The End of the Road

By Tony C. Franklin

A collection of poetry and motivational stories by Tony C, Franklin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tony C. Franklin
• Release date: Mar 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224975570

Tony C. Franklin

Tony C. Franklin was born and raised in the Southeast Arkansas town of Hamburg. He grew up on a small farm one-half mile from the Arkansas/Louisiana state line. One set of grandparents lived in the Delta town of Wilmot, Arkansas; the other set lived on Hopkins Hill, west of Jones, Louisiana, and the renowned Bayou Bartholomew. Tony tries to pay homage to the South he remembers growing up in. He currently resides in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He is a poet who also writes fictional "grit lit" and "southern noir" short stories and creative non-fiction stories. He is currently working on his second novel.

Book preview

On Writing

The Ink Pen

On the light side

I am a small cylindrical tube

Filled with ink

And used for writing.

I can be romantic

I have written poems and love letters

Declared thy holder’s passion and desire

I have kindled romance and inspiration.

I can be pragmatic

Writing detailed instructions

And stories of inspiration

I have appointed kings and popes.

On the dark side

I am mighty.

I have drafted declarations of war

That have killed millions of men.

I have written treaties

Between warring nations

That saved millions of lives.

I have drafted Dear John Letters,

Wills, death threats, and suicide notes.

I can affect your life forever,

In a heartbeat.

So, use me wisely.

Characters

Write them a story

Of fame and glory

Let them strive

For peace and harmony

Make them real

And let them feel

Let us hear them

When they squeal

Let them struggle

Let the cuddle

Make the work

To solve a puzzle

Make it queasy

Make it sleazy

Just don’t make

Their lives too easy

Let them rebel

Let their hearts swell

Let them make a difference

Let them raise hell

Let them be bold

Let them be told

Never, ever, ever quit

So they can grow old

Words have Power

Words have power

I have been told.

Whether blessings they shower

Or horror stories unfold.

Words have a way

Of weaving together a mystery.

What will you use them to say?

Words of blessings or misery?

A Rant on Poetry

A poem should rhyme

Or at least make time

It should have rhythm

That dives into a chasm

And brings forth emotions

At least thoughts and notions

A poem should say something

And make it brightly sing

It should make exclamations

Or pronounce proclamations

It should sooth and heal

At least make you feel

If poetry is important,

It should make a point

It should be read with ease

Not bring you to your knees

So whatever you write

Make it dark, make it bright

But let it rhyme

Let it keep time

Let it have rhythm

Not create division

Let it have emotion

Not create confusion

Poetry Doesn’t Rhyme Anymore

Hey, listen up, old man,

Poetry doesn’t rhyme anymore.

I hear you, young man,

That statement rattles to my core.

Even the singers of hip-hop

And street rappers know,

The stories that pop,

Have rhythm, rhyme, and flow.

So get your act together

Shout your story out in rhyme

It will resonate much better

If it has rhythm and time.

Poetry is putting words in motion

Cresting and falling

Like the waves of the ocean.

The crescendo is calling

To the rise and fall

Of verse off the tongue.

It’s a sign to all

That poetry can be sung.

Hey young man, poetry can still rhyme

Free verse may rule today

But there will come a time

when rhyming will come to stay.

Growing Talent

"A talent grows by being used, and withers if it is not used. Closing the gap between expectation and reality can be painful, but it has to be done