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Best Poems Written by Barbara Attaway

Below are the all-time best Barbara Attaway poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Nude Beach Ahead

Whirlwind lifting shapeless seas Frosted Crashing In hot breeze Searching about A shell to be found Not bare, raw flesh No nudity Sandpiper sifting shells for food Millions Billions On top it stood Searching about A bug to be found Umm umm good Nude, beach combing, swinging free Lordy No He's eyeing me Searching about Virgin eyes cast down Bare, raw flesh Nudity Escape behind eyelids blushing red Seconds Minutes Eternity Searching about May solitude be found No, a fallen sign Nude Beach ahead

Copyright © Barbara Attaway | Year Posted 2011



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Red Plums Wild

To preserve this day, I pick red plums wild
Within my soul, I dream a while
A vision ancient, to me smiles
Of plums growing wild in thickets dark
There for taking by man or lark
Beside running waters where beaver barks
I hear the drum for miles

Smoke signals lifting high in sky
On summer's breeze they drift and sigh
Indian village steals my eye
Women gathering, pounding, grinding
Saving fruits for summer's ending
In cakes for winter's cold day feasting
'Round evening fires, high and dry

Painted ponies heading west
Hunter's talismans cover chests
Put their knapping skills to test
Not one willing to be the lag
Arrow drawn to down his stag
Rights this night will be to brag
Whose spearpoint flew the best

Allegiance to "Great White Father" sworn
Many moons later, treaties torn
Their ways, their days, their hopes forlorn
For wild plum cakes and venison stews
Thought safe in tepees 'neath cold skies blue
Sore gleaning here in peaceful view
For them I shall forever mourn

While picking I shall forever mourn

Copyright © Barbara Attaway | Year Posted 2013

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Sharpened Stones

Sitting at brackish-brown water's edge
Hands, blue-veined, sore to the bone
Strong searching fingers through muddied sand dredge
Seeking Early Man's sharpened stones

Breeze soft with whistles of melodious song
Waves lapping rhythm to Earth's heartbeats
Strong searching fingers through muddied sand long
To feel that ancient, sharpened strength

Floating on jasper and obsidian dreams
My mind re-creates this place long ago
Strong searching fingers, through muddied sand glean
To reap Early Man's sharpened stow

A stone sharpened to pierce, take down
A spirit meant to feed, make warm, to survive
Strong searching fingers, through muddied sand drill
For the need to know him; sharp and alive

Sitting at brackish-brown water's edge
Hands all shriveled, sensitive, clean
Strong searching fingers, through muddied sand, slide
Touch, then know perfectly sharpened means

To feel with strong tanned fingers, this
To hold though none have held before
Since one who sent this lance to kiss,
Ask forgivness and become his store

Such a moment is addictive
Such a moment is quite rare
What a victory to have been predictive
I pray he knows, I know he was here

Copyright © Barbara Attaway | Year Posted 2013

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My Brother's Keeper

He listened to The Master
Voiced not his woes
Reply was sombre, pensive
"I know the time is close"
Eyes view within...
Then...

"Love, I had more in life than most."

When The Master summoned
He breathed deeply then slipped away
Though there were those
Who begged him not to listen...

Yes, this keeper knows

Copyright © Barbara Attaway | Year Posted 2011

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The Gift

We hiked in the hills for a long, long way
My privilege was to gift their feet that day
Soak them in water, soothe with mint lotion
Seemed to me just the right heaven sent potion
My desire, you see, was to mimic my Lord

Their refusal to allow it caught me off guard
My gift was unwanted, unaccepted and scorned
No concern had they; oh, how my heart was torn
It occurred to me then how my Savior's gift waits
To be opened and entered as tabernacle gates

Will his everlasting Gift I glibly ignore
As He washes my feet on His infinite shore

Copyright © Barbara Attaway | Year Posted 2011



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A Love Story

The dark, heavy beauty
Thundered foreboding

Ferocious, blue-grey violence
Erupted from her stormy heart

She sang a steady rain and
Danced with magical lightning

A love story

Copyright © Barbara Attaway | Year Posted 2011

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Stranger

I saw myself a dirty stranger, Lord
Not worthy of your glance
Ne'er deserving of the blood you shed
My sin --- your fatal lance!

You saw yourself a lowly servant, Lord
Washing my filthy feet
Teaching me and giving hope
Your gifts --- like honey --- sweet.

O Lord, my God, how new I am
My clothes are bright and clean
Glowing with YOUR righteousness
Not stranger --- now saint --- my name!

Copyright © Barbara Attaway | Year Posted 2015


Book: Reflection on the Important Things