Picaresque and Other Poems

By Alex Andy Phuong

Picaresque

Picture Picasso
Painting abstractly
Attempting to redefine
Dreary reality
Pictures worth more
Than just a thousand words
For words
Attempt to define art
Yet beauty is purely subjective
And is much more
Than personal opinion
For pictures
Sometimes
just speak for themselves

Virtuosity

Within reality,
Virtue holds value.
Choose more than goodness
Extend righteousness
Volunteer voluntarily
Help for free,
To free oneself and others
From agony.
Never feel ashamed
For being a beacon of hope
To combat dark despair
Because assisting could offer
A breath of fresh air,
As well as the satisfaction
Of demonstrating maturation

Clear

Clear and transparent
A window into the soul
Clarity matters

Selfless

Do more than just be
Practice caring selflessly
And love oneself, too

Seasonal Seasons

Seasonal seasons
Offer several reasons
For living life
Fully and Richly
While also never
Apologizing for
Being oneself
Even as clouds
Attempt to obscure
The sky and sun,
Yet life can still
Be fun
If people embrace change
Instead of fearing that constant
Because natural nature
Is the main reason
To enjoy being human

Variation

Varying variety
Differing differences
Diverse diversity
Cultural melting pot
Blending socially
Within Modern Modernity
Stand up for all
To avoid the fall
For all people are human
After all

Collect

Acquire and inspire.
No need to boast
About a collection.
Simply gain,
And regain,
While avoiding disdain,
And have the courage
To dance and sing in the rain
Even if circumstances
Become dire

Official

Authoritative authority
Official news
Legitimacy
Legality
Written consent
Writers having permission
To provide wonderment
For even within reality
Authors hold their own authority
To their literary legacy
Please read voraciously
And write passionately

Not Last Place

Do more than let go of the past
No need to feel imprisoned
No need to travel throughout the town
Find oneself, instead of being last
Head held high,
And do anything constructive
Or productive
As time goes by
And live unapologetically
Rather than live a lie
Do try!

Only This

Try not to put off
Until time runs out.
Live within the moment,
Without fear and doubt.
Even though the future
Did not happen yet,
That time will,
In fact,
Come,
Especially since time never stops
Ticking away,
So instead of being afraid,
Simply live today
Each and every day

Volunteer

Even without payment
Time spent
Assisting and helping
Can help
Both externally
And from within
But only with
The decision to begin

Alex Andy Phuong earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University-Los Angeles in 2015.  He was a former Statement Magazine editor who currently writes about literature, film, and culture.  He has written film reviews for more than one hundred motion pictures for MovieBoozer, and his writing has appeared both online and in print.  Alex is a writer who dares to support the ones who pursue their dreams.