manly" pursuit.