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35

Poems
of
John Muconto

© 2026 John Muconto

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

You are free to share, copy, redistribute, provided proper credit is given and the work is not used commercially.

License details: Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0

FOREWORD

this collection began as a gift to myself—something I wanted to complete before turning 35.

it became a way of gathering fragments of a life lived: memories, reflections, contradictions, and moments of clarity.

not as an attempt to find answers, and not as a search for closure, but as a record of experience as it is.

these poems do not aim to explain life, but to observe it—honestly, imperfectly, and personally.

at 35, I do not claim resolution. only awareness.

Formation
Live
Live today Like the first, like the last day of your life with the wonder of a child discovering the world, and the gaze of an elder reminiscing on old days Live today— it may be the first, it will be the last Every day, life begins where life ends: a circle of life
Dear Devil
I am sorry for every time I blamed you for the wrongs in the world and in my life for my own mistakes, my own sins even when I knew exactly what I was doing
Adulthood
When life moves too fast and everything happens at once, a slow day at home— waking up late, a cup of coffee— is all you ask for and then you know: you are an adult
Dear God
Thank you for everything— the good and the bad, blessings and trials I am too immature to fully understand your wisdom and your love When perfection embraces imperfection, there is true love I am here for you, as you have always been for us
Onions
I don't like onions— why, I can't say the taste, the smell, I can't take it I don't like onions, and neither do my father and my brother— something we share without knowing why
Mindfulness
The mind wanders through memories and plans— never here, always in the past or the future The mind wanders, never stops— thoughts running even in sleep a tired mind Take a deep breath, notice what is here— this moment is enough
Spiderman Toy
I wanted a Spiderman action figure, like the ones you see in commercials I asked my mother for one but she brought me another I was sad— it was not the one I wanted but now I understand— she did her best she did not know Spiderman as much as I did it wasn't because she didn't want to memories like this make me appreciate my mother and what I had
Without You
Silence screams in the space you left— louder than any noise I miss you
Growing Up
Until 10, I wanted things until 20, I wanted friends until 30, I wanted happiness as I grow toward 40, I want peace of mind as I grew, I got what I wanted— and still reached for something deeper in my journey through life, I am no longer chasing— only understanding
Struggle
Programmer's Code
Between classes and objects, organize your code don't repeat yourself, write readable code know when to use enums and interfaces so much complexity— maybe I should go functional clean code or not, it just needs to work because if I come back in six months, I need to find that damn method
Am I a Fool (Love)
I believe in love Am I a fool, to believe in love when the world sees you as a tool Am I a fool, to believe in love when money, pleasure, and ego run the world Am I a fool, to believe in love when everyone feels unlove Am I a fool, to believe in love I can't, I won't let love die I believe in love to love and be loved— no better feeling I believe in love only love can unite us
Pain
I feel your pain you are not alone I have been there before hopeless, in a pool of tears and sorrow no matter what you are going through, you will survive it you are stronger than it I have been there and I survived it there is no pain we cannot endure and overcome together we are stronger it is okay to ask for help
Erica
Since our first date, I knew you were the one five years later, you are still the one I love you— deeply, more than before
Startup Paradigm
They say to build a startup, find a problem, create a solution, find people willing to pay, and make the world a better place But what can I do when the problem I want to solve is putting money in my pocket and escaping the nine to five— is that a problem worth solving?
Winner
I lost and I won I lost more than I can admit you could say I am a winner at losing the few times I won were because of my losses I lost so much I had nothing to lose I lost the fear of failing
School
Not much to reminisce about school— except colleagues and some teachers on those hot days, the only thing I cared about was getting good grades
Fuck
so much power in a four- letter word a word that plays well with any other word in any mood embarrassed to say, it is my favorite little word in the English language
Release
Letting Go
From memories, feelings, dreams, people— and everything else that belonged to who I was in that moment letting go to move, to grow, to succeed letting go to lose control letting go and leave it in God's hands letting go of myself— for something greater
Parents
I know all you did, all you could, all you knew— for me I love you very much
Poem
I am not a poet, but something in me is my heart speaks in poems, things even I am not aware of the language of poets lets me find a part of me so deep it is only revealed through verse
Beer
that first sip was awful, until it became part of everything in social moments, it made everything easier— until it didn't I remember those days, when nothing needed to be made special hangovers were tough, we broke up so many times as I grow, I don't need you— but the bitter taste turned sweet I still take a sip every now and then
Nights
quiet night, mind clears like a clear sky with a full moon good ideas come when everyone is gone to think, to study, or just listen to bossa nova sleep leaves me alone with myself and returns with the sunrise my best sleep is during the day
In a Bad Day
on a bad day, sitting on the stairs, an old man out of nowhere greets me warmly I forget why I was even mad as I think back to that moment, the cause and the old man become mere fogs but the feeling remains vivid, like a blue sky on a summer day 1 still feel connected to each one
Sex
[This poem appears to be missing or not included in the manuscript.]
Babel Tower
As humans, the only time we were truly united was when we built the tower to become legends with all His power, divided by verb ever since, families, empires, and countries were born—through illusory lines that never truly existed we achieve so much on our own, and yet we reach our limits if we are to survive, we need to unite once again 1 to reach ourselves
Joy of Others
that joy that comes from within when you help somebody and see a smile on their face makes me feel holy
Life Is Hard
life is hard, the world is harsh for most, it is more surviving than living we hold on to little sparks of hope to endure the day you don't know where it comes from—prayer, a game, or social media a smile or a hug
Observation
5 AM
as the sun rises, birds sing midnight silence fades away a new day begins after all these years, it is still easier to go to sleep than to wake up at 5 AM
Social Media Adventure
started on MySpace tasted Badoo never a Twitter man dated with Facebook while cheating with Instagram private on WhatsApp but hiding on Reddit between reels and shorts, when I want an unsocial distraction YouTube for dinner no TikTok for me— I've seen enough
Night Sky
when I look at the sky full of stars and the moon I feel the immensity of the universe in a single moment one single star touches my heart with light each night until I learned it was Venus
Johrei
the light that saved my life even after 22 years with humility, I sometimes feel unworthy to channel God's love I ask for permission and lift my hand for the person next to me and in that moment I feel closer to God
Resolution
Milestones of Life
In life there are moments we cannot go back from milestones that mark our lives for better or worse that shape our growth for me, what comes to mind: the decision to let go and move on the decision to follow God's will rather than my own the decision to marry the one I love the decision to become a father to my child the decision to follow my dreams
Three Gifts
before birth, wherever we stay before coming into this world, three gifts are given to each of us a talent, a sin, and a challenge the talent- something only you can do in your own way the sin- one of the seven that follows you through life the challenge— something you must conquer each day, knowing it will never be easy three gifts that make every life unequal, special, human that is life in a nutshell
Peace
during this life I searched for it all— happiness in people, things, and success love in people, in things, and in myself through suffering, endurance, and gratitude, I found all I needed out of life enough for a life well lived
35
A sum of a life a sum of personas a sum of experiences— good and bad a world of self, and many I had the pleasure to meet boy becomes man, and man finds in the boy a home, an essence, the root of all he became dreams fulfilled, forgotten, and undone a marathon, not a race 35 is not the end, but a checkpoint in a game without retries regrets and mistakes accepted failures owned with gratitude, I danced with my demons until they dissolved by God I am here—blessed with love and pride a life well lived

About the Author

John Muconto is a programmer and writer from Mozambique with professional experience in IT management and a parallel academic background in theology. His work sits at the intersection of analytical systems thinking and reflective spiritual inquiry.

He has practiced the Messianic faith for 22 years, a perspective that informs much of his worldview and writing.

His poetry collection, 35 Poems, reflects structured introspection, personal observation, and thematic exploration of meaning, discipline, and belief.

The work is published under a free license, reflecting his interest in open access and shared creative work.