Poetry by Yon the Rhymester

Words from the Heart

An Army veteran writes with raw honesty — about homelessness, faith, storms, and the stubborn grace of being human.

— Yon the Rhymester

"
I guess I have to be real and vulnerable if I want to change.
— Yon the Rhymester

The Poems

Filter:

Last Night at the Bee's Knees

October 24, 2026

Listen to Yon read this poem:

While up in Vermont, I met songwriter/singer, Tracy Rae Clark,
The Holy Spirit used the lyrics of her songs to help fan the spark
Of desire to serve God in the light instead of me in the dark.
He started preparing the way when a Christian station
Came on the radio on the way to my destination.
I read at the Open Mic and listened to a few acts and then
Tracy sang and by closing time, it was like when I was born again
Far away from the Lord, sinning and enjoying it
Unrepentant, unwilling to give it up, snake-bit.
Content with drinking the filth from the sin cup
When God broke through using Tracy and her mom, Pam
To drive their love and acceptance of me into the dam
I had built up to protect me from hearing God’s voice
So I could continue daily making the wrong choice.
The dam was so strong, it did not collapse and fall apart
There was still much more God had to do in my heart.
I had already determined not to seek a quote, unquote “escort”
But if a chance to score came to my door, I wouldn’t hold the fort.
Rather, I would welcome the opportunity to act with seeming impunity
To bring about a hook-up if I made a connection
With a woman who implied there would be no rejection
Of my advances, whether clumsy or clever.
Then with no warning whatsoever,
Tracy sang about hearing from the Spirit
And although I did not want to hear it,
She sang or shared about the time she had a “fling”.
Hoping to find what she was missing.
It opened up something—
The door to my heart
Which I’d kept locked and far apart
From God because I was enjoying my sinning
Although I knew there was no chance of winning
From the beginning of my freefall from Grace
I knew I could only land flat on my face
Something happened inside
When she not only did not hide
Her sin from the crowd
But said it out loud.
God drew me to them after she was done
So I went to their table, no longer on the run
And said “you must be a sister in the Lord”
Hoping I had struck the right chord
And we would have fellowship, not knowing I’d confess
My past and ongoing sinning and the mess
I would have made of my testimony if caught
Or the dangers of sex with strangers
Which could have consequences unsought.
Thank You, Lord, You never left or forsook me
Allowed me to go where my naked lust took me.
Just now, You allowed me to sense a tiny portion of Your pain
As I followed a course that was spiritually and physically insane
And still the desire wells up in my soul
To try on my own to make myself whole
Instead of coming to the only one who can
Change me and make me into the kind of man
Who can look in the mirror, unashamed
No longer sin-sick, no longer spiritually maimed.

The Future Me?

October 24, 2026

Listen to Yon read this poem:

Is that the future me I see?
Crossing the street so carefully
After pushing the button for the walk light.

Is that the future me I see?
Is it possible that I should steadily
Gain in girth and lose in height?

Is that the future me I see?
Could he have known that someday he
Would also be — elderly?
And stooping over with arthritis or a bad back?

Is that the future me I see?
White hair on both our heads have we.
Except for open spaces where we lack.

Is that the future me I see?
Stepping into the street so gingerly
As he hears the traffic zoom and roar?

Is that the future me I see?
Some things have already come to be.
I don’t run across the street anymore.

But wait, I sometimes still step strong
As part of the bustling, busy throng.
But not too often, it is true.
Is this a clue?

There may still be some things that I could try
To delay my aging steadily until I die.
But why?

God gave us one life to live in this mortal frame.
I didn’t take care of myself. Myself must take blame
For some of the problems I have with my health,
and my lack of security and financial wealth.

My difficulty forming healthy relationships,
My off and on addiction to potato chips
And all other struggles to get through the day
Are more easy to deal with when to God I pray.

ADHD: My Secret Enemy

April 27, 2013

Listen to Yon read this poem:

ADHD my secret enemy
Has caused so much grief and misery
As I lurched through life, unknowingly,
With a monster on my back that no one could see
But they could sense.
Hence, its always been hard for me to
make friends, and even those who
have managed to stick by me
don't seek my company, regularly.
Some drift away over time, and don't call
And don't return my calls, that day or at all.

I thank God for the creativity
He has chosen to give to me
Because of or in spite of my being AD/HD.
Now I know why my relationships do not thrive.
Thrive?? Very few of them even survive!
But I thank God NOW I KNOW!! And I'm still alive.
I believe more than ever God will meet my perceived need
for a sweet, beautiful, Born Again woman
who will even exceedingly exceed
my hopes and desires (formerly fueled by the fires
of food, sex, drugs and/or drink)
and be far more than I could ask for
way beyond what I am able to think.
That would be just like the Father showing his love
By bestowing undeserved blessings on us from above.
Even more amazing, if I don't falter and swerve
From the path of righteousness, and continue God to serve:
He will continue to change me
And rearrange me, so that I will be
A great blessing and joy to my heaven-sent wife
Each and every day, in every way,
for the rest of my life.

yontherhymester — copyright 4/27/2013

ADHD & Creativity 1

2013

Listen to Yon read this poem:

I know life theoretically,
Is meant to be lived (most folks think), alphabetically.
You start at A to get to Z.
But in my humble estimation that sanctifies the destination
And not the gestation and preparation
Which can lead to illumination on the journey's duration.

But having ADHD can also prevent the castration
Of great balls of creative fire which blaze
In our imagination's sometimes purple haze
As we swim against the tide, unlike rats in a maze.

But then again, I have ADHD, and see things very differently
From most folks who are digital thinkers, logically.
They follow the paths that tend to be
more easily mastered sequentially,
And be more rewarding financially, usually.

On the other hand I live a creative lifestyle
And sometimes take the long way instead of saving a mile
Or two, or a dollar or ten or I fall short of a goal
That I'd set in my mind as a need of my soul
Which if missed, would make me less whole.
However, since I usually find that's not the case,
I try to experience each person and place
That my subconscious, analog thinking sends me to.
Believing that will allow me a view
Of life that is its own reward, if I let it be.
This is one of the positive features of ADHD.
Or, at least, it seems that way to me.
But then again I do see things differently,
Because, of course, of my ADHD.

Now, I thank God for the creativity He has chosen to give to me
Because of or in spite of my ADHD.
But there is also some negativity which explains what previously,
Had always been a mystery to everyone, including me.

Why don't my relationships grow & thrive?
THRIVE!!? So few manage to even survive!
But no longer must I resignedly sigh,
“Keep a stiff upper lip!” “Don’t complain or cry.”
“Be a man!” “Suck it up!” “Just keep living a lie.”
Use anything and anyone in order to get by
And fight my loneliness by getting high
On drugs, or drink or sex or even food
Or religion, or to a TV or PC stay glued.
Anything that could possibly lighten my mood.
No longer must I attempt to cope.
Revelation spawns new hope
That what society & I labelled character flaws
Will be revealed to me and dealt with BECAUSE:

NOW I KNOW WHY almost all of my relationships seem
to end quickly & abruptly, coming to ruin,
like waking up from a nice dream too soon.
Now I know why it’s so hard to make or keep a friend.
Now I know why my social skills are so poor.
I don’t realize sometimes people only endure
being with me but can’t wait to get away
from hearing any more of what I have to say.

Now I know why every situation seems brand new.
I don’t remember the past, so I have no clue
How to read body language or tell by a vocal inflection
That the conversation’s going in an unwanted direction.

Now I know why people can be hurt by my inattention
As I space out, unaware it is never my intention
To be insensitive or hurt someone, deliberately.
But I do just that, unintentionally and unknowingly
because of my heretofore secret enemy, ADHD.
Now that I know why I sometimes act so strange.
I’m determined to do what it takes to change.
Now that I know why, I read all the information
I can find, and greatly helped by medication
Seek a support group, and behavior therapy
So that I can finally,
become who I was created to be.

yontherhymester — 2013

ADHD & Creativity 2

April 27, 2013

Listen to Yon read this poem:

I thank God for the creativity
He has chosen to give to me
Because of or in spite of my being AD/HD.
Now I know why my relationships do not thrive.
Thrive?? Very few of them even survive!
But I thank God NOW I KNOW!! And I'm still alive.
I believe more than ever God will meet
my perceived need
for a sweet, beautiful, Born Again woman
who will even exceedingly exceed
my hopes and desires
(formerly fueled by the fires
of food, sex, drugs and/or drink)
and be far more than I could ask for
way beyond what I am able to think.
That would be just like the Father showing his love
By bestowing undeserved blessings on us from above
And even more amazing, if I don't falter and swerve
From the path of righteousness, and continue to serve
God. He will continue to change me
And rearrange me, so that I will be
A great blessing and joy to my heaven-sent wife
Each and every day,
in every way,
for the rest of my life.

yontherhymester — copyright 4/27/2013

Obviously ADHD

June 2010

Listen to Yon read this poem:

If that’s the worst thing that happens to me today
I’ll just Praise the Lord and go on my way
At least that is what I hope I would say
If something bad happened to me today.

So what if I had a falling out with a brother I wanted to be a friend.
God can still use me although I am unable to defend
My thoughts and my motives which were judged by my action
In any way shape or form to anyone’s satisfaction.
This includes my own, as by such situations I’m thrown
For a loss— guess that’s just another cross
God has given me to bear— not being treated fair.

And no one seems to care
For my explanations of my limitations
Because they don’t meet their expectations
of what a good reason should declare.

To the clear thinking it’s so easy linking
What you’ve just heard with every other word
That pertains to a premise or a subject or a theory.

They can’t comprehend that someone’s ability
to understand may end
At the point where they spend
all of their brainpower
(which can happen any minute any hour)
and are mentally weary
And more than weary, unable to retain
No matter how hard they strain
The previous concepts, words & ideas no matter how sound.
They are by now beginning to just race around
The mind of the listener which feels as though it will burst.

And that’s not the worst.
The feelings and pride are hurt
of the one who continues to spurt
Out words of wisdom, knowledge and evidence
that to him make perfect sense.

He explains his point of view so well
That as far as he can tell
Anyone who hears should comprehend clearly.
Unless they are not dealing with him sincerely.

Therefore he gets upset, understandably so
When the listener asks him to stop the flow
Of his carefully thought out and logical conclusions.

Trying to explain the words are hurting his brain,
And to keep from going insane, he informs his friend
His recitation of information must immediately end.

And sometimes this is done so suddenly
It is perceived as an act of hostility.
This is usually because it always comes as a surprise
to the one whose mind is becoming as glazed as his eyes
That it is perceived as deliberate rudeness on his part.

And though he try to share from the bottom of his heart
How sorry he is that he can no longer bear to hear
Anymore discourse on a subject which the speaker holds dear
Or feels it is important to convey his thoughts and impressions.

My reaction just becomes another of my transgressions
Which sabotage nearly every relationship I’m in—
Some after a while, some before they even begin.

Yontherhymester — Copyright 6/2010

Blessed Be the Name

October 10, 2009Listen on SoundCloud

FaithHopeResilience

When my words are flowing rhythmically,
And everything's unfolding perfectly,

Blessed be the name.
Blessed be the name
When I'm living in prosperity,
And life is better than it should be.
Blessed be the name.
Blessed be the name
When I walk in perfect liberty,
Knowing that my Lord has set me free.

Blessed be the name.
Blessed be the name
When the Bible is alive to me,
And I'm being used in ministry.
Blessed be the name.
Blessed be the name

When my world is starting to come apart
Because I've put my horse after my cart.

Blessed be the name.
Blessed be the name
When I'm a loser in every game
And I slip and fall and burn with shame.

Blessed be the name.
Blessed be the name
When my life's as hopeless as can be
And my days spill out chaotically.
Blessed be the name.
Blessed be the name
If I knew my life would end today
In pain and suffering. Come what may…
Blessed be the name of JESUS.

— Yontherhymester

It's A Good Thing It Wasn't Me on That Cross

March 15, 2010

Listen to Yon read this poem:

It's a good thing it wasn't me on that Cross.
I would have come down and shown them who's boss.
The very idea that I should suffer so
Just to make sure all to hell won't go.
I would have made the nearest mountains shake
And thunder so loud even the strongest would quake.
And rain and snow and hail simultaneously
While the sun beat down unmercifully.
And it would have been freezing cold beyond belief
And the sun burning their skin with no relief,
At least, for a little while.
Then with a triumphant smile
I would have very loudly said
"anyone else here want me dead?"

Step right up you losers, my created ones
Who I wanted to become my daughters and sons
I guess it's not gonna happen—you're too religious for Me.
Even though you've waited for My coming so faithfully
I don't fit the mold you've made for your God
So my pearls of wisdom underfoot you trod.
And my miracles (and this really makes me burn)
You've attributed to Satan/Beelzebub at every turn.

Well guess what you sinners? you've had your chance
And now regardless of your personal circumstance
You have to keep all of the Law under the old covenant
Made with you while you were still living in a tent.
And if you can't keep the Law— your doom is assured
That's what you get for messing with The Living Word!

Yontherhymester — 3/15/2010

A Young British Lady Named Anne

2010Listen on SoundCloud

HumorLoveMemory

A young British lady named Anne
Was desperate to get a man.
So she took ship for France,
The land of romance,
And so her adventure began.

For the first few days
No man met her gaze,

But she walked around Paris undaunted.

One day she saw on the wall
Of a very famous dance hall-
Audition inside - DANCERS wanted.

In the blink of an eye
She decided to try.

And opening the door, boldly went in.

Several girls stood in line waiting
So she joined them without hesitating
Although her clothes did expose less skin.

One day just by chance,
she was hired to dance.
She danced so well,
as though under a spell.

That her shows sold out weeks in advance.

Things went well right from the start.
As Frenchmen took her to their heart.

Each time she would perform
It was so far beyond the norm-
She transformed every move into art.

She worked hard to please every fan
As onto the platform she ran.
When she started to dance
The way they do in France
If you took a quick glance
She seemed in a trance

As she showed every man Anne can Can-Can.

Copyright 2010

Another Day Another Week

Listen on SoundCloud

FaithPurpose & MeaningHope

Another day, another week.
What have I done, so to speak
To show God's love, His power and glory?
To share with someone the Gospel story?
Have I at least prayed every day
That God would send someone my way?
Someone who was open but had not heard
The Good News of the Living Word
Who died for them that they might see
The truth that really sets people free.
Jesus the Lord, the Prince of Peace, the King,
Because of His great love gave up everything
He had in Heaven. Putting it all aside,
He came to earth to get crucified.
He paid the price for all of our sins when He died.
Through His love, God's justice was satisfied.

But the story doesn't end in death and decay.
That would have left His disciples in total disarray.
As it was they were in shock when He suddenly
Appeared to them in a closed room so they could see
He had come back just as He said He would.
Thus they knew in their hearts, His word was good.
And they could share what they heard Him say;
" I am the TRUTH, the LIFE, and the only WAY"
They could live their lives accordingly
Accept blessings or calamity
Share the truth that sets people free
From their greed and hatred and misery.
And living with the uncertainty
Of their eternal destiny.

They could minister to anyone in the world.
If they were jailed or slurs and jeers were hurled
At them, by the grace and power of God above,
They could still respond in humility and love.
Knowing "all have sinned" and are lost for eternity
They could put aside their wounded pride,

sometimes not so easily, especially,
if they were made to suffer physically.
Or for their lives they had to flee
from those who could not bear the truth
and resisted, nail and tooth
fighting to keep their ears from hearing
words that to their souls were searing
as they to their heart's secrets were nearing.
This caused such panic, greatly fearing
That the darkness of their soul would be revealed
And the sins they hid would no longer be concealed.
They did not realize the only way to be healed
Is to stop using religion and good deeds to shield
Their hardened hearts from God's painful but loving touch
Which would break their adherence to traditions' crutch
And allow them to become "BORN AGAIN"
They instinctively knew that in the sight of men
They would appear to be fools or crazy
Accused of being too mentally lazy
To study or even consider other ways to God
Ignoring all the paths philosophers have trod
As they pondered the meaning of existence.
But, sadly, the result of their resistance
Is torment for all of eternity
Because they chose to close their eyes,
Deliberately.

— yontherhymester

A Curse with a Blessing?Unfinished

November 2010Listen on SoundCloud

HumorHealingPurpose & Meaning

Thank you Lord I woke up this morning feeling as good as I do
On a scale of 1-100 this has to come in as at least a 22.
All I know for sure is I've woken up feeling much worse
Many times since I've been under what seems like the curse
Of Sleep Apnea, which I can't seem to shake
As night after night I go to sleep but many times awake
After an hour or less of solid sound sleep from a very real dream
And sleep and wake and sleep and wake until I want to scream.
Sometimes I wake up from a different dream every hour or two or three
Remembering details from each one until it finally begins to dawn on me

I'm more tired now than when I went to bed.
But it sure is hard to get through my head
That I'll really feel better when I sit up or get on my feet
Because I'll be able to breathe more easily and not have to repeat
The wake and sleep cycle I've been riding all night.
And who knows if my starting after so many years, to write
Isn't a result of waking up many times in the night

In order to be able to breathe, thereby avoiding a stroke, paralysis or even death
Thereby making me in some strange way a debtor to a condition that robs me of breath.

All I know is the words didn't start to really flow
Until I was diagnosed with sleep apnea when I opted to go
For a sleep study after realizing I did not need to pee
When I woke up at one and/or two and/or three
Feeling as exhausted as I want to be
When it's time to go to bed for me.
Unfinished nov 2010

I Pity the Fellows Who Play the Big Cellos

October 4, 2026Listen on SoundCloud

HumorMemory

I pity the fellows who play the big cellos.
There had to have been a time
When as children they thought it a crime
To lug around something as tall
Or taller than they were. After all,
They were only youth. Thus, although musically inclined,
They quite often found themselves in a bind.
They had to rely on others being understanding and kind
When they had to move to make room for the cello on the bus
Apologizing all the while for causing such inconvenience and fuss
Sometimes saying aloud what they felt at those times within
"Why couldn't my folks have signed me up for the F*ING violin?"

The Epitome of Resiliency

August 26, 2026

ResiliencePurpose & MeaningHealingHope

I am the very epitome of resiliency.
All my life my secret enemy
which until 67 I could not see
was obviously ADHD.
It made everything so hard for me
I was frequently, almost constantly
battling some adversity
because nothing I did came naturally
that everyone else knew or did quite easily.

So serious accidents, resulting in permanent injury
and pain and loss never seemed strange to me.
They were all just another degree of adversity
calling for more resiliency to prove to the world and my family
that even if I had no skills and little physical ability
I could withstand suffering better than anybody.
Every day not killing myself was a victory

WEBSITE(Resilience In Us)

July 26, 2026

Listen to Yon read this poem:

War & ServiceResilienceGratitudeHope

Every time I go on this website, be it morning, afternoon or night
I can't help but think of the many who suffered, bled and died
and I feel grateful and thoughtful, and start to get teary eyed.

Men and women forcing themselves to never ever give in
to the fears that were crawling all over their skin.
They knew that on them many others relied
so they found what it takes deep down inside
to keep the fear of their reality under control
while being torn apart heart and mind and body and soul.

Some heard the booming of mortars, others machine gun fire.
They must have died a little inside while the Devil screamed "yer a liar
and a coward and yellow and yer afraid you'll never get out alive !
You can pretend all day that yer a bad ass "mutha
while you hope the reinforcements and Medics will suddenly arrive."

Or maybe you hear nothing at all, so you know the enemy's near
and you treasured each breath, never knowing if death was on its way or already here.

This website is especially for you with resources to help you keep or win the victory
over the wars that inside you fight every day and every night, on air or on land or at sea.

Yon the Rhymester
7/26/2026

This Man Named Jack

August 5, 2026Listen on SoundCloud

MemoryLoveGratitudeHumor

He was kind and thoughtful– this man named Jack.

He provided for the neighborhood boys what they did lack;
A backyard he let us use for sports and games where we left our mark.
He even installed floodlights so we could play basketball after dark.
He let us play ice hockey when the back yard froze
And we played outside all winter till we couldn't feel our toes.

He let us eat all we wanted of their varied fruit trees.
So we climbed them all picking apples, pears and cherries.
The peach trees were so low to the ground those we didn't have to climb.
We could just reach up or stand on a box and pull one off at any time.

He provided a muted kind of background supervision.
But left us alone for the most part confident in his decision.
Knowing he was raising his sons Mike & John to have fun, learn & grow
And though they would sometimes make mistakes, when it was time they'd know
How to solve the problems that were bound to ensue
Whenever a motley neighborhood crew
Of boys were playing. Starting to mature
Through experience into their future
Selves though of course we weren't aware of that.

We just wanted to get to take our turn at bat.
Playing whiffleball or jumping off the wall
Into the yard next door into a gravel pile
(even now the thought of that makes me smile)

We always seemed to be jumping over walls or climbing some fence.
(some of the things we did were dangerous & didn't make much sense).
But we were kids; what did we know? We just wanted to have fun
And run around and play each and every day from dawn to the setting sun
And beyond. After supper we would be back out again
Climbing over fences and walls to hit or chase various balls-
Little boys on their way to becoming men.

This Man Named JackPart 2

August 5, 2026

MemoryLoveGratitude

This Man Named Jack — Part 2 by Yon the Rhymester

Upon Becoming 80

July 10, 2026Listen on SoundCloud

FaithPurpose & MeaningHopeGratitude

Now that I've reached the age of 80
I want less and less to mess
with matters that are weighty.
i want to have fun.
i want to bask in the sun.
i want to be nice to everyone
that comes my way each and every day.
Don't want to regret anything i do or don't do
before my time on this earth is through.
i want to be content when each day is done
that the course God gave me is the one I've run.

But the opposite is also true.
I want useful NO! I want great things to do !
I want to change the world for the better !
I want to save lives too !
I want to be among the very few
that make the world a better place to live
by giving all that I've got to give
of myself and anything I own
even if I remain a complete unknown
and only God knows everything I've done
trying to run the course I've been given to run.
Knowing trying means failing more often than not
for Jesus my savior I'll give it my best shot
as I move steadily towards making Jesus my Lord as well
since He died to give me a chance to escape going to Hell.

yontherhymester
7/10/2026

So You Are Homeless, So What?stirs the conscience, reaches the soul, and offers a salve of wisdom

April 18, 2013Listen on SoundCloud

FaithPurpose & MeaningLoveResilience

So you are homeless, so what?
I can still sit on my butt
In a comfortable apartment, condo, or house.
Besides, you are probably a lush or a louse
And it's all your fault you are out in the street.
At any rate I not only don't want to meet you;
I most certainly don't want to treat you
With dignity, respect or even recognition.
I fear your condition could be contagious.
Puhleeze, don't act all self-righteous and outrageous
Because I'm like most people who aren't courageous
Enough to accept you as a fellow human being
And walk on by unfeeling, unseeing.
You know that in your heart if you looked inside
Before you were somehow disqualified
To live in a home of your own—
The same yellow streaked/red flag would have flown
That keeps my eyes from looking at you and seeing
The reality that could make me run, fleeing from
The truth no one wants to be shown:
"There but for the grace of God go I"
So like most people, I'll walk on by
With my head held high,
With a disguised, disgusted sigh,
Hoping it will never be my
Lot in life to live in the strife
Of a shelter or under a bridge, or in the street.
That's why… when I pass you by…
I try to make sure our eyes never meet.

OH NO!! LORD, SAY IT AIN'T SO?!!
Is this the way the rest of this poem must go?
As usual, this becomes a more personal poem
With the rest of it hitting too close to home.
Was that my real heart that I just revealed?
My selfishness and fear unconcealed
Lying broken on the field
Of dreams that I use to prop up my self-image and hide
From the self-centered coward I am on the inside.
I guess I have to be real and vulnerable if I want to change
Instead of playing mind games as I daily rearrange
The lies in my eyes so I don't despise
Myself as I walk in the disfigured guise
Of a selfless, loving, Born Again follower of Jesus Christ.
One who seemingly does not care how the pie is sliced……
As long as I get what I want and what I feel I should.
After all, I'm not that bad, and even sometimes do good.
But God tells me now He's not impressed
With me even when I'm doing my best
To try to act as though I'm really caring.
(ouch!! I did not want this much of my soul to be baring)
Well, Lord, I hope that's enough self revelation and self flagellation
Of my spirit, soul and heart.
I hear You are telling me it's time to start
Really caring, and really sharing more than just what I say.
It's time for me to really follow Jesus, come what may.
It's time for me to once again read the Bible, and heed it.
And remember Jesus saved me when I did most need it.
So I should love everyone as He did with great compassion.
And pray God use me to help others. And 'tho its gone out of fashion
To speak of Jesus as the Savior, the Truth, and the Way.
The only way to get to heaven is through Me, is what He did say.
But back to this problem of the homeless..
How can I do more? By making do with less!!
But what to do? How help who?
Who should I give money to?
I can't help all the homeless!!
But I can help a few!
Maybe not with money, since I don't have that much.
I know!! I could help at a shelter, serving meals and such!
I could give them clothes I don't like, or can't fit into anymore!
I can buy toiletries and necessities at a Dollar Store!
And bring them to the shelter as I go to serve each week.
THEN my acts would walk the talk I love to hear myself speak.
As James the New Testament writer said:
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD!

When We Lost Power During Hurricane Irene

2012Listen on SoundCloud

HumorLoveMemory

We have no power! We have no power!!!
What do I do? What do I say to the strangers I live with every day?
We have no power. No one on our street has power, I realize
How do I spend another hour? How will we avoid each other's eyes?
Don't panic! Don't panic! it may be back on very soon.
Who am I kidding? I've seen the damage and listened to WTIC since noon.
It will be days. I'll be in a daze too
If I have to converse with these others who
Inhabit the same space that I do.

My son and daughter don't talk, they only text
And twitter and tweet, which just leaves me perplexed
And they Facebook and friend and post messages on a wall
But hardly ever answer their cellphones when I call
We nod at each other if our paths intersect
But most of the time their mode is constant connect
With peers, pals and BFFs and Facebook friends
Upon whom their ability to exist seems as if it depends
On always texting or chatting but not physically speaking
With others who like them are always seeking
The latest news about mostly trivial things
Like how well the latest American Idol sings
Or who's buttering their toast or eating ice cream
As they commune with each other, they are living the dream
Of always being in touch with anyone and everyone somewhere
But not actually being physically with anyone long enough to care.

We never talk any more — we Email and text
Now no one knows what they should do next
We've actually forgotten how to physically socially interact
Although sad, for many young Americans it is a fact.

I have an idea — let's play a game I announce
But on this suggestion they readily pounce!
My son is first to attack with a condescending sneer
"Saying we can't play any games Duh-ad — there's no power here"
I say no not that kind — we can play a card game
My daughter asks Memory card or SIM? I, astounded, exclaim
"No! actual playing cards like with aces and deuces and kings queens and jacks!"
My son uncomprehendingly, says how? Duh-ad? We have no battery packs!

We could always go to Starbucks if they have power, I suppose.
We don't have to go anywhere or have power, I interpose.
You mean there are games we can play without a PC
Yes I say and we can do so immediately.
We can use candles and flashlights or a lantern
Your father and mother think that we might re-learn
To act like families used to — father & mother & sister & brother
Like we used to in pre-high tech days, actually talk to each other.

New Britain Roots Needs Consumer Recruits

2020Listen on SoundCloud

GratitudePurpose & MeaningHope

Everyone who helps out at New Britain Roots
deserves more than a few 21 gun salutes
& thanks and praises from all those who
benefit from everything that they do.

Nick, Elwin & of course Joey Listro are the only names I know
but this is also for all those unknowns whose hard work makes it go.
And their volunteer activity helps more than the local community.

They also help local farmers sell more of what they produced
without paying for advertising, thus their costs are reduced.

This not only increases the ability to operate more profitably
it may allow them to use methods that increase sustainability
while at the same time not making it easier for parasites to hitch rides
although not increasing or even decreasing the use of pesticides.

There are other ways in which it pays for you to buy what's grown locally.
We reduce fossil fuel use, wear & tear on highways & increase road safety.

This results in lower prices for the consumer, obviously
but also fresher food since now no longer does it have to be
transported by refrigerated trucks from California, Arizona or Mexico.

It may even be flown in from countries, where we really don't know
how the food is grown or how well or even if it's for parasites inspected
before it leaves wherever it's from, arrives here, and is by us accepted.

You can eat more healthily
and stimulate the local economy.
And it's easy to do your part.

If you are not buying produce grown locally
wouldn't now be a good time to start?

The Road in the Woods Not Taken While Stopping on a Snowy Evening?

June 27, 2010Listen on SoundCloud

HumorPurpose & MeaningNatureMemory

(Rough Draft by an unknown poet)

Stopping by woods on a snowy eve
At least I planned to but then I had to leave.
Quite unexpectedly and dejectedly — as
Words have started to take the form of a poem.

Something about taking the wrong way home.
But not really the wrong, maybe only the long
Way and that would make all the difference
In someone's life as they sat on the fence
Between two choices, hearing conflicting voices.
Now I have to choose before I should lose
That muse that visits me every now and then
Making rhyming words fairly leap from my pen.

I become excited, picturing, almost seeing in my mind two roads in a wood.
And snow falling. And I, sitting on a horse or standing, or walking, which could
Be taken for indecision at an important time in one's life
When a choice must be made; with each option rife
With consequences.
One should present to the imagination, fences
To be climbed over and rocky paths very steep
But leading to unforeseen treasures one could to oneself heap.
The other, much easier, well trodden, chosen by most people, like sheep
Who don't want to go into the woods because they are dark and deep.

All right! These are some promising lines that to my mind leap.
But I must stop for now as I have promises to keep.
And miles to go before I sleep.
Promises to keep?? Miles to go before I sleep??

Oh, I do like those lines! Perhaps someday I'll reap
Some benefits from taking this time
To write down these words, many of which rhyme
and also have some kind of meter. They really do flow.
Oh no!
It's getting late. I must stop writing and go.

But how can I get going when the words are fast flowing,
Effortlessly. Though I can barely see
As these woods are very deep and dark.
I'd better hark
to my conscience which always pays.
I'll save these lines for one of those rare days
When to write is a fight, with my imagination weak and blurred.
Oh, here comes the train. No time for even one more word.

Them or Us

2017Listen on SoundCloud

Purpose & MeaningFaithLove

When does one of them become one of us?

Why must there be a them and an us?

Why must some "godly" folk make such an ungodly fuss
that in the name of their "god" they will publicly cuss
when asked to treat people who are different
with civility instead of malicious intent
like when Rosa Parks kept her seat on the bus.

Why in God's holy name is there a them and an us?

When the Old Words Just Won't Do

2020Listen on SoundCloud

HumorFaithGratitude

I started to compose a text but quickly became very vexed
As I searched for the right words to say.
My aggravation began to grow as I wanted the whole world to know
How God had worked in my life today.
A veritable cornucopia of superlatives from my mouth began to gush
But none of the words I uttered, even supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Were good enough to be "the right stuff". The going was getting pretty rough.

Suddenly my frustration at this situation began to stir my imagination.
I thought 'if words that exist can't express my elation
Then I'll use words of my own creation!'

Quite spontaneous came ASTOUNDARANEOUS!
Next came a twist on an old exclamatory fossil
Actually two birthed anew as CLOUDNINEALOSSAL!
Then appeared the whimsical DELIGHTIFICAL!
EXTRAORDINARIOUS! and FANTASTICALORIOUS!
Sounded glorious. I became euphorious!
HUMDINGERZINGEROUS! and INCREDIBILIFIC!
Might to an English teacher sound horrific
But I considered them both kickasserrrific.
MEGASTANDING! Made a smooth landing on my enraptured ears
But the sound of SUPERDUPEROUS! quite inexplicably caused tears
and laughter simultaneously! Obviously, I was verbally living dangerously,
so I ended this quite suddenly.

A Refrain About Pain

Listen on SoundCloud

FaithResilienceHealingHope

I look for the silver lining in every cloud, however it may come.
Due to the intensity of my pain, I'd settle for aluminum
Or even tin if that's how it came in.
The pain is more bearable if I pray
Or even if I just out loud say
My mantra which helps when the pain's like a curse:
"AS BAD AS IT IS, IT COULD ALWAYS BE WORSE"
Also somehow God will use this to change me for the better
And bless me if I obey the spirit of the law, not the letter.
For the Spirit gives life, but the letter brings death.
That's written in the Bible, and until my dying breath
I'll try to live every day as if I really believe it's true,
Because deep in my heart, where it counts, I do.

The Nose Job

November 29, 2012Listen on SoundCloud

GratitudeHealingHumorLove

In a West Haven VA hospital bed
Writing (hopefully) a poem on an anesthetic high
"Should only take a few hours, you'll be home tonight" the Dr. said.
But problems kept occurring, and the day went slowly by.
The ladies at the desk were as helpful as they could be.

But they could do nothing to speed up the time of my surgery.
It was late when they finally said I was the last surgery for the day.
And it would be hours before I could leave, so I asked if I could stay.
Sara tried to convince my sister Stella that it would be best
If she left after Friday rush hour was over and went home to rest
Unknown to them she had been on the go all day
Starting with problems with their Vermont 50 acre survey.
It was 47.5 or 55.5 or even 64 acres one survey did say
So although she thought she could handle waiting, however long
To take me home tonight, I thought neither of us is that strong
And the thought of Sis being tired and wired driving an hour in the dark
If there were accidents or roadwork or problems, gave me the spark
Of determination I needed to ask to stay overnight
And have her or Rob pick me up in daylight
After the snow was cleared from the roads and they were salted
Thus I made sure all indecision and discussion were halted
And Stella would leave before she got too tired to safely drive that far
And I would not have to breathe the cold air and sit bundled up in the car

That settled I thanked all those who had come on at five
And played their part in getting me through the surgery alive.
But those who had done the most for me were already gone
But I will try to remember their names to pass on
To their supervisors to put into their file.
I'll start with Sara who with patience, went the extra mile
To encourage my sister to let me stay, (always with a smile)
Edna who gave me a sandwich the other day
And Fred and Mark who did not mind going out of their way
And were cool, even laughed at and repeated my "on a roll" joke
Treating me like I would expect if they were my kinfolk.
They encouraged me to hang in there and get it over with today
And Deb the coordinator, who advised me to stay
And was always pleasant and friendly, calling me sweetie and honey
Which I really like to be called. I always thought it was funny
That some guys are offended when addressed like that
Personally, it makes me feel like a younger, pretty cool cat

Now the names of the others are starting to fade pretty quick
As the pain medicine is starting to do the trick
Can't forget Dr. Park and the male nurse named Kim
Who knocked me out after wheeling me in
They were patient as I could not lie flat on my back very long
And like everyone else they encouraged me to be strong
And Rose was friendly and funny as well
And enjoys what she does, it is easy to tell.

Then there's my man Jeff, the nurse who brought me paper and pen
And patiently answered my questions and took care of things for me when
I needed anything, he would try to get permission if needed
From the doctor. No requests of mine went unheeded.
If he couldn't connect and get some Doctor's permission
He would several times stop by
Let me know he would again try
He was like a man on a personal mission.

Then of course Dr. Adam — he is the one
Who convinced me it would be wise to have this surgery done.
And if it is super-successful I may not need a machine to help me sleep
Through the entire night — steadily, uninterrupted and REM deep
So I can wake up refreshed and alert, raring to go
Instead of how I do now — brain and body both stuck in slowwww.

I would owe it all to God and the wonderful VA women and men
Who, named or not are so caring and professional they rate a flat 10!
I thought this poem was over before this day began
But how was I to know I'd be attended to by Megan.
She was friendly, kind and performed her nursely duties so well
Just like everyone else who made being here a great experience to tell
Others about, especially their peers, supervisors and overseers
But also "just folk" I know, that in all of my years
The times I've been served by those who work in the VA
Hospital group in West Haven always make my day
And or my stay so much better than just o.k.

Almost forgot another member of the staff
Named Mike, who allayed my fears and made me laugh.
And of course Barbara, who made all the copies of the original poem
I asked for so all whose name I remembered could take a copy home.
I think there were others, whose name I forget — oh, yeah Colleen
Was another person with a warm personality
Who did what she could to enable me
To have the most, relaxing, healing experience I could
All of those who attended me were much better than good.

I am sending a copy of this to the Head Nurse, Bernadette
Montana, so she knows how well they all treated this Vet.

The Day I Saw the Eagles Day

NatureGratitudeHealingFaith

Suddenly there they were.
I sensed rather than saw (or maybe did both)
the change in the sky above the visor of my cap
as I sat on the deck in back of the O'Bryan's house,
enjoying everything that comes with doing nothing
physical except drinking herbal tea.
I did walk 3 miles yesterday on the trail
that used to be a railroad line. So now I'm fine
not moving much, not doing much,
with God and myself getting in touch.
Just sitting on the deck writing about the eagles
that appeared, floating and soaring on air currents
too far away to be heard or even seen clearly, ordinarily,
but fortunately, I had binoculars and saw there were three.

As I focused I realized the eagles (or hawks) were still
too far away for my feeble senses to know which.
Since I've seen hawks far more often
I'll call them eagles in order to soften
the hardening of my memory, giving me a string to tug
as my memories fade and go under some cosmic rug.

I was house & dog sitting for the O'Bryans one Sunday
when I saw eagles soaring as I on their deck lay.
They put on a beautiful acrobatic blue sky display.
What they were doing I could not say.
Hunting for food, i.e., working, or just at play
didn't matter to me as I peacefully lay
on the O'Bryan's deck that wonderful day
in 2011, on the 29th of May — the day I saw the eagles day.

yontherhymester

I Don't Twitter and I Don't Tweet

July 2010Listen on SoundCloud

HumorLoveMemoryPurpose & Meaning

I don't twitter and I don't tweet.
I prefer to see the people I meet
Face to face not on Myspace.
Because I believe that's how the human race
Was created to communicate. Body language and such.
Tones, inflections, volume, eye contact, sense of smell and touch
Are all missing when we speak to each other electronically.
Without being together physically, we lose our spontaneity.
Our chance to do things together on the spur of the moment
As well as being unable to react to our environment
Which causes us to unintentionally circumvent
Instant reactions to people passing by or sights
Which could present heretofore unknown delights.
We could do something together that maybe you have never done
And go with the flow, although you can't know, just how much if any fun
Your idea will bring to you and those you are with at the present time
the experience may be a bummer or on the other hand, may be sublime.
But that to me is what being human is all about anyway
Doing things that are new and interesting, come what may.

People now send messages by touch or talk as they drive or sit or walk.
Getting information about some situation.
Texting instead of even having a cell phone conversation!

Just the other day as I was driving my car I saw something very bizarre.
Two young boys were walking on the street very near
And neither had a cell phone or Bluetooth glued to his ear!
It struck me how unusual that that would be an unusual sight
As if every youth was on their cell phone day and night.
On second thought, that is the way it seems to be
Everywhere you go, everyone you know, maybe even you and me!
If you look far or near, there's a phone in their ear!
So they can't appreciate — appreciate? They can't even hear
The beautiful notes of birds singing
because their cell phone keeps on ringing, bringing
More words to their ears and to their mind.
I'm afraid someday that scientists will find
An entire generation almost from gestation
Has absorbed so much information their lives are full of frustration
Their fingers twisted from manipulation
Of an amazing technological invention
That does not reward retention, and offers little redemption
Of the time that has been spent
reading texts that were sent.
Or sending texts that were read. Instead.. of enjoying the sound
And sight of what was around. Not looking at the ground
But into the eyes of passer-bys and smiling, making eye contact.
Acting like a fellow human being, in fact.
Like people did before the constant cry for more
And faster and better means of communicating with each other
Instead of writing a letter to a friend or to your mother.

Now we text "Hppy Bdy, Mom. This shows letter u I rlly care.
Letter u shd letter b gld I did this much. I'm in a hurry. Hv #2 gt somewhere.
i'll letter b in touch, may letterb come number4 a visit but just when I don't no.
I letter l letter v letter u mom, gt number2 go."

yontherhymester
Copyright July, 2010

Only God Knows

2010

FaithResilienceHealingPurpose & MeaningGratitude

Only God knows some of the things I've done
When I was trying to survive and have some fun.
I didn't want my life to be about survival alone
As I limped along with a grunt and a hollow moan.

Some reason had to be found to not give up.
Forget about happiness, satisfaction, and/or the winner's cup.
Not killing myself would be victory enough.
Or worse yet someone else if things got really rough.

Each day not dead gave hope to my head
That today could be the day I'd be lead
To who or what would make all make sense.
I hoped thus to find a reason to get off the fence.
I wanted to jump into life with both feet unafraid
Of rejection, and/or failure and/or success & accolade.

I was aware I was unaware that you don't know who you are
You take so much LSD
That suddenly,
You are in danger of going too far.
So far that you may not get back even to the rotten life you despise
Because you've actually gone insane instead of becoming more wise.

But you can't enjoy or even endure life unless you are really high.
So you do things and take things that could cause you to die —
Prematurely.
And surely,
you would know you blew it forever.
Your pride has fooled you into thinking you were too clever
To lose at the Russian Roulette you played with your mind and soul.
You hoped you would be one of the lucky ones to reach your goal.
But instead you are dead and buried in a hole.

Thank God I'm still alive and that's no casually tossed off platitude
THANK GOD!!! I'M STILL ALIVE!!! And I have a new attitude.
Of gratitude.
And I no longer have to strive
and dive
Into the murky waters of psychedelics and opiates and such
Since Jesus reached down and pulled me out, not only daring to touch
The foul, filthy creature I was, wallowing in the muck and mire
Of tangled thoughts, confused conclusions, fear, greed, lust and desire.
But giving me peace and joy, and eternal salvation, and assurance that my life
would start making sense, would get better, someday a job, someday a wife
could be my destiny, instead of poverty and insanity.
Although even being poor would now somehow be okay
because I had found the WAY
the TRUTH and the LIFE embodied in Jesus Christ the Messiah the Savior
and He would change my mind, my soul, my thoughts and even my behavior
as I grew in knowledge and relationship with Him and lived out the revelation
that I truly was BORN AGAIN, had in fact become a new creation.
No longer needing drugs and getting hugs from my new found friends
Who revealed to me, the love of Jesus, which always transcends
Anything we have ever felt or heard of or known before.
As we experience it, as into our daily lives it seems to pour
And although it always is enough, we know there's always more
Joy and peace as we release God to transform our very being's core.

Yontherhymester
Copyright 2010

Yon on Juvenile Delinquency Prevention

Yon shares his ideas for addressing and preventing juvenile delinquency — written in his own hand.

About Yon

Yon's poems are one part of a larger mission.

Yon is an Army veteran whose hard lessons — earned through real struggle — have become the foundation of something purposeful. His mission is to help prevent juvenile delinquency and share what he has learned about total wellness: that resilience is not just surviving, it is understanding what you faced, training yourself to face it again, and then reaching back to help someone else do the same.

July 30, 2026

How Openness and Vulnerability Help Others

Yon is an Army veteran with ADHD that was not diagnosed and treated until he was 67 years old. By then he had been battered emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, physically and psychically. On top of that he was doubly damaged in every way by trying to fit into society as "normal." On top of that he was simultaneously damaged by every legal and illegal negative coping mechanism he used to try to fight this invisible enemy.

He has written several poems describing situations and actions which were self-destructive or just senseless. He shares his observations in his collection, which will be in here soon.

Yon once performed as a member of "THE FREE AT LAST PLAYERS" at a school and afterwards a few students told him there was a boy who was always getting in trouble and sounded a lot like Yon had been as a youth. Yon offered to email his ADHD poems to them, and said they could show the Principal and his teachers, and even the boy himself and his parents so he could be examined for ADHD and be treated if needed, before he ruined his life like Yon did.

Yon realized he could actually change lives if he was open, transparent and vulnerable.

In Yon's own words — original document

Yon's handwritten account of how openness and vulnerability helped a young student — July 30, 2026

As seen in the press

"Yon The Rhymester Uses Poetry As Therapy For ADHD" — by Jennifer Sanguano, Staff Writer

Newspaper article: Yon The Rhymester Uses Poetry As Therapy For ADHD, by Jennifer Sanguano

More poems are coming.

Yon is an Army veteran writing from the heart. If his words moved you, share them.

Looking for more resources on resilience?

Visit the Resources library →