Notes About The Poem

straight, narrow

I …

am obtuse angle -
once lost … wandering
an indigent urchin of Valhalla’s streets
a smudge on the heavenly lens
and yet …
made worthy by the art of
your papery hands
as they place gilded cobbles ‘neath my feet
tear-washed and baptized
to tread where gods devoured their days
spinning men’s dreams to thistle
and puffing them gone …
all for granted -
all aged by apathy and arrogance
their own vile victims …
you have brought me to know -
to find wonderment
and to see for myself, their ruin
a calamity of conceit
that we tiny things paid dearly for
we bottom-pocket contrivances
tenders of oblivion
meant only to kiss the toes of what
they deemed precious …
and still, strolls here now in their stead
one such costless creature
but priceless too
for the sake of the one path they
could never weave
a gold-shine track paved to immortal
existence by the
care and kindness of gentle fingers -
hands aged by the tares of three lifetimes
yet soft with gentleness …
your simple act of humility and grace
and the sacrifice that is never
a sacrifice -
the only key to The Gate
and the one treasure that in all
their divine majesty
escaped them …

love.





Copyright © 2025 Gregory Richard Barden

( photographic art of Mom’s and my hands created by Yours Truly - filtering effects at Prisma / Lightroom )

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Be the first to comment on this poem. Encourage this poet.

Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Hide Ad