These are poems performed by the author, L. J. Callis, at the 2019 Mews Poetry Slam, an annual event that takes place at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.
“Rest, Our Separation is Temporary” Written and Performed by L. J. Callis
This is a poem performed by the author, L. J. Callis, at the 2019 Mews Poetry Slam.
“Appreciate The Present” by L. J. Callis
just for a moment
pause
and enjoy the calm
of this brief period of time
you are here
you are breathing
you are living
taking this for granted
is a fatal mistake
that will leave you
regretting the past,
always neglecting the present
one will never find joy
in the future.
Photograph made available by Murtaza Vora via Unsplash
“Bigger Picture” by L. J. Callis
to be so occupied with
“the bigger picture”
one loses sight of
the little things,
this dismissal of detail
dulls the perception
of life’s craftsmanship,
nature in its entirety
is beautiful
but the smaller aspects of nature
make it so
life in its entirety
is beautiful
but the smaller aspects of life
make it so
trees, flowers, grass
days, moments, memories
beautiful works
are accumulations of
beautiful detail.
Photograph made available by pine watt via Unsplash
“My People” by L. J. Callis
within a crowd of people
a mass of unknown personalities
i’m unfamiliar
yet i feel familiar
none are relatives
yet i feel related
we share no lineage
yet i feel connection
these people
all these people
i feel are family
all these people
are my people
my people
are all people.
Photograph made available by Christopher Burns via Unsplash
“What Do I Know?” by L. J. Callis
questions arise,
in a pursuit for answers
i know more
questions arise,
in a search for truth
i know more
questions continue to arise
i continue to seek answers
because the only truth i know of
is that i know nothing.
Photograph made available by Evan Dennis via Unsplash
“Image of the World” by L. J. Callis
instead of ourselves
we look at the world
and deem it corrupt
instead of ourselves
we look at the world
and deem it wicked
the world we see is simply a mirror
reflecting our inner most character
we see the world as corrupt
as we stare at ourselves
we see the world as wicked
as we stare at ourselves
to alter this image
we must alter ourselves.
Photograph made available by João Silas via Unsplash
“Cherish Your Memories pt. 2” by L. J. Callis
start of life
a blank canvas
ready to be painted by the
coloration of memories
you, the artist
blindfolded
each moment
each second
a stroke of the brush
each stroke
should be held dear
this is your life
a collaboration of countless
brushstrokes
creating a portrait
of your very existence
each moment
each memory
is meaningful
cherish each and every one of them.
Photography made available by Andrew Buchanan via Unsplash
“Cherish Your Memories” by L. J. Callis
see the beauty in passing moments
as they turn to memories
moments that can never be
replicated, do not be saddened
memories are of which that
cannot be taken away
memories are precious belongings
marked with an everlasting signature of whom they belong to
find joy in owning them.
Photograph made available by Jon Tyson via Unsplash
