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Parallel Footprints

Parallel Footprints Evening arrived scattering snowflakes, I sought a solitary path of footprints In winter’s barren woods made magical this night with glittering snow Gracing every empty branch, each twig, in muffled silence of downy dusk. Thinking I walked enfolded in the snowy twilight, only with myself, I overlooked the footprints slowly walking side by side with my own – Unnoticed in the rhapsody of the winter’s stormy forest celebration Until the path uncurled around a curve revealing in the gathering dusk Another traveler, familiar to my heart, plodding through windblown drifts Bent, stooping beneath a burden slipping side to side with every step Until the baggage pulled the bearer to the snowbound path - A solitary figure captured in the jealous grip of gravity I left my reveries in unmarked snow, new footprints in separation's snowy wall Lifting the burden to follow silent footprints, not lead, or walk, chambers of The heart only trace the outline a friend's journey till we walk in parallel again. 4-30-21 Contest: Footprints in 8-14 lines Sponsor Carolyn Devonshire Twenty Lines

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Frances Schiavina

Date: 5/11/2021 9:08:00 AM

Congratulations on your very very beautiful top winner.

Jeanne Mcgee

Date: 5/7/2021 12:08:00 PM

What wonderful expression of sentiment Sam. Congratulations on your top win.

David Kavanagh

Date: 5/6/2021 12:18:00 PM

Heya Sam, you’ve definitely achieved that transcendence point, beyond an out of body experience, so difficult to pen, but you certainly reached new heights in this wonderful write, congratulations on a fully deserved win, cheers David

Juliet Ligon

Date: 5/6/2021 11:30:00 AM

Powerful write. Congratulations!

Beata Agustin

Date: 5/5/2021 7:06:00 PM

Wow! Congrats! Thanks for sharing this... making me reflect, and yes, thankful to the Lord for His presence in every journey, as well as friends in every trek. God bless you.

Robert L. Hinshaw

Date: 5/5/2021 5:18:00 PM

Hearty congratulations, Sam, for this masterful write! First Place is so well-deserved! Many thanks for your kind comments re my win. Best to you as you continue your poetical journey - Bob H

Emile Pinet

Date: 5/4/2021 12:08:00 PM

This poem was a breathing pageant of grace and movement that carried me off to a new experience and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, well written my friend, Emile.

Hilo Poet

Date: 5/4/2021 11:07:00 AM

Nicely executed, Sam, admirably penned as always with simple words profoundly fashioned. Reminds me of my first time, ended up in knee-deep of Washington's morning snow as friends from afar laughed telling me next time to use the path, "What path?", the ones with the footprints! I would have loved parallel footprints to have kept my pants dry, my compliments for placing First in Carolyn's contest, well-deserving of you my friend, Aloha!

Christuraj Alex

Date: 5/4/2021 10:29:00 AM

Congratulations!

Evelyn Swartz

Date: 5/4/2021 9:09:00 AM

Beautiful write. Congratulations on your win. I read the poem several times. I interpreted the meaning to be that we often forget someone is walking beside us during trials in life. We all have burdens. I liked the part where the other set of footprints were slipping and sliding until the were on the snowy path near yours. Thanks for sharing that poem.

Malabika Ray Choudhury

Date: 5/4/2021 8:06:00 AM

Congratulations, Sam, on your wonderful win. This poem is really really deep - going to read it many times! Dear Friend, I get inspired with your extraordinary poems - content and the vocabulary. Love ~ Mala

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 5/4/2021 7:29:00 AM

We have companions along the way through life and sometimes the burdens they carry slow them down. I love the way you realize that eventually the two sets of footprints will be "parallel" again. This stunning poem is deep, extraordinary and so worthy of a first place win, Sam. Congratulations! I'm sending you a Soup Mail seeking an address where I can send your prize. Hugs, Carolyn

Sam Kauffman
Date: 5/7/2021 10:04:00 AM

Thank you again Carolyn. You are so right about the ways we intersect with friends then walk in parallel again. Hopefully we never lose sight of our friends walking their path. So grateful for this contest theme, your sponsorship and the placement. This poem seems to have touched something deep with other soupers! I am so pleased. Sending you blessings, prayers and a hug dear friend! Soup mail.

Gary Radice

Date: 5/3/2021 1:23:00 AM

Hi Sam! I read this a couple of times and then read your explanation underneath. I felt the woods opening up before me the more I read and then the deeper I imagined walking into the woods, the deeper the poem's message became. Several of your lines had an air and feel of Shakespeare to them. I loved the poem. Cheers - Gary

Sotto Poet

Date: 4/30/2021 3:17:00 PM

Hi Sam, you penned a great poem; I can see my self easily in it; blessings and bests regards

Sam Kauffman
Date: 5/3/2021 10:12:00 AM

Thank you so much my friend. I was hoping the reader would see themselves in this poem and be able to relate to the experience. Thank you for your affirmation! Blessings to you!

L Milton Hankins

Date: 4/30/2021 11:34:00 AM

Superb writing, Sam. I thoroughly enjoyed your poem and could easily relate. Good job!

Sam Kauffman
Date: 5/3/2021 10:09:00 AM

Thank you so much LM! This poem was written for a friend after her mother died. We weren't able to attend the funeral because of a freak snowstorm. Funny how paths cross then we walk in parallel lines again! Blessings of bountiful crossroads to you!