Best Chair Poems
I leave the sun-dappled autumn sidewalk, entering the office
The empty chair there lingers.
dark tendrils coiling in my mind—
my blind rage pleading for quiet healing.
flashbacks clash like striking thunder
opening buried treasures of truth.
and in that final brand searing cry
My heart reborn, mindlessly adrift in spectral mist.
I gladly depart as sleet glazes, streets so slick…..
The Empty Chair at Christmas
by Robert J (Bob) Moore
As Christmas rolls around again, we should take time to remember
to pause, and think of people, who were with us last December
Family, friends, and neighbours, who have left us since that day
an empty space within our heart, which will never go away
A place set at the table, for those who are not there
and as the family gathers, we say a silent prayer
remembering all the fun we had, when you were here with us
and knowing we must carry on, as you wonder at the fuss
Each year the list grows longer, of those whom we will miss
the hand we cannot hold, and the cheek we cannot kiss
but you are here, the memories flow, you would not want the sadness, so
we think of you, and softly say, we will meet again one day
The pale face of nature, of flowers and treetops
Has been lost without color, behind frost in the meadow
Under snow on the fence post, and the ice on the willow
So tattered and bobbing, and weary of hiding
So weary of biding her time in the fog
Tired of the doldrums, tired of the ho-hums , and weary of crying...
The pale face of nature, of gardens in springtime
Will drink in this morning, to find it surprising!
A lekker arrival !!
Of sunkissed horizons
Is blissfully welcomed with gold in the morning
All smitten with cheer !
Trees lean to the side
Drunk on the sun
Lifting their branches
And keeping it near
I long for it too
As I move out my chair
From under the shade
To drink in the sun
After dark winter days
To welcome it here
A lekker arrival
Is speckled in sunshine
I find it to be fine, to bask on my deck!
I'll poke out my neck to soak in the bliss
And what could be better than this? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
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For Suzette's Contest: "LEKKER"
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My favourite chair
Said to me one night
Hey! Highlander
What you going to write
Is it going to be a fantasy
A Haiku or a Senyru
What ever comes from your thoughts
It's from the inner you
I have supported and rested
While you have written your writes
From many an afternoon
Into the early morning light
You never get frustrated
You just sit and ponder
For you know there are words
They are just out yonder
This partnership we have
Will remain as close as ever
Until the end of our days
Will be the time to sever
We will continue to be
One and the same
I to support you
With poetry your aim
My entry into Matt Caliri's contest " Speak chair! Speak! "
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/poetry-soup-2.php
I am but a slave among lives hidden features
Who cares what I crave midst these two-legged creatures
I crave superb polish and fine furniture wax
Extremely strong wood glue and upholstery tacks
To be moved more toward the shade and less in the sun
To have a tung oil bath, ah, now that would be fun
I crave to be gently rocked and read to again
Like when grandpa was alive and Jimmy was ten
But most of all to stay in my room at the keep
And be warmed by the fire until I fall asleep
A Chair and Music
How deep in pain I met the day,
Yesterday’s old emotions had gone into play,
To top the mood, the skies were gray,
My mind toppled into past forays.
Drifting, not thinking, just in pain,
What could I do to undo the past,
Knowing full well the impossibility,
Hoping, praying, this mood would pass.
To have a “chair” is a heavenly thing,
To leave the world to think, to dream,
Music loved without voice or clash,
To leave the world to think, to dream.
Minutes passed and quarter hours,
Conjuring visions of coming spring flowers,
When recalling Your gifts – I had let You go.
Paints and brushes saved my soul long ago.
I picked up an old brush and then a tube,
While music washed me, changed my mood,
And I spent time away from my guilt-filled place,
When I came back, You were there with Your grace.
To leave the world to think, to dream.
And find that your hell was not what it seemed.
Footprints have frozen in Winter's hard ground
from a cold angry night when my love fled
into a world of despair and rain
the cabin door is still open...banging
by restless winds that sweep across its wooden floor
where we once danced to music in candlelight
now... covered by dust and dead leaves
from Autumn's demise
the last glow from a setting sun cuts ribbons across a chair
left from a time my heart cannot forget
resting still with the cobwebs of time
once, a hand-carved gift...left as the last symbol
of worthless love
now, it's the last refuge of a broken heart
alone...abandon
here I will sit with my saxophone and play
all the favorite songs we danced to
between yesterday's thoughts and shots of whiskey
before I pull the trigger on my sad life
to leave the chair alone...no more
11/17/18
Rocking Chair
(The Autistic Child)
Born with walls constructed in her mind,
She keeps the world and all its threat at bay,
Inside her rocking chair day after day,
A month, a year, an hour, no sense of time
Just rocking, rocking all her life away.
Christmas comes and presents pile around
Her chair; she sees the paper, shining, colors bright;
She reaches for the red, the blue, the white.
She revels in the crumpling paper sound--
Just rocking, rocking in her endless night.
The family gathers for the festive meal,
She will not leave her chair, her treasured place,
The never-ceasing motion of her private race.
She’s rocking in her solitary reel,
An empty stare on her unchanging face.
But what is this, her sister’s gentle hand
A soft, accepted touch , a simple smile,
“I want to sit with you a little while”--
Contact made without seeming to demand
They rock together—a stationary mile.
Grandpa’s chair still there
though stables are empty now
ghostly echoes of neighing
still hear Gramps praying
“Please, Lord, let me keep my farm”
blessings bestowed on our clan
*Entry for Rick’s “Chair in Shadowed Room” contest
my angel you are with me
in a way i never knew
just sitting here thinking
and spending time with you
we recall the good times
and lessons that we learned
sneered at the bad times
and hours that they burned
both learning truths
as God helped us to see
a little something about you
a little something about me
we were brought together
it was our destiny
and just like all beautiful stories
ending in tragedy
but only just today
have i found you in my mind
and now something tells me
that you were there all the time
my spirit has accepted
that your body has gone
but everything you did
in my mind lives on
you made me someone
much more than i am
giving me presents and presence
being my biggest fan
i could never win anything
more valued than you
my gift from God
i was given to you too
the chair where you were sitting
beside me so so well
for a while it held an emptiness
a little piece of hell
but i have learned for the good
perhaps in the nick of time
that i can fold your little chair
and put it in my mind
and place it with my treasures
things i've had since i was a boy
with my most treasured memories
horses and toys
I slide in the chair as it begins to rise.
Legs hanging with heavy feet,
Bang them together, watch falling snow.
Brisk wind hits my face turning red.
The metal cold and wood wet,
Holding my poles dangling skis,
Nose gets numb during the ascent.
The view surreal I feel so blessed,
See them push off at the top.
Just in time I jump off
Then glide through dusty snow.
By: Greg Stanley
Submitted into Brian Strand's "Upto Sixteen lines" Contest
I've been watching you for hours now,
wringing your hands
pacing the floor
watching the monitors
holding his hand
never leaving his side
Your spirit is strong,
he feels you by his side
knows you are there,
hears your whispered prayers
yet you are oh, so tired,
I see it in your weary face,
your bloodshot eyes
I'm here for you,
when you are ready-
pull me close to his bed,
lean back and take his hand,
close your eyes for a few minutes.
I'll stand watch with you,
I'm here for you, and
I'm not aganist catching a tear or two
I see you looking at me-longing for relief
He won't think you weak if you
sit down for a while--so,
Go ahead--
Pull me close to the bed,
take his hand,
lean back,
close your eyes,
rest.
I am here for you.
where she used to rock her kids to sleep;
arms empty now, she starts to weep.
4/24/2023 For Line Gauthier's 'Bite Size Contest no.62' Poetry Contest
.
U-umph, Oof-fa ha!.... There, comfy now?
Hey, would you pick up your tush,
reach in here and pick up your wife's locket?
It's down here under my cush,
and please get that screw driver outa your pocket?
That's good for me, yes much better.
Is it good for you too?
Yes, now go ahead and read your letter.
Hey, you remember when you and your wife,
saved me at that Auction in Aspen?
Talk about stress and strife !
I sure was a mess back then.
One last chance,
and I was headed for the rubbish bin.
The Auctioneer grabbed my arm,
And hollered out, "who'll bid it at a sixty?"
I remember being on stage watching you,
then it was "fifty five or bidit ata fifty -now fifty",
You didn't bid ; ..I thought I was through.
No one interested and he was droppin' fast!
"Biddit ata fortyforty thirtyfi-five bidit atta thirty two!"
"Bidda wudda gimme good chair, just alil bit dirty"
I was so nervous ; you just stared at your shoe!
"Lookin big bidder cudda cudda bidder thirty!"
Biddit abub bidja bidja bud, gimme gimme bouta fifteen on "er
well right then I Frayed My Hem! And thought I was a Goner!
"Wudja wudja cudda cudja gimme gimme biddit at about ten?"
That's when you looked up high and I saw the gleam in your eye.
I shifted my skirting, straightened my back and looked real bold,
You caught his eye, nodded your head and he hollered "SOLD!"
Well I rocked back easy and you went in to pay the man,
loaded me up and brought me home in your old van.
Y'all cleaned me up and gave me a nice shampoo,
and set me just so in your cozy library den.
You know..I'm really comfortable with you two.
I Have been since that auction in Aspen.
Hey! You dropped some popcorn in my... Oh ..never mind..,
Ahh..the memories..it's all good..it's all just FINE.
'
Our piano with silence speaks
The rickety rocking chair squeaks
Where Mama sits and stares each day
Music memories stored away
Our loved inheritance remains
Melodies cycling through our brains.