VoicesNet.com Recent Poems of Deanna C. Dilley - Copyright for all poems displayed belong to author

HUNGER by Deanna C. Dilley

9/9/2008

When I am hungry,
I go to the fridge and grab a yogurt.
I don't often think of those living without.
Yet some only have one chicken to feed a family of nine.
Others have sacrificed clothing and shelter to feed their children.
Many children don't attend school,
simply because there's no money for pens and paper.

There has always been a deeper hunger.
A hunger to give,
has often plagued many.
Our televisions plaster these faces on the screen.
What do we do?
We sit back and wonder,
who's going to take care of them.

There is a hunger for sincere happiness.
These children and their families
were never before given a chance.
They're all born in poverty,
like the many generations before.
Someone needs to step forward.
She needs to take a stand.

One day this hunger needs to die.
Many lives no longer will be in despair.
Aults and children will have plenty to eat.
They'll have money to spare.
Schools will be filled with once savaged children.
A hunger so deep,
will never again live on empty.

Hunger by Deanna C. Dilley

9/9/2008

When I am hungry,
I go to the fridge and grab a yogurt.
I don't often think of those living without.
Yet some only have one chicken to feed a family of nine.
Others have sacrificed clothing and shelter to feed their children.
Many children don't attend school,
simply because there's no money for pens and paper.

There has always been a deeper hunger.
A hunger to give,
has often plagued many.
Our televisions plaster these faces on the screen.
What do we do?
We sit back and wonder,
who's going to take care of them.

There is a hunger for sincere happiness.
These children and their families
were never before given a chance.
They're all born in poverty,
like the many generations before.
Someone needs to step forward.
She needs to take a stand.

One day this hunger needs to die.
Many lives no longer will be in despair.
Adults and children will have plenty to eat.
They'll have money to spare.
Schools will be filled with once savaged children.
A hunger so deep,
will never again live on empty.

The Spender and the Saver by Deanna C. Dilley

9/9/2008

Twenty dollars for a new shirt.
Seventy dollars to buy a purse.
The spender throws away money whenever she can.
Eighteen dollars for a CD.
Better wait until there's a sale.
The saver thinks twice before paying full price.

Must buy a bracelet to go with the necklace.
Always get a book when it first comes out.
The spender never knows when to stop.
Why buy a mini van for just you and the dog?
If the movie wasn't rated well, why even go?
The saver considers all options before committing.

Everyone has those shoes!
The art work might do in the bedroom.
The spender buys everything on impulse.
Does this outfit even look good on me?
Who needs fancy restaurants,
when you can pay half price for something just as good?
The saver carefully plans for the future.

The Ring Master by Deanna C. Dilley

9/9/2008

"Here ye! Here ye!
Come one! Come all!"
The ring master steps into the center ring.
In his red striped pants,
white shirt, and red jacket with a matching bow tie,
isn't he the silliest sight you've ever seen?
His mustache practically touches his chin
and he carries a cane, of which he does not need.
He tips his hat as he announces each act.
Circus performers come out one by one;
or maybe ten by ten.
The ring master disappears into thin air.
He reappears just as fast.
"Here ye! Here ye!
Wasn't that the greatest show you've ever seen?"

Clowning Around by Deanna C. Dilley

9/9/2008

Putting on face paints and funny wigs,
the clowns get ready for their next act.
Multi-colored outfits;
with shoes twenty sizes too large
complete all their wardrobes.
A dozen clowns climb out of the smallest car they can find.
Balloon animals and funny hats;
shooting out of canons and acrobats.
Some always smile,
while others always frown.
Some act like they don't know what's going on.
At carnivals and parades;
at every circus you attend.
Turn round and round.
Everywhere you look,
clowns can be found.
Join in on all the fun,
while your favorite clowns simply clown around.

One More Day by Deanna C. Dilley

9/6/2007

If I could be given anything in the world,
this is what I'd choose.
I would ask for one more day.
Yes, one more day to be with you.
I'd love to hear one more joke.
I want to take one more walk.
I need to hold your hand one more time.
You are my hero,
my soulmate and friend.
We may be two different people;
but together, we're one.
If I could be given anything in the world,
this is what I'd choose.
I would ask for one more day.
Oh yes, please let me have just one more day.
I'd give anything to be with you
for just one more day.

Under the Sea by Deanna C. Dilley

9/6/2007

Crabs of red and snails of green
find their pleasure under the sea.
Schools of fish flap their gills,
while they avoid big old sharks.
Whales around in the dark.
Dolphins splash and mermaids sing.
This is life under the sea.

The Yahtzee! Challenge by Deanna C. Dilley

9/5/2007

Count up your ones;
then twos and threes.
Count up your fours;
then fives and sixes.
Roll the dice for
three of a kind.
Four of a kind
falls just behind.
Collect thirty points
for a small straight;
or forty for the large.
Fifty equals Yahtzee!
Keep rolling dice
until your board is clear.
Receive a score of sixty-three
for a top row bonus of thirty-five.
Roll a second Yahtzee!
or even a third.
This helps the player
earn mega points.
My high score was 611.
Let's just see if you can beat that!

HOPE by Deanna C. Dilley

9/30/2007

You can hope you don't get arrested.
But what if you're the one who set up the robbery?
You can hope no one gets hurt.
But what if you're the one who initiated the argument?
To hope is to pretend nothing bad
will come out of your actions.
Why do God's children have to learn the hard way?

You can hope your son will get a good education.
But what if you were a high school dropout?
You can hope your daughter will make a decent living.
But what if you keep jumping from job to job?
To hope is to act like
everything comes down to you from the sky.
Children tend to look up to their parents for guidence.
What good does it do when you only show bad examples?

You can hope the children will be good role models.
But how can this happen if you were never there?
You can hope that someday the world will change.
But what happens if you don't take a stand?
To hope is to pray something good will develop.
However, to change is to take action
and create a better tomorrow.

Working Mishaps by Deanna C. Dilley

9/3/2007

Having to get up early in the morning
just to do your thing.
Eating breakfast on the run
as you jump into your car.
Sit in traffic for what seems like all day.
Pull in the parking lot
to find your spot's been taken.
Run into the office right at eight.
Turn on the computer
to find the system has crashed.
Sit in a meeting and find out
half the company is being laid off.
What more could go wrong?
Be the first to get canned.
Forget to pick up your paycheck
and have to turn around and go back.
Go home and start all over again
looking for a job.

This Is Who We Are by Deanna C. Dilley

9/28/2007

We use braille.
We use signing.
This is how we read and talk.
We use wheelchairs.
We use crutches.
This is how we get about.
We wear glasses.
We wear hearing aids.
This is how we see and hear.
We have hand-controlled cars.
We have specialized buses.
This how we get back and forth.
We have different names.
We have different families.
This is how we are like you.
We go to school.
We go to work.
This makes us more like you.
We may be a little slow.
We might need some extra help.
This never stops us from being who we are.
We might be disabled.
We might look sightly different.
This is Planet Earth
where no two people are alike.
We are individuals.
We have all the same right as you.
Don't discriminate against us,
because we all have
some type of handicap.
Underneath it all,
we can all shout:
"We Are Human! This Is Who We Are!"

The Beauty of Humanity by Deanna C. Dilley

9/28/2007

We are a mix of colors
from white to yellow to red to brown.
We all have different names
based on different backgrounds.
There are reasons why
no one is just like another.
We stand out as a huge part
of the beauty of humanity.
As some walk and talk
without much difficulty;
Others roll around in wheelchairs
and are unable to make a sound.
Some can see ten feet away.
While others have never seen
their own bodies.
We have reasons why no one is the same.
We're able to stand out
in the beauty of humanity.
As many children learn to tie shoes;
There are adults who never
buttoned their shirts.
Everyone competes against each other.
Boys and girls run track
to stay in shape.
Others use crutches as hockey sticks.
It doesn't matter if you're born
rich or poor.
Everyone needs exercise
in order to remain healthy.
Who wouldn't want to enjoy
the beauty of humanity?
We can sing with our voices
and with our hands.
We play piano
even if we can not see.
Even with one arm
someone can still play the drums.
We have created our own harmony
in the beauty of humanity.

Yes I Can by Deanna C. Dilley

9/28/2007

If I had a desire,
could I climb a mountain?
Could I sail the seven seas?
It may be a stetch
and not likely to happen.
I don't read music
or play an instrument.
Could I perform in Nashville?
That is highly doubtful.
I have multiple disabilities.
Can I work at a real job?
Can I get a paycheck just like you?
Yes I can!
I love to watch baseball;
but can I play at my leisure?
My arms do not straighten.
Can I hold a bowling ball?
Yes I can!
My vision is poor.
Can I see a computer?
I do not drive.
Can I attend various social events?
Can I hang out with my friends?
Yes I can!
If I put my mind to it,
can I be a normal person?
Can I live a normal life?
With the proper equipment,
can I do things the same
as everyone else?
Yes I can! Yes I Can! YES I CAN!

The Tale of Slayer by Deanna C. Dilley

9/27/2007

They pulled him from the wreckage
on a dark and gloomy night.
No one saw it coming;
Yet six cars were involved.
Witnesses swarmed around them.
Sirens blared into the air.
All victims disappeared into ashes.
Except one who could only be
identified as Slayer.
No knew his real name.
As Slayer's body was exposed,
strange things began to occur.
Buildings caught fire simultaneously.
Vehicles began to explode.
It was impossible to know
what could be happening;
for no one has experienced this before.
No Halloween could ever be the same.
As years went by,
Slayer was forgotten;
Until one night when everthing changed.
Visions of Slayer
suddenly appeared everywhere.
Yet no one remembered who he was.
As a small child bolted towards the street;
visible arms reached out,
but did not save the child.
Instead, cars slammed into each other
left and right.
Buildings burst into flames.
As people turned to ashes,
everyone began to remember
the historic tales of Slayer.
They pulled her from the wreckage.
Witnesses swarmed around her.
Sirens blasted through the air.
Halloween would never be the same.

Think Fast by Deanna C. Dilley

9/26/2007

Playing catch out in the yard,
Mikey steps into position.
He lifts his arm.
"Here, little bro, think fast!"
Sitting in traffic,
someone is on your tail.
He tries to cut you off.
In order to not have an accident,
you need to think fast.
As a group surrounds a swimming pool,
Lyndsey falls in and nearly drowns.
Lifeguards on duty need to
think fast to do their jobs.
Numbers appear rapidly on the screen.
As I type, I need to think fast;
yet I can't make a mistake.
Customers come in and out.
They are starving and must be fed.
Waiters and waitresses run back and forth.
They must think fast on their feet.
"Wait a minute! Did that fish sandwich
belong on table 6 or table 3?"
As we all know,
whether you're playing a game
or taking care of a baby;
no matter the situation,
everyone needs to think fast!

Haunted House on Dark Angel Cove by Deanna C. Dilley

9/26/2007

It was a cold and dreary night,
just before Halloween.
Party shops were out of costumes
long before.
At Halloween parties throughout
the country,
almost anyone or anything imaginable
would be found.
However, nothing could prepare you
for this evil night.
One Haunted House on Dark Angel Cove
has suddenly come to life.
Many have come through here
in the years passed by.
But tonight no one would
be allowed to leave.
A teenaged boy in a Devil suit
is making nightmares come true.
His horns flare when trick-or-treaters
run passed.
Flames engulf all around him;
and nobody will escape.
Bodies placed in coffins
no longer jump out.
You see evil creatures everywhere;
yet no one makes a sound.
Flashing lights have all gone dim.
All that's seen is the Devil's glow.
You might as well say your
"good-byes" early;
'Cause once you enter that
Haunted House on Dark Angel Cove
and you see the teenaged Devil's flame,
there is little hope in getting
out alive.

Love Is A Sin by Deanna C. Dilley

9/26/2007

To say that you love me
should be a sin.
I know in my heart that you really
don't mean it.
You have ladies surround you
where ever you go.
You say they meant nothing,
but I know it's all a lie.
We've been together so long;
yet you never cared.

To say that you love me
must be a sin.
I've known forever that you would
much rather be with them.
I thought I could rely on you
when I needed a hand.
I thought I could depend on you
to lift my spirits.
Instead, you put the shame
in shameful.
You inserted the sin
in sinful.
I never will understand why
you are making me say "good-bye."

To say that you love me
has got to be a sin.
I never meant anything to you.
I have just begun to realize why.
You are the one
I thought I would marry.
Somehow I never fit
into your plans.
I watch other couples;
as happy as can be.
I wonder why you can't
be that way with me.

I Can't Stop Thinking by Deanna C. Dilley

9/26/2007

I can't stop thinking about
that boy down the road.
His hair is chocolate brown
and smells like his shampoo.
Dark, deepset eyes are wild
and full of hope and grace.
He's the one I would love
to be with forever more.

I can't stop thinking about
the boy stepping on my toes.
He's in a black tux.
I wear a dark green sparkling dress.
We are at our senior prom
and have just been crowned
King and Queen!

I can't stop thinking about
the man by my side.
Again, he wears a black tux.
I'm in a long white dress.
We're about to say "I do!"
At the reception,
he still can not dance.
But that is OK,
because I love him anyway.

I can't stop thinking about
the man in my bed.
We've been through so much.
And yet, he still seems to amaze me.
I never imagined that boy down the road
would become my husband
and I his wife.
Babies are running are all through the house;
And to think they came from me
and the boy down the road.

I can't stop thinking about
the man that I love.
Our children are grown.
It's back to just the two of us.
His dark chocolate hair
has turned to silver.
I just color mine.
I never thought we'd grow old together;
But at last, we have
and I can't complain.

We've gone from little children
without a clue
to teens who thought we knew everything.
From there, we moved on to
becoming newlyweds.
We had a family.
Now our children have children
of their own.

I can't stop thinking about
the man who's given me purpose.
As children, we ran away from each other.
Now we run, but we're closer
than ever.
Who knew this could be the same boy
from down the road?

Team Spirit by Deanna C. Dilley

9/23/2007

Are you a fan of football,
soccer or tennis?
Do you sit in the stands
and remain silent?
Do you stand up and scream
when your team gets a score?
This is called team spirit.
Are you found in the background;
not wanting to be seen?
Or are you sporting your team colors
and waiting for the game?
Now this is true team spirit.
Do you refuse to wear your
opponent's colors?
Are you only wearing your team's logo?
Here's some definent team spirit.
Do you know the stats
of every player on your team?
Do you have memoralbilia
throughout your home?
You are showing your team spirit.
Are you the coach for baseball,
basketball or track?
Can you wait until next season?
If your favorite colors
are the same as your team's;
then there is your team spirit.

With God's Strength by Deanna C. Dilley

9/23/2007

With God's strength,
I can do most anything.
I could be a doctor or actress
or lawyer.
But those just aren't my thing.
I could be a pilot or boat captain
or soldier.
but those were never in my interests.

With God's strength,
I will know who I am.
Things are not good all of the time.
Everyone has their pitfalls.
As God's arms wrap around me,
I can be more calm.

With God's strength,
I'm a better person.
I am a daughter, grandchild,
cousin and niece.
I am a teacher, poet,
banker and neighbor.

With God's strength,
I will be a better being.
I'm an animal lover,
owner and care taker.
I am a helper,
woman and friend.

With God's strength,
I can do most anything.
Rather than being someone I'm not;
I'd much rather be the woman
God wanted me to be.