Nowak Poetry

Prayer Warrior

I am a brave warrior,
And I am strong.
Ready to fight against
Any type of wrong.

I do not need a gun,
A sword, a knife or a spear.
I am armed with the knowledge
That God is always near.

I do not use violence,
Instead I use my voice.
My words have power.
They are my weapon of choice.

When trouble comes along
Looking to be a destroyer,
I am ready to battle.
I am a prayer warrior.

I do not charge forward,
When difficulty is on the attack,
Instead I fall down to my knees,
As my way to battle back.

Praying with passion,
With everything I have got.
Knowing when God is involved,
There is always a shot.

I cry out for His saving help,
With great persistence.
Anything is possible,
With God’s assistance.

When trouble comes along
Looking to be a destroyer,
I am ready to battle.
I am a prayer warrior.

Tell a story with your life!

The Best Stories

Sometimes optimism vanishes
Without a trace.
When we face situations,
We do not want to face.

Extreme trouble and despair
Is all around,
And the hope we once had
Is nowhere to be found.

When difficulty does not go away,
When it only persists,
An opportunity for something amazing
Still exists.

The really hard times in life
We wish we could sever,
But those same hard times
Turn into the best stories ever.

Stories of falling way behind,
Only to retake the lead.
Stories of almost failing,
Only to eventually succeed.

To these hard times in our lives,
We will not be succumbing.
Our lives will show a triumph
That no one saw coming.

Our lives will tell the stories
Of times where certain defeat was found,
But through sheer will and determination
Came an awesome turnaround.

The really hard times in life
We wish we could sever,
But those same hard times
Turn into the best stories ever.

Traveled across Montana today speaking in Butte, Bozeman, and Billings. Montana was state 43 for me. It is a beautiful place. Another great day. Over 1,000 miles in the car since landing on Sunday. Tomorrow: Wyoming.

This poem has been used to honor many people through the years, but today I share it in loving memory of my Uncle Bill. William J Nowak Jr
This is a poem about losing someone but never losing the love for that person.

Tonight I Light This Candle

I miss being able to see you.
I miss talking to you everyday,
But up to God’s Kingdom in Heaven,
You have finally found your way.

So tonight I light a candle
To let you know I still care,
But that is not the end of it.
I have a message I want to share.

In just a few short hours
This candle may burn out,
But the passion you have put inside me
Will always be what I am about.

Tomorrow this candle I have lit
May be taken and may be gone,
But the admiration I have for you
Will continue to live on.

You are still with me
In every breath that I take,
And you are still with me
In every decision I make.

You have given me precious memories,
And those memories are here to stay.
They are treasures for my soul
That can never be taken away.

So tonight I light this candle,
But this candle is only a small part
Of the deep love for you
That will always be in my heart.

Trying to talk myself out of going to swim at lunch today (I am bad at swimming) gave me inspiration to write this new poem.

A Thousand Reasons

There are a thousand reasons
Causing me to doubt.
A thousand reasons
Why it just will not work out.

A thousand reasons
Why I cannot get started.
A thousand reasons
For me to be faint-hearted.

A thousand reasons
Why I never get to it.
A thousand reasons
Why I just cannot do it.

A thousand reasons why I can’t,
But they are not part of my plan.
I choose to go forward
Focusing on the reasons I can.

I cannot become a victim
Of needless procrastination,
Instead I must stand strong
In unwavering determination.

I have to stop worrying,
Getting stuck in my own head.
So I can see the potential glory
Just up ahead.

Not sure if I can do it,
But if I do not try I will never know.
If I am willing to take my shot,
Who knows how far I can go.

A thousand reasons why I can’t,
But they are not part of my plan.
I choose to go forward
Focusing on the reasons I can.

Josie spoke for me at the Relay For Life at Coastal Carolina University on Saturday and she crushed it. I only wish I could have been there. She did amazing with her speech and the poems!

Going into a Time Machine back to 2006 for a Good Friday Hero poem from FINDING THE LIGHT.

A Hero Saves the Day

Today’s heroes are mostly fiction.
They use their powers to fight crime.
You are different. You are real.
You are the greatest hero of all time.

You did not need a cape to fly.
You did not need to hide behind a mask,
Instead you used your holy powers,
To accomplish an unbelievable task.

They kicked you and beat you,
And hammered thorns into your head,
But you refused to seek revenge,
As your blood was being shed.

They hammered stakes into your hands,
And they hammered stakes into your feet,
But when the devil offered to ease your pain,
You refused to let yourself be beat.

You did not need to dodge bullets,
Or fly high up in the sky,
Because as a hero you made a sacrifice,
When you allowed yourself to die.

You knew in advance what would be your fate,
But you still marched on unbelievably brave.
You knew that by dying and rising again,
There were so many lives you could save.

You see you are the ultimate hero,
In each and every possible way.
For me and everyone like me,
You really did save the day.

Lifetime talk 2,500 last night at the 1st Cane Bay YMCA Masquerade Ball. Nowak Poetry was able to partner with them for this amazing event!

Bidding has officially begun and ends at 9 PM tomorrow night! Thank you for your support!!!

2024 Nowak Poetry Gala Check out our auction 2024 Nowak Poetry Gala!

Nowak Poetry Gala 8 is in 4 Days!!!
Thank you to everyone who has bought tickets, donated, helped us, and prayed for us, so we can inspire more cancer survivors in 2024. There is still time……

Do you think this new poem would be better for a cancer survivor or someone battling homelessness?

Rock Bottom

Life’s hardest times
Have rocked me at my core,
In the lowest spot
I have ever been before.

Failure is stalking me,
Looking to strip away.
My hopes and my dreams
Are in complete disarray.

When good moments for me
Seem a little null and void,
I will not allow my optimism
To be destroyed.

The important things in life,
Not ready to drop them,
Because I am someone
Who returns from rock bottom.

Inch by inch and step by step
Is how I will climb out of this mess,
As I slowly build momentum
And start to make some progress.

I will not underestimate
The goal I am pursuing,
Or underestimate
What I am capable of doing.

I will take the necessary steps
To fight my way back,
And the necessary steps
To complete my comeback.

The important things in life,
Not ready to drop them,
Because I am someone
Who returns from rock bottom.

Nowak Poetry Gala 8
Saturday January 20th, 2024
The Freedom Barn
Brookville Road--Indianapolis
Tickets on sale October 1st

Nowak Poetry’s 2023 Cancer Survivor book, Victorious, is released. 112,000 copies are being sent to Relay For Life events throughout the US and to 27 other countries. This brings the charity up to 1,754,000 copies printed. 2,000,000 is on the horizon. God is good!

New poem. Welcome any comments.

The Lies Cancer Tells

It is too much for me.
It will be too rough.
It is overpowering.
It is just too tough.

No way out of this.
Unfortunate circumstance.
I cannot overcome it.
I do not stand a chance.

No way to get through.
No way for me to get by.
It is all just
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie.

I stay on my journey
To hear victory bells.
No way I am believing
The lies cancer tells.

I will not allow cancer
To stand in my way.
I get a little stronger,
Each and every day.

So much hope in my heart,
I refuse to be beat.
I keep moving closer
To cancer’s defeat.

I will not back down.
My spirit is alive.
Against this cancer,
I am going to thrive.

I stay on my journey
To hear victory bells.
No way I am believing
The lies cancer tells.

This poem is my anthem in a way. I grew up with a crazy dream of writing. From a young age, I was different. I wasn't like other kids. I was made fun of and bullied because of it. However, that differentiator made me strong. It was what God would need me to become in life. Now I speak around the country. My poems are sent around the world to inspire others. My message to any young kids out there who have a dream. Embrace being different! Fight for what you believe! God made you who you are for a reason.

Unusual

Ashamed of it.
Made to frown for it.
Bullied because of it.
Put down for it.

Been told it is a weakness.
That it is all wrong,
But it is my difference maker.
It makes me strong.

It used to feel so awful.
I did not want to face it,
But it is my differentiator.
Now I embrace it.

If someone thinks I cannot do it,
Then they are delusional.
I am capable of greatness,
Because I am unusual.

Unusual in how I live,
In the way I choose to act.
Always looking to make a splash.
Trying to have an impact.

Unusual in my thinking.
Believing I can do more.
I am wired differently.
Determination is in my core.

Unusual in my hopes and dreams,
In the things for which I strive.
With so much passion in my heart,
Better believe I will thrive.

If someone thinks I cannot do it,
Then they are delusional.
I am capable of greatness,
Because I am unusual.

My latest cancer poem.

Victorious

Before we have time to talk,
Before we can discuss,
The conflict has already started.
Cancer is upon us.

There is unwanted chaos.
There is unwanted dispair.
Everywhere we turn,
Uncertainty is in the air.

We are caught completely off guard.
This is not what we expected,
But towards winning this battle,
All our energy is directed.

Deep down in our souls,
We know we can do this.
We will defeat cancer
And stand victorious.

For the hope in our hearts,
There is no compromise.
To the surface,
Our strength and bravery will rise.

We will remain steadfast,
And we will stand our ground.
We will build momentum
And turn this thing around.

We are bringing cancer's reign
To an end. To a stop.
When it comes to this battle,
We will finish on top.

Deep down in our souls,
We know we can do this.
We will defeat cancer
And stand victorious.

2023 Caregiver Poem

Until

Cancer has entered your life
So we will make our stand
I am your caregiver.
I am with you hand in hand.

The road ahead is uncertain.
Things are not clear,
But we will be courageous.
We will not fear.

Our determination
Is never in short supply,
So we will persevere
In all that we try.

No matter what happens,
Cancer will not break our will.
You and I will keep fighting,
Until...

Until any pain cancer caused
Is left far behind.
Until cancer-free days
Are the only things you find.

Until you surge past.
Until you break free.
Until lasting victory
Is what you see.

Until the scans are clear,
And the cancer is gone.
Until you leave it behind,
And triumphantly move on.

No matter what happens,
Cancer will not break our will.
You and I will keep fighting,
Until...

The Way

I become disoriented,
About where my life has gone.
I am no longer traveling,
On the path I should be on.

Being lost is not a good spot.
I am out of my groove.
I am not sure where to go,
Or which way I need to move.

When at a point of confusion
About what step to make,
I turn to him for clarity
On what direction to take.

God directs my journey,
When I have gone astray.
He gets me on the right path.
God shows me the way.

From what took me off course,
God gives me exemption.
He gets me back on track,
On the road to redemption.

When God accompanies me,
There is never any doubt.
He gets me to the right spot.
He gets me on the right route.

I go much further in life,
When God is guiding me.
He always gets me
Exactly where I need to be.

God directs my journey,
When I have gone astray.
He gets me on the right path.
God shows me the way.

Need something to do tomorrow night? Join us at the Valle Vista Country Club for a great cause and support Nowak Poetry! If you can't attend in person, check out our silent auction online.
https://app.bidbeacon.com/share/auction.php?code=M4HSEJ
Lots of great gifts in time for Christmas and tax deductible!!!

2022 Nowak Poetry Gala Check out our auction 2022 Nowak Poetry Gala!

Adult writing contest results. Results were delayed because of how hard it was for the judges to pick winners. Many great poems submitted across the board this year.

2022 DREAM! Writing Contest Winners

1st Place Shelly Furtado-Linton
2nd Place Amanda Rebollosa
3rd Place Stephanie Lea

HM Kisha
HM Debra
HM Dawn Moore

Congratulations to the winners of Nowak Poetry's 2022 Student Writing Contest:

2022 INSPIRE! Winners:

1st Place Josephine Chadwick
2nd Place Graham Blankenship
3rd Place Mina Sadri

Through It

Overwhelming obstacles
Staring me in the face.
I wish I was somewhere else,
In some different place.

What I am dealing with
Is more difficult than I thought.
I am in a rough patch,
In an unthinkable spot.

There is potential for grief,
Potential for dread,
But my heart stays confident,
About what lies ahead.

It has often been said,
If God takes me to it,
I can be confident
He will bring me through it.

In times when things are scary,
When things are unclear,
God draws me close.
God keeps me near.

When I hit those tough spots
And I start slowing,
God pushes me forward.
He keeps me going.

God is there alongside me,
When I am stuck in a mess.
He gets me through the trouble,
And guides me to success.

It has often been said,
If God takes me to it,
I can be confident
He will bring me through it.

REMINDER: Two days left to get Nowak Poetry Gala 7 tickets at the early bird discount price of $50 each. You can grab them at nowakpoetry.org under Gala Info.

Nowak Poetry Gala 7 Tickets will remain $50 for the rest of September. Several people are getting tickets, but have not been able to purchase yet. Tickets are available on nowakpoetry.org under Gala info under tickets. Thank you to everyone who has already got their tickets. This is going to be a great year!

Packing up for a week of talks in Vegas 54 talks in 7 days. Starting tomorrow. Visiting homeless missions and shelters, drug addiction centers, homeless teen centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, high schools, libraries, and assisted living centers.

Nowak Poetry Gala 7 will be on Friday December 2nd at Valle Vista in Greenwood at 7:00. Tickets go on sale this coming Monday. I will post the link. Tickets will be $50 for the first two weeks, and then they will go up to $60. Kids are $30. Also, attendees can submit a photo of a loved one or of loved ones who have been lost to cancer for a special video presentation during the event. Looking forward to a lot of fun on December 2nd.

Calling all students for our annual student writing competition:

NOWAK POETRY
Presents
Inspire!
11th Annual Student Poetry Contest
Cash Prizes

1st Place $60

2nd Place $40

3rd Place $20

Publication Prize

The winning poem will be published in Nowak Poetry’s January 2023 poem book, MY SHELTER.* The book will be distributed to 20,000+ people in homeless missions and shelters around the United States.

Rules and Guidelines

• The poem must provide an inspirational message to people battling homelessness.
• Open to all student writers.
• Students may enter 2 poems, but may only win once.
• All entries must be emailed to Nowak Poetry at [email protected] with the subject line, Inspire! Writing Contest.
• All entries must be received by 3:00 EST on September 30th, 2022.
• Winners will be announced by October 21st, 2022.
• Poems must be 32 lines or less to be considered.
• Poems will be judged by a panel of judges.
• Poems will be evaluated based on message, creativity and writing style.

*A publishing waiver must be signed and submitted prior to printing. The author of the poem will retain full copyright ownership.

Annual Writing Contest for the Homeless:

NOWAK POETRY
Presents
10th Annual
Dream! Poetry Contest

Cash Prizes

1st Place $60

2nd Place $40

3rd Place $20

Honorable Mention $10

Publication Prize

The winning poem will be published in Nowak Poetry’s January 2023 poem book, My Shelter.* The book will be distributed to 20,000+ people in homeless missions and shelters around the United States and Canada.

Rules and Guidelines

• The poem must provide an inspirational message to people.
• All entries must be emailed to Nowak Poetry at [email protected] with the subject line 2022 Dream! Writing Contest. Two entries per person maximum.
• All entries must be received by 3:00 EST on September 30th, 2022.
• Winners will be announced by October 21st.
• Poems must fit on one page to be considered.
• Contact information must be included with all submissions.
• Each writer may enter two poems.
• Poems will be judged by a panel of judges.
• Poems will be evaluated based on message, creativity and writing style.

*A publishing waiver must be signed and submitted prior to printing. The author of the poem will retain full copyright ownership.