Jenn’s Top Ten
(er….12 or 13)
(er….12 or 13)
Asking a poet to name her top 10 poems is like asking a pianist to choose the finger she favors most while playing. It’s an impossibility. English majors everywhere are constantly being asked, “What’s your favorite book?” As if we knew! We read so many, and have so many favorites! We automatically spout out a list of top five or ten- and more often than not, there are works that “tie” with others for a certain placement.
So here we are.
I chose these poems for two simple reasons: 1) They are my favorites of all the favorites, and 2) because they really illustrate the incredible eccentricity of my personality. Not to mention, I have quite the variety! These perfectly poetic pieces span the spectrum of culture, gender, theme, and tone. Somewhere along the line, these poems piqued my attention and kept it, which is somewhat difficult. I remember these from childhood, high school, and college.
13. “The Raven” Edgar Allen Poe
12. “Women Are Not Roses” Ana Castillo
11. Tie between “Jabberwocky” and
Excerpts from “The Walrus and the Carpenter” Lewis Carroll
10. “The Goblin Market” Christina Rosetti
9. Tie between “Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too” and
“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” Shel Silverstein
8. “Harlem” Langston Hughes
7. “Pretty Girl” Ani Difranco
6. “The Mother” Gwendolyn Brooks
5. “288” Emily Dickinson
4. “Fog” Carl Sandburg
3. 3-way tie between Excerpt from Berowne’s Soliloquy from Love’s Labor’s Lost, Sonnet
130, and Sonnet 141. Billy Shakespeare
2. “Where I Stand” Jennifer Lowery
1. “This be the Day” Jennifer Lowery
It's not my #1, but it's my favorite to perform:
Where I Stand
You think I’m just gonna
stand back and take it
fake a smile and let you break
my heart as you sit there
and scream you don’t believe me
you try to deceive me
how can I conceive you
and your man-made rambling
it’s your soul you’re gambling
and your world’s in a shambles
you think I’m gonna
stand back and smile
all the while when you mock me
and pretend to drop to your knees
and say you’ll do anything for me
anything nothing nothing’s real
it’s all about how you feel
and you steal the words right from my mouth
as I give a witness
and try to resist
this garbage that you’re spewing.
you don’t wanna start a fight with me,
you’d rather spend the night with me,
sorry, bud,
I’m off limits to all but the Almighty,
the one who came to die for you,
not lie to you
or belittle your non-committal soul
into confusion
get away from the illusion you’re believing
your scratched scarred soul is grieving
from the punches you’ve endured
but I’ve heard
that Christ can cure,
just open up the word.
find out on your own
you’ll never be alone.
take a look around you
seems to me that He has found you
he’s hoping praying
that you come back to him
and feel the cool calm collected comfort
your father was never man enough to give.
feelings go through you like a sieve
it’s time to stop talking and live
give a gift amidst these spouts of rage
that you have to face from day to day
know that you’re loved by the one
who sacrificed his most beloved Son
just to see you to hear you to be near you
and clear your conscience of all this nonsense.
so your confidence is shot
it’s time to SH or get off the pot.
the question is: are you brave enough?
you already rant and rave enough.
it’s time to give up control
to the one who holds
you in the palm of His hand
he’s made the master plan
fashioned stars and grains of sand.
you see but don’t understand
that He’s there with outstretched hands
you think that I’m gonna sit back and take it?
I’ll tell you where I stand.
You think I’m gonna
run and hide
as you spout all these lies?
you think I fear your persecution?
I have the ultimate solution
that solves everything
answers all your questioning.
stops you from tryin to get the best of me
realize harmonize advertise
the truth I’m telling you now
don’t even ask me how
let us be on our way
the way the truth the life
has nothing to do with might being right
fear nothing, especially drunken nonsense
from fools who don’t even listen to their own conscience.
you think I’m gonna
cross my arms and believe your attempts
when it surely seems Satan’s spent
a lot of time to refine your soul so black
but we still want you back
retract, retract!
You think I’m gonna
stand in the shadow that you’ve made?
you think I’ll run away but I’ve stayed
right here in front of you
cause I can see through
the façade, the lies that you
wrap so tightly around you
so no one can hurt you.
I see the boy with the tear-stained eyes
who just wants someone
to hold his hand when he cries
you think I’m gonna
stand back and let you pass me by
when you’re walking down the street and need a ride?
you think I’m out to hurt your pride?
or make your chin fall as you stride?
pride aside, I’ll confide the bona fide
truth and love that you
don’t know about
because you’re so busy shouting
at me that I can’t get a word in
if you just heard it
and opened your heat, the seed would start
you’d be off like a shot in the right direction
a highlight for that dark complexion
a token of God’s affection
was in the resurrection
You think I think I’m perfection?
far from it, but I strive to become it
I’d like to share it with you
cause He’s not just for me but everyone too
all I have left to do
is pray for you
You think I’m gonna
throw in the towel and say "I’m through"?
I’m on a mission
to stop you from dismissin
I’m not here to save
I’m here to let you know he gave his life to save
You
how many times will you get on your knees
and beg me please
all you have to do is believe
in the one who sees
all your scars and bruises
and knows you’re hurt and confused
but He’s prayin you return
so you don’t burn
you think I’m gonna
walk away and let you suffer?
move on to another
who cries out for help
from the welts from daddy’s belt?
plant the seed,
seed blooms into an idea
idea ignites the flame
and you realize you can’t blame
it all on everyone else
when you feel you’re by yourself.
God is always there for you
Christ is pleadin a prayer for you
Holy Spirit’s spoutin a flare for you
think I’ve hit a snare for you.
get off your knees,
unfold your hands
hold your head up like a man
understand
spouted raging communication
will never ever break my foundation
of the best lovers who love the most
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
think I’m tryin to reprimand?
no, I’m just telling ya where I stand.
JLML 7.18.05
Where I Stand
You think I’m just gonna
stand back and take it
fake a smile and let you break
my heart as you sit there
and scream you don’t believe me
you try to deceive me
how can I conceive you
and your man-made rambling
it’s your soul you’re gambling
and your world’s in a shambles
you think I’m gonna
stand back and smile
all the while when you mock me
and pretend to drop to your knees
and say you’ll do anything for me
anything nothing nothing’s real
it’s all about how you feel
and you steal the words right from my mouth
as I give a witness
and try to resist
this garbage that you’re spewing.
you don’t wanna start a fight with me,
you’d rather spend the night with me,
sorry, bud,
I’m off limits to all but the Almighty,
the one who came to die for you,
not lie to you
or belittle your non-committal soul
into confusion
get away from the illusion you’re believing
your scratched scarred soul is grieving
from the punches you’ve endured
but I’ve heard
that Christ can cure,
just open up the word.
find out on your own
you’ll never be alone.
take a look around you
seems to me that He has found you
he’s hoping praying
that you come back to him
and feel the cool calm collected comfort
your father was never man enough to give.
feelings go through you like a sieve
it’s time to stop talking and live
give a gift amidst these spouts of rage
that you have to face from day to day
know that you’re loved by the one
who sacrificed his most beloved Son
just to see you to hear you to be near you
and clear your conscience of all this nonsense.
so your confidence is shot
it’s time to SH or get off the pot.
the question is: are you brave enough?
you already rant and rave enough.
it’s time to give up control
to the one who holds
you in the palm of His hand
he’s made the master plan
fashioned stars and grains of sand.
you see but don’t understand
that He’s there with outstretched hands
you think that I’m gonna sit back and take it?
I’ll tell you where I stand.
You think I’m gonna
run and hide
as you spout all these lies?
you think I fear your persecution?
I have the ultimate solution
that solves everything
answers all your questioning.
stops you from tryin to get the best of me
realize harmonize advertise
the truth I’m telling you now
don’t even ask me how
let us be on our way
the way the truth the life
has nothing to do with might being right
fear nothing, especially drunken nonsense
from fools who don’t even listen to their own conscience.
you think I’m gonna
cross my arms and believe your attempts
when it surely seems Satan’s spent
a lot of time to refine your soul so black
but we still want you back
retract, retract!
You think I’m gonna
stand in the shadow that you’ve made?
you think I’ll run away but I’ve stayed
right here in front of you
cause I can see through
the façade, the lies that you
wrap so tightly around you
so no one can hurt you.
I see the boy with the tear-stained eyes
who just wants someone
to hold his hand when he cries
you think I’m gonna
stand back and let you pass me by
when you’re walking down the street and need a ride?
you think I’m out to hurt your pride?
or make your chin fall as you stride?
pride aside, I’ll confide the bona fide
truth and love that you
don’t know about
because you’re so busy shouting
at me that I can’t get a word in
if you just heard it
and opened your heat, the seed would start
you’d be off like a shot in the right direction
a highlight for that dark complexion
a token of God’s affection
was in the resurrection
You think I think I’m perfection?
far from it, but I strive to become it
I’d like to share it with you
cause He’s not just for me but everyone too
all I have left to do
is pray for you
You think I’m gonna
throw in the towel and say "I’m through"?
I’m on a mission
to stop you from dismissin
I’m not here to save
I’m here to let you know he gave his life to save
You
how many times will you get on your knees
and beg me please
all you have to do is believe
in the one who sees
all your scars and bruises
and knows you’re hurt and confused
but He’s prayin you return
so you don’t burn
you think I’m gonna
walk away and let you suffer?
move on to another
who cries out for help
from the welts from daddy’s belt?
plant the seed,
seed blooms into an idea
idea ignites the flame
and you realize you can’t blame
it all on everyone else
when you feel you’re by yourself.
God is always there for you
Christ is pleadin a prayer for you
Holy Spirit’s spoutin a flare for you
think I’ve hit a snare for you.
get off your knees,
unfold your hands
hold your head up like a man
understand
spouted raging communication
will never ever break my foundation
of the best lovers who love the most
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
think I’m tryin to reprimand?
no, I’m just telling ya where I stand.
JLML 7.18.05
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