Hope

Hope

by Michael Espinoza



The morning star laments the dark of night,
Ere even raised is sun into the sky.
Likewise is death the universal fright;
Yet raised the dead are, ne'er again to die.

It's Over

It's Over

by Michael Espinoza



It's over!  It's finished!
And hardly diminished
Is this poet's poetry touch.

They aren't the best,
But it was a test,
And I thank you people so much.

A month now has passed,
And I stand aghast,
As thirty new poems I see.

This challenge thus given
By NaPo has driven
The writing of poems by me!

I thank all the folk
At the website, no joke,
And any new readers I've got.

Thanks for being with me,
Reading my poetry;
I thank you a heck of a lot!

The Caterpillar Who Wanted to Be a Flower

The Caterpillar Who Wanted to Be a Flower

by Michael Espinoza



Flowers take root and they grow into beautiful plants.
They blossom into many colors, for fine decoration.
While seeds aren't beautiful, each one is given the chance
To grow into rose, tulip, pansy, or even carnation.

He wanted to be a fine flower, but that could not be.
They all told him he was no seed, so he'd better forget it.
A small caterpillar was what he was, ugly to see.
But he would have destiny lovely, if only he'd let it.

He envied the flowers--why couldn't he take root and grow?
Why was a fine blossom beyond his reach?  It wasn't fair.
He thought about all of the flower kinds that he did know,
Not only the common, but also exotic and rare.

He thought that he wanted to be first one kind, then another,
And then to be hybrid of all the most beautiful kind.
He didn't feel comfortable telling this to his mother,
Especially since he just couldn't yet make up his mind.

He loved many flowers, but each one had flaws that he saw.
Too big, or too small, or else lacking in colors enough.
And just when he thought that he had it, a dealbreaking flaw
Presented itself, so he thought about alternate stuff.

And all that he did in the meanwhile was eat and stay there.
He hated depending on others to get himself food.
If he were a flower, he'd make his own food from the air,
And the soil and the sunlight, and water--that brightened his mood.

But he was no flower--he needed to eat and to eat,
And he was no beauty to look at, no more than a worm.
He didn't get anywhere, even with myriad feet.
He felt like a pestilence, vermin--he felt like a germ.

The more that he thought about what kind of flower to be,
The more that he thought that there was no such kind upon earth.
He realized his thoughts led to flitting from flower to tree,
A butterfly, what he was meant to be ever since birth.

But what was so special about being small butterfly?
They had no roots, couldn't grow taller like flowers--oh no.
The world was not made for the butterflies fluttering by,
But flowers, who take their root somewhere and start thence to grow.

Why couldn't, at least, he be flower before butterfly?
If only, if only--now trapped in his skin did he feel.
He locked himself into his chrysalis, starting to cry,
Just stuck in one place, till the day his cocoon starts to peel.

Can a small caterpillar who's ugly have destiny grand?
Will he make any friends who will help him his true self to be?
Is there hope that he might have existence that isn't so bland,
Isn't stuck to the underside of this small branch of his tree?

"I'm Gonna Compose Epic Poetry"

"I'm Gonna Compose Epic Poetry"

by Michael Espinoza



He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He set to work
(He set to work)
To write an epic poem
(To write an epic poem)
He set to work
(He set to work)
To write an epic poem
(To write an epic poem)
He set to work
(He set to work)
To write an epic poem
(To write an epic poem)
He knew he'd write an epic or he'd die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He read The Iliad
(He read The Iliad)
And The Odyssey
(And The Odyssey)
He read The Iliad
(He read The Iliad)
And The Odyssey
(And The Odyssey)
He read The Iliad
(He read The Iliad)
And The Odyssey
(And The Odyssey)
To help him write his epic poem or die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He had a great hero
(He had a great hero)
For his epic poem
(For his epic poem)
He had a great hero
(He had a great hero)
For his epic poem
(For his epic poem)
He had a great hero
(He had a great hero)
For his epic poem
(For his epic poem)
For his epic poem he would write or die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He had a mighty quest
(He had a mighty quest)
For his epic poem
(For his epic poem)
He had a mighty quest
(He had a mighty quest)
For his epic poem
(For his epic poem)
He had a mighty quest
(He had a mighty quest)
For his epic poem
(For his epic poem)
For his epic poem he would write or die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He wrote for thirty days
(He wrote for thirty days)
On his epic poem
(On his epic poem)
He wrote for thirty days
(He wrote for thirty days)
On his epic poem
(On his epic poem)
He wrote for thirty days
(He wrote for thirty days)
On his epic poem
(On his epic poem)
On his epic poem he would write or die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

Not even halfway done
(Not even halfway done)
Was his epic poem
(Was his epic poem)
Not even halfway done
(Not even halfway done)
Was his epic poem
(Was his epic poem)
Not even halfway done
(Not even halfway done)
Was his epic poem
(Was his epic poem)
Was his epic poem he would write or die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He wouldn't never give up
(He wouldn't never give up)
This epic poet to be
(This epic poet to be)
He wouldn't never give up
(He wouldn't never give up)
This epic poet to be
(This epic poet to be)
He wouldn't never give up
(He wouldn't never give up)
This epic poet to be
(This epic poet to be)
He'd write an epic poem or he'd die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He wrote for thirty days more
(He wrote for thirty days more)
And thirty after that
(And thirty after that)
He wrote for thirty days more
(He wrote for thirty days more)
And thirty after that
(And thirty after that)
He wrote for thirty days more
(He wrote for thirty days more)
And thirty after that
(And thirty after that)
On his epic poem he'd write or die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He finished it at last
(He finished it at last)
After ninety days
(After ninety days)
He finished it at last
(He finished it at last)
After ninety days
(After ninety days)
He finished it at last
(He finished it at last)
After ninety days
(After ninety days)
He wrote the epic poem he would write or die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He wasn't satisfied
(He wasn't satsfied)
After ninety days
(After ninety days)
He wasn't satisfied
(He wasn't satsfied)
After ninety days
(After ninety days)
He wasn't satisfied
(He wasn't satsfied)
After ninety days
(After ninety days)
It was no good, his poem he'd write or die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

The publisher said no
(The publisher said no)
And others said the same
(And others said the same)
The publisher said no
(The publisher said no)
And others said the same
(And others said the same)
The publisher said no
(The publisher said no)
And others said the same
(And others said the same)
They didn't want the poem he would write or die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He'd given it his all
(He'd given it his all)
And it wasn't any good
(And it wasn't any good)
He'd given it his all
(He'd given it his all)
And it wasn't any good
(And it wasn't any good)
He'd given it his all
(He'd given it his all)
And it wasn't any good
(And it wasn't any good)
This epic poem he would write or die a-tryin'.

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He'd fallen in despair
(He'd fallen in despair)
'Til a friend did say
('Til a friend did say)
"Don't die so young and fair"
("Don't die so young and fair")
"Don't you feel dismayed"
("Don't you feel dismayed")
"An epic poem's rare"
("An epic poem's rare")
"But look what you have made"
("But look what you have made")
"You've made the greatest children's folk song I have known."

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He thought about these words
(He thought about these words)
And you know what he did?
(And you know what he did?)
He thought about these words
(He thought about these words)
And you know what he did?
(And you know what he did?)
He thought about these words
(He thought about these words)
And you know what he did?
(And you know what he did?)
He sent his song to be recorded, and it was!

It was a hit with kids
(It was a hit with kids)
And with their parents, too
(And with their parents, too)
When life is on the skids
(When life is on the skids)
Do you know what to do?
(Do you know what to do?)
When inspiration bids
(When inspiration bids)
You do what's right for you
(You do what's right for you)
If it's not an epic poem, it's still good!

Now he's a famous man
(Now he's a famous man)
Singin' children's songs
(Singin' children's songs)
He should've known God's plan
(He should've known God's plan)
And known it all along
(And known it all along)
Both young and old are fans
(Both young and old are fans)
So how could this be wrong?
(So how could this be wrong?)
Didn't write an epic, but he didn't die a-tryin'!

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
He said, "I'm gonna compose"
(He said, "I'm gonna compose")
"Epic poetry"
("Epic poetry")
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."
"I'll be an epic poet or I'll die a-tryin'."

Betwixt and Between

Betwixt and Between

by Michael Espinoza



Though gifted with the skills of higher thought,
Suggesting intellectual career,
Professor, doctor, scientist are not
The kinds of occupations I would cheer.
I'm also good performing with my voice,
In acting and in singing---still, to be
A superstar is far from my first choice;
It isn't either job that's right for me.

Far better to combine the strengths of each:
Attracting folk with beauty, that I might
Put logical advice within their reach,
And thereby guide my audience aright.
But an endangered species is the task;
The how and why are questions that I ask.

One Traveler and Many Paths

One Traveler and Many Paths (inspired by "A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go")

by Michael Espinoza



One traveler and many paths!
("Hey there!" says Nonny!)
And whether it's verbal or whether it's maths--
(With a nonny, nonny, crock of baloney,
"Hey there!" says Oliver Nonny!)

The path, it runs away from him!
("Hey there!" says Nonny!)
And whether it's light out or whether it's dim--
(With a nonny, nonny, crock of baloney,
"Hey there!" says Oliver Nonny!)

"Now, really, this is not polite!"
("Hey there!" says Nonny!)
And whether it's wicked or whether it's right--
(With a nonny, nonny, crock of baloney,
"Hey there!" says Oliver Nonny!)

"You didn't even say goodbye!"
("Hey there!" says Nonny!)
And whether it's truthful or whether it's lie--
(With a nonny, nonny, crock of baloney,
"Hey there!" says Oliver Nonny!)

"I can't take several paths at once!"
("Hey there!" says Nonny!)
And whether he's genius or whether he's dunce--
(With a nonny, nonny, crock of baloney,
"Hey there!" says Oliver Nonny!)

"My head's in pain, I'm just one man!"
("Hey there!" says Nonny!)
And whether he couldn't or whether he can--
(With a nonny, nonny, crock of baloney,
"Hey there!" says Oliver Nonny!)

"You once seemed right, but now you're wrong!"
("Hey there!" says Nonny!)
And whether it's shortened or whether it's long--
(With a nonny, nonny, crock of baloney,
"Hey there!" says Oliver Nonny!)

"I think I've found--but I'm not sure--"
("Hey there!" says Nonny!)
And whether it's over or whether there's more--
(With a nonny, nonny, crock of baloney,
"Hey there!" says Oliver Nonny!)

And whether you're human or whether you're elves,
If you want any more, you can write it yourselves!
("Hey there!" says Oliver Nonny!)

Do Not Hope to be a Princess

Do Not Hope to be a Princess

by Michael Espinoza



Said the mother, "Daughter, heed me; you are blessed to herd the cattle.
Do not hope to be a princess, lest your husband die in battle.
Lest your sons within their coffins be returned to you to mourn them.
Though our stations be the lowest, rush not recklessly to scorn them.
Heed my words, my dearest daughter; do not think them idle prattle:
You were spared the misery of having kinfolk die in battle."