About the author

Raymond Nichols is an author, artist, family historian, and blogger previously published in THE AMERICAN POETRY ANTHOLOGY, BEST NEW POETS OF 1986, HEARTS ON FIRE(A TREASURY OF POEMS ON LOVE), and THE COLORS OF LIFE.

r. e. nichols

r. e. nichols
poet

ReverbNation

Saturday, December 27, 2014

MOST VALUABLE POET AWARD



RAYMOND NICHOLS
MOST VALUABLE POET
POETRY.COM





The Master Poet Badge represents the total amount of points that you have earned from participating in the poetry.com community.

I won this award and several others at the new POETRY.COM. The awards are given on a points system, and you get points for each poem submitted or reviewed.

HALL OF FAME AWARD


HALL OF FAME POET

This badge is earned by claiming poems that you have previously written and submitted to the old poetry.com archive.

I was given this award at the new POETRY.COM after finding some old poems in the archives that had been previously published there by me. If you were a member of the old pc and would like to win this award or other awards go to www.poetry.com 

Friday, December 26, 2014

TWAS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

Twas the day After Christmas
And all Through the House
Were Bits OF Torn Wrapping Paper
And Empty Boxes All About.
The Children Were Passed out
From Sugar Rushes in Their Beds
While Visions OF Candy Canes
Danced in Their Heads.
The Carpet Was Sprinkled With
Fruit Cake and Eggnog,
And the Children's NEW Clothes
Were Scattered in the Halls,
When out on the Street
The Sound OF The Trash Truck
Made ME Realize
I had Just run out of Luck.

AS THE Truck Pulled Away
I Began Down the Hall
And Stepped on Some Clothes
That Were TWO Sizes TOO Small.
The TV was Blasting
Some Kids Movie Downstairs
And Grandpa Was Still Asleep
In the Living Room Chair.
The Smell OF Baked HAM
Was all Through the House
And the dog Scratched at the Door
Until I let it out.                  
And Plates of Food Were Still on the Table
With Scraps of ham and Turkey
And Even A Bagel.  
The Christmas Tree Lights
Had Been Blinking ALL Night
And the Christmas CD
Was Still Looping Nearby,
And Grandma and sis
Were Loading up the car  
With Misfit Toys
And Clothes That Were TOO Small,
And I Heard Them Exclaim
As They Drove out of Sight,
"WE ARE OFF TO THE STORE;
SEE YOU LATER TONIGHT!"

12.2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

Be Thankful

Be thankful for another day 
Some did not get that much 
Be thankful if someone loves you 
Some do not get such 
Be thankful for the shining sun 
That warms these achy bones 
Be thankful for your family 
For some are all alone. 

Sunday, October 26, 2014

LITTLE OPRAH ANNIE GOES TRICK OR TREATING

Little Oprah Annie 
Went out for tricks or treats 
She was a witch again this year 
With pointy shoes on her feet 
Her little friend Nancy was a butterfly 
As they walked down the street that night 
A big house caught their eye 
It was large and spooky 
With cobwebs all about 
And a big old jack-o-lantern 
On the steps with eyes and mouth carved out 
As Annie walked the sidewalk 
Nancy fell behind  
Annie told her to come along 
And she heard a kitty whine 
In the distance a wolf howled 
Or maybe it was a dog 
Nancy turned and ran away 
As an evil laugh was heard in the fog 
Little Oprah Annie walked up to the door 
The call of all that candy 
She just would not ignore 
Her little hands trembled 
As she rang the glowing doorbell 
What would come to the door 
She really couldnt tell           

As the door swang wide 
She heard a growling dog 
And turned to see two glowing eyes 
In the distance by a log  
Screams came from inside 
And a shadow crossed the wall 
As a large witch with a pointy hat 
And green face came down the hall 
A little girl with a small dog ran out 
Annie did not know what to do 
As the witch came to the door 
And shouted "and your little doggie too/ 
Well, hello my pretty," 
Said the witch with a glare 
"Dont you look lovely tonight my dear 
Tell me who undoes your hair?" 
The witch reached behind the door 
And Annie thought to run 
Then the witch brought out a candy bowl 
And asked," are you having fun?"  
The candy bowl was full of treats 
Like candy corn and gum 
And the witch handed the girl an apple 
And said,"you look so very sweet"   
The witch invited her in for supper 
"The stove" she said,"is piping hot." 
Then Annie turned and ran away 
As far as her feet could be got 
She never looked back as she ran away 
But she heard the old witch cackle 
"Come back my dear!" the old crone shouted, 
"You forgot your apple!" 
Annie ran straight back home 
With Nancy right behind 
And they ran inside and locked the door 
Scared out of their minds! 

Happy Halloween!!!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

never good enough

i was never good enough for you
i was never really in your heart
and that is why it was so easy for you
to lie to me and depart
we were never ever we
we were only you and i
i was never ever on your mind
that is why you could so easily say good bye

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

TRUE LOVE

TRUE LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL AND UNWAVERING 
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A PAYCHECK TO CONTINUE 
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A COLLEGE DEGREE OR A NEW CAR 
TRUE LOVE CANNOT BE BOUGHT OR RENTED OR SOLD 
IT DOES NOT FADE AWAY OR ALTER INTO SOMETHING LESS 
IT IS NOT DIAMONDS OR JEWELS OR A FANCY CAR 
IT DOES NOT CLING TO YOU IF YOU OWN A MILLION DOLLAR BALL TEAM 
OR PLAY FOR ONE 
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A LICENSE OR TAX SHELTER
IT DOES NOT LEAVE YOU WHEN YOU LOSE IT ALL
TRUE LOVE IS UNCONDITONAL AND FREE
IT IS THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT ONLY COMES FROM PARENTHOOD. 

Sunday, July 6, 2014

No man knows the hour

no man knows the hour
posted Mon, 29 Sep 2003 11:37:49 -0700

no man knows the hour;
no man knows the day;
when the Lord is coming to take us all away
no man knows the time; no man knows the way;
but i know he’s coming; could be any day

Friends don't let friends do drugs!

The sun is coming up on a beautiful day, but someone last night took tomorrow away.
Sleepy eyes open to see the sunlight, but someone's eyes closed for an eternal night.
Friendships are few and far between and a true friend should be heard as well as seen.
If you have a friend who needs you dont let that friend slip away from you.
Substance abuse kills. Friends don't let friends do drugs!    

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

Friday, March 14, 2014

Moon Over Tyro


Somewhere between tomorrow and yesterday

Somewhere between tomorrow and yesterday 
i thought of you and paused 
to remember the good times we had 
though they be few 
sometime between now and then 
it occurred to me
that though we are apart forever
you are always a part of me.

Friday, February 28, 2014

No More Poetry

No more poetry???
May as well say
No more sunshine...
No more summer rains...
No more stars at night...
No more full moon's light...
No more rainbows in the clouds...
No more snowmen or winter breaks...
No more beauty in the world...
No more boy meets girl....
No more laughs...
No more smiles...
No more hope....
No more victories over trials....
No more poetry is a curse
On the world
That should never  
Be spoken out loud.

8.13

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Versifier

Versifier 
Turning words into art 
Sculptures made of letters 
Beautiful to the ears 
Soothing to the soul 
Word sculptor 
Wordsmith 
Poet

Reborn Man

I’m a reborn man 
My home is in the sky 
I’m on my way to get there 
I’m a poor man now, 
But i’ll be a rich man when i die
2005

Her

She is the center of my world. 
she is my moon and stars. 
i would kill for her. 
i would die for her. 
i would fly her off to Mars.
to know her is to love her. 
to love her is to live. 
to be close to her 
there is no price 
i would not give.
cannot breathe without her. 
cannot live with her gone. 
without her i am nothing. 
incomplete and alone.
she is my moon and stars. 
the rainbow in my sky. 
she is the air i breathe. 
without her i would die. 
to know her is to love her. 
to hold her is a dream come true. 
she is the keeper of my heart. 
without her i am blue.

Invisible to you

youll never know how much you mean to me 
because you could not care less 
you get your heart broke 
time and again  
by those you think you want 
while we remain friends 
i mean nothing to you 
but i am the one who
cannot live without you 
i am the one who cannot stop 
thinking about you 
i am the one you should be with 
i am the one who would cherish you 
but you dont see me 
you dont want me 
you chase after others who do you wrong 
and miss out on the love 
we could be making all night long 
is it wrong to love you 
to think of you all the time 
is it wrong to need you 
to have you always on my mind 
is it wrong to wonder 
how your lips would taste tonight 
am i wasting my life 
waiting for the time to be right? 
i am unseen 
invisible to you 
you never think of me  
but i cannot live without you 

The Empty Page

The empty page calls to me
Beckons me to take a look
And share the poetry hidden on it with the world
The empty page challenges me
And mocks me for not
Seeing the words that are already there
Waiting for me to point them out to you
The empty page smiles at me
As i type the words hidden on the screen
And uncover them to share with the world 
Thoughtfully
Happily 
I type the words i see
In my mind
And share them with thee  

Stepping Stones

Stepping stones 
On the river of life 
We leap from one to the next 
Hoping not to fall in 
And get swept away by the rapids 
Swept into the abyss 
And lost forever  

Iron Bars

Iron bars do not a prison make.
Nor plaster walls a home.
I am here with you every night,
And yet im all alone.
It takes love to
Turn these plaster walls
Into a home.
Without that,
We’re just 2 people
Living together
Alone.   

july 2001

Daydreams

Day after day
I dream of things that cannot be
Of things I cannot have
And sights I cannot see
Is life unfair
Or is it something wrong with me?
Daydreams
Are all I have you see.
1999

Two Castles in the Sky

2 castles in the sky.
2 towers way up high.
2 symbols of a land.
2 dreams for all of man.
countless children of moms and dads?
countless ideas in their heads?
countless dreams for better things
that won’t be coming back again?
2001

Together we can make a difference

Together we can make a difference
Hope in the heart of the small
A brighter day in a child's eyes
A better world for all.  


Ray Nichols   
2014 

United We Stand

United we stand 
Divided we fall 
If we don't help each other 
We lose it all. 
You can make a difference 
If youre down 
Its amazing how much
One man gets around

Ray Nichols   
2014

Your Future is in your Hands

They say that we cannot control our lives
They say that we are powerless to put up a fight
They think that there is no way we can make a stand
The power to change the world is in your hands
If you want to be all that you can be
If you want to pursue happiness and be free
You have to do something to change the world
And stand tall and be proud when that flag is unfurled
The secret to life is to live it
Find out what you want and get it
Don’t let others crush your dreams
Support yourself and believe
Only you can make your dreams come true
But you cant do it until you take a stand
Fight for your rights and dont back down
Its your future that is in your hands.  

2014 Poet Raymond Nichols

Hunger is not a game.

No lunch today again.
Dad ran out of cash.
He makes too much to get help,
But the bills take all his money.
Hunger is not a game.
And being hungry is not funny.

Poet Ray Nichols
#nokidhungry
www.nokidhungry.org

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU???

I KNOW YOU SAID YOU DIDNT LOVE ME
I KNOW YOU SAID THAT WE WERE THRU   
SINCE WE MET YOU SAID A LOT OF THINGS   
I KNOW THAT ALL OF THEM CANT BE TRUE   
LIKE WHEN YOU SAID YOUD NEVER LEAVE ME     
AND WHEN YOU SAID YOUR LOVE WAS TRUE BLUE    
AND WHEN YOU SAID TOGETHER FOREVER      
WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU???         

I NEVER KNEW HOW MUCH YOU'D HURT ME
I NEVER KNEW YOU'D FIND SOMEONE NEW  
AND NOW I KNOW HOW YOU DON'T NEED ME
AND HOW YOUR LOVE WAS NEVER TRUE  
AND LOOKING BACK NOW I REALIZE  
HOW YOU ONLY THOUGHT OF YOU  
AND EVERYTHING YOU SAY IS LIES  
WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU?
WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU?





  



Sunday, January 19, 2014

I do not like spam Sam I am.

No Sam I do not like spam. I do not like spam Sam I am. Notifications belong on the site. To fill my inbox with spam is not right.

Friday, January 10, 2014

You say you want a revolution

You say you want a revolution.
You say you want to change the world.
Are you willing to do whatever it takes
To free every boy and girl?
100 thousand voices are crying out.
Can you hear them call?
Injustice has become the norm
At the damnation of us all.

You say you want a bold new world
Where everyone is free.
You say you will do anything
To be all you can be.
To bring about this new age
Some people have to change.
Hypocrisy must go away
And never come back again.

Eye of the beholder

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder 
Beauty is a heart thats pure and true 
Pretty girls are pretty on the outside 
Beauties are pretty through and through   

2010

Life is like a play

Life is like a play 
a tragedy ending in despair 
in a dark corner of a dark place 
death waits for me there 
the plots move me along 
as each act passes by 
and then one day, in the final act, 
i meet my sweet demise 

2007

family first

Friends turn on you and betray you. 
They have their own agenda and you are just a tool to them. 
Family however, is forever 
Friends move away and never call or write. 
Family is always there 
Friends steal your girl or your job or your games 
Family always have your back 
Remember your family and put them first 
They do the same for you 

2007

what if you lost it all tomorrow?

What if u lost it all tomorrow, 
And u came home and it was all gone ? 
All your cd's and movies and clothing ? 
The couch and your copy of Pong ? 
What if u lost all your worldly posessions ? 
What would you have to take with u ? 
Would u have Jesus Christ in your heart? 
Or would u just be all alone and blue?   

2010

Memories

Memories run thru my mind 
from time to time 
some good, some bad 
all flowing like wine 
like the birds 
they fly by and visit me 
experiences i've had 
that make me 
me

2005

A kind word never goes unheard

A kind word never goes unheard
A true friend will be true til the end
A good song will stay with you all day long
A smart man makes as many friends as he can

2010

your secret admirer

its hard to find the words 
to describe my love for you 
words like immortal, 
eternal, forever and true 

eternal beauty 
keeper of my heart 
love at first sight 
yes i've loved you from the start 

although you're way out of my league 
and don't know i'm alive 
my love for you is timeless 
and forever will survive 

how can we be together 
when you dont know i'm alive 
signed, your secret admirer 
forever and for all time. 

Broken pieces

u broke my heart and left me crying 
u stole my soul 
waltzed out the door 
u took my dreams and left them shattered 
broken pieces on the floor 

Lost love

You cant lose something that you never had. 
I thought that i had lost your love, 
And that made me feel bad. 
Now that time has passed 
I can see more clearly. 
You were only using me 
Altho i loved u dearly  

Creative thoughts

Creative thoughts 
Run thru my mind 
From time to time 
If i can find a pen and paper 
I can make them mine 
If not they are lost 
In the sands of time 
Creative thoughts 
Crash like waves 
On the shores of my mind 
If i can catch them 
I can share them 
Preserve them for all time 
If not they are lost 
And they may never again return 
Never be heard 
Never be mine 
Lost forever in time