Best Chasing Poems
I set up an easel in the shade of my beach umbrella. Wanting to paint by the morning light, I dabbed colors onto the palette...sea foam green, azure, titanium white, and ochre.
With wetted brush in hand,
I looked out, ready to begin.
But there upon the golden sand,
Ran my tomboy daughter, Quin.
An only child, Quin had long ago found ways to amuse herself. Since the age of three she'd insisted on brushing her own hair into a ponytail, Now, at seven, she hadn't yet gotten the hang of it, but fly-a-way hair becomes my little tomboy. I smiled when I realized how much like Quin I was as a child. I watched as she chased gulls and sandpipers, clapping her hands to keep them flying ahead of her running steps. A child of nature, she sees beauty in everything. She stopped and shielded her eyes against the rising sun with her hands. She watched the sandpipers land further up the beach then walked back to me.
"Mommy, do you think the birds
are afraid of me when I give chase?"
She waits to hear comforting words.
I smile, looking at her worried face.
"Quin, my darling, if you think they are afraid, find something else
to do that won't scare them away." She picked up her blue denim bag and skipped along the shore looking for starfish and sand dollars. I painted the scene I wanted to capture, but Quin became the focal point of my canvas. I used the green, blue, white, and ochre to paint what nature provided, but I used a shade called peony for the cheeks of my tomboy daughter.
sandpipers and gulls
Quin still loves making them fly
with paint on canvas
Prometheus had erred and caused great ire
when stealing in stealth secrets of fire.
But Zeus could not forgive this deed.
The chieftain of gods punished his greed.
The lightning zigzagged across the sky,
in anger he let thunderbolts fly.
Instructions he gave to mould from earth
a woman endowed to prove her worth,
all humans to touch their lives and shift
the balance with her seductive gift.
Hephaestus was told what to create;
Pandora came forth through heaven’s gate.
Athena supplied her silver gown,
her head she adorned with ornate crown.
She hastened to guile the human race
her nature refined to tempt by grace
alluring deceit that knew no shame
her mission withstood distrust or blame.
Pandora’s torment flowed wide and far.
She carried with her an earthen jar.
Instructions were laid to be obeyed
to keep it enclosed and so it stayed
till yearning became hard to resist
temptation knew well how to insist.
Alone by herself beside a brook
she lifted the lid, a glancing look
that opened the flood to evil force
unhindered it spread and took its course.
She panicked and pushed with all her might;
the damage was done – eternal plight.
A trickle of hope was left inside
but hardly enough to turn the tide.
When laws are defied they cause much grief;
the pleasure derived is false and brief.
Temptation is what destroys the weak;
redemption is there for all to seek.
Forever in life it’s hard to cope.
Pandora we chase in search of hope.*
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* Pandora is chased for the only thing left in her jar – hope.
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Author: Paul Callus
Contest: Men Only #2
Sponsor: Kelly Deschler
Placed 1st
CHASING FOOTPRINTS
Some feet are bigger than others
none bigger than those
left by your brothers -
that you tried to fill.
The foot that Dad
would put “right up ‘ur ****”
and the one Mom said
you must put forward.
The meter and feet
we poetically treat
in attempt to conform
to rhythm and beat.
One foot we must
“take out of our mouth”,
while trying to get
“one foot in the door”.
Footprints that litter
the sands of our mind
that cannot be followed
by looking behind.
The foot of the stairs
the foot of the bed
the footsteps of night
the footsteps of dread.
Huge footprints of carbon
Al Gore and his ilk
charging the cows
for the grass to make milk.
One foot on the gas
One foot on the brake
one looking to give
one looking to take.
So don’t judge the size
or the depth of the root
nor measure the soul
by the size of the boot.
John G. Lawless
submitted to – BIGFOOT (A Poet Destroyer contest)
Rushing through each day, as if I had not a care,
head long toward the sun screaming, "catch me if you dare."
Dripping drabs of liquid sunshine burn my deft eye.
While seeking answers to the question, why, why! Why?
Into the sun I run, my skin so hot and dry,
as the dusky penciled pastels of twilight smear.
Through tight clinched lids the sun glares, blind I'll be I fear,
always grasping for truth, but my head just can't clear
my thoughts on the tautly stretched canvas of my mind.
Race and run and fill my lungs, still I fall behind
playing catch with the sun, and all I seem to find,
I'm racing toward the horizon of tomorrow.
Please, one more chance, for a moment I can borrow,
but blithe sun denies me, leaving me in sorrow,
while in the distance the light slowly fades to dark.
Truth or naught, who can say, the end is cold and stark
the meaning is lost in life's fading rainbow arc,
enveloping me in my sadness and despair.
Dripping drabs of liquid sunshine burn my deft eye
as the dusky penciled pastels of twilight smear
my thoughts on the tautly stretched canvas of my mind.
I'm racing toward the horizon of tomorrow
while in the distance the light slowly fades to dark
enveloping me in my sadness and despair.
07/29/16
Somewhere in the languid night
I'll chase the dark to find you….
Do you search a distant sky
this lonely hour?
There are lights upon the trail,
where I have gathered the stars,
The moon will be a candle-
while darkness frees you
With the friendship of the night
I tread the dark in silence-
moon and stars my companions,
until I find you
_____________________________________________
Carrie Richards 9/17/11
Chasing the man in the moon
When I was a child
all I wanted was a little warmth,
some love and maybe a smile
Not asking for too much I thought
that it could make my life worthwhile
The house was always cold
it never became a home
so I learned to be all by myself
always alone
Outside there was peace
away from the chaos
I found my solace
in the darkness
as the smiling face
of the man in the moon
shone down on me
I thought to myself
he is a kind and gentle man
always happy and bright
always waiting for me, only me
in the stillness of the night.
I was a scared little boy
looking up at the expanse,
of the eternal night sky,
always questioning,
always wondering...why?
Then I would see in the heavens
his smiling face of approval
and I felt for the very first time
that I was special to someone,
that someone cared about me.
Even though it was cold inside
the house, I felt warm outside
even in winter
as I basked in the warmth
of the smiling face
of the man in the moon.
As I grew older,
the days would grow colder,
and the nights were filled
with ever more gloom,
so I looked out my window
searching the night sky
looking for my shining light
my special man in the moon
When I bought my first car
I would spend endless days
and nights on the road
looking for some place that
would welcome me home.
Up above me I would see
that smiling face shining
down on me in the distance
always... in the distance...
He seemed so large at times
so close to to me
I could almost touch him
so...sometimes
I would drive all night
thinking somehow,
if I went fast enough
I could get closer to that kind man
but...when dawn would break...
so would my heart
as I could see
him slipping from my grasp
vanishing away from me
in the infinite horizon.
I've spent my whole life
running as fast as I could
but I see clearly now
that it's done me no good
I've wasted my life waiting
and hoping,
for my fathers smiling face
for his approval,
for his loving embrace.
The years have passed by quickly
and I see the end is coming soon
so...I guess I'll have to finally give up
chasing the man in the moon.
John Derek Hamilton
June 20.2016
I am chasing grasshoppers in the yard
Such a fun filled thing
The grasshopper always one jump ahead
And I, panting hard
Only want a couple to bring
And set before my students' eyes
So they may look and realize
The investment God has made in us
And bridge the vault of fear with trust.
Come sit with me in the garden swing.
I must be outside, in search of spring.
Will the first robin now return,
and we observe his bob and run,
his comic search for wiggle worm?
Will crocus' cheeky eye pop skyward
through the last bit of snow
or hyacinths explode, in rich hues,
ablaze to unfold a fragrant glow?
Will the bluebird be building his lady
an intricate nest, or the early butterfly
betray the daffodil's dulcet rest?
Let us listen for the whisper of spring,
avid to uncover what she will bring.
Forsythia's soon to ignite in bloom,
shed its sunshine on winter's last gloom.
Narcissus and tulips grip with hot breath,
and beg us watch them pierce the earth.
Stroll with me down the garden path;
witness the cardinal's glad greeting
to southward friends, home at last.
Oh, don't be a sluggard, do come along;
we dare not miss spring's vernal song.
As a grown woman I should now be content
to keep your memory well at arm's length.
Yet you live in my head and you pay no rent
so I'll have to call on my inner strength.
I'd hear your footsteps coming so near;
the stairway creaked and gave you away.
I was hidden under the bed in fear
knowing as usual I was your prey.
Your wicked transgressions crushed my spirit
yet I did not stay broken forever.
Life sang a song and I chose to hear it;
so much for your unholy endeavor!
Don't you know children are meant to be cherished;
not taken for granted,abused or destroyed?
Is it any wonder my love for you perished?
My heart for you is just dark and devoid.
I try to walk a path built on forgiving
the wrongs you did to me when I was young.
For truly I choose to just spend my time living.
Life's a banquet that tastes sweet on my tongue.
for contest "The Confessional"
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Trying to catch a butterfly
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Is like trying to catch a dream
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A dream, with colourful wings
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Watching it fly, flying away
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Like time as a firefly
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Trying to catch a dream
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A dream, with fluttering wings
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All you know, all you've seen
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All you love and all your dreams
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Flying away ~ These moments
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These chances, these days
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Like butterflies in your hands
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Butterflies like Peter Pan
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All these wonderous things
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Tinkerbell, with glittering wings
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Time walking through dreams
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Castles in the sand
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Butterflies in your hand
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Chasing, beautiful butterflies...
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...Don't let go ~
Note: *This is a repo from *dear
John with *love always *sarah ~
I'm haunted by the words you wrote
Tell me what you want from me
Don't tell me what I want to hear
Tell me how you really feel
I could be everything for you and more
I'm telling you now I want more
I'm telling you I want to be with you
I want all of you...
Do you want to be with me?
Honestly?
I know you're confused
I'm confused too, confused by you
It's okay to be scared
I'm here for you, I'll hold your hand
This is a risk I'm willing to take
But the decision is yours to make
You write of walking a straight line
I'm here to tell you that now's the time
Now's the time to face your fears
Now's the time and I'm right here
Now's the time for us to shine
Come on baby, let's chase those butterflies
November 30th, 2008
the silver framed reading glasses rest on the nose of a father
who’s lost in his novel as he sits up in his now love empty bed
he’s living a different life in the journey he’s taking as he absorbs
the black and white words that are full of color in his head
the tick-tock if his dad’s pocket watch is a reminder
that his own time is constantly chasing after him
and on the wall a giant’s silhouette is reading over his shoulder
that’s created by the single switch bulb that has also grown dim
he leans over and pulls down on the string attached to the light
and it swings like the pendulum on the grandfather clock in next room
as the wrinkles around his eyes help to ease them shut and after a moment
his dreams put him back into the journey that he wanted to resume
Chasing Rainbows
I've never believed in chasing rainbows.
How would I find the end of one of those?
Where do they begin? Where do they close?
I never have learned where one quickly goes.
It's as elusive as a night without sleeping,
Or wasted tears over lost love's weeping.
A love no longer held in safe keeping,
Caused a pain in me that was deepening.
I couldn't climb the mountain, though I tried.
I had to reach the summit before I died.
After my teardrops had all been dried
I found the courage to say goodbye.
Climbing my way up was no easy task.
I knew the answers to questions unasked.
No guiding light in which I could bask.
I couldn't live my life while wearing a mask.
I'd been living in subtle shades of gray.
Love faded like rainbows that never stay.
I stumbled and fell in so many ways.
I was lost within an inescapable maze.
Life is not a game played without care.
A cloak to discard when too warm to wear.
It shouldn't be filled with grief and despair,
And never treated as a burden to bear.
I had many doubts as I was leaving,
But I had to end my sorrow and grieving.
And through it all I went on believing,
It was only himself he'd been deceiving.
I'm no longer haunted by the falling rain.
I freed my heart by unfastening the chains.
I frayed the ropes that caused me pain.
But terrible memories will forever remain.
I shouldn't hold on to them. I shouldn't cling,
Nor penned these words to give them wings.
But perhaps it's good to remember the sting
Of chasing rainbows and illusions of things.
~ April 2015 ~
May you see with new eyes
Bright stars in clear night skies.
May you feel the warm breeze
That puts your heart at ease.
Hear the sounds of birds sweet.
Wear shoes that dance your feet.
Paint the sky a bright blue.
Just know I think of you.
Put a smile on your face.
Don’t hide in that dark place.
Talk to your friends, the trees.
Tell them I miss you, please.
Find your strength in your soul.
Hope and truth are the goal.
Think of all you could do
To make your heart feel new.
Drink a cup of red wine.
That will make you feel fine.
Sing a song, bright and gay.
Soon the blues will go way.
By: Carole O'Terry Duet
Copyright: 2/8/2018;
"All Rights Reserved"
For the 120 Word Contest; Sponsor – Silent One
1st Place
Storm clouds finally passed us by
the sun shines over head;
rainbow spans across the sky
with brilliant hues instead.
Hues of every color known
to spectrum far and wide;
beauty now by nature shown,
an offering of pride.
We’ve been chasing rainbows now
forever and a day;
searching for that pot of gold,
and love along the way.
As we gaze upon this sight,
this rainbow up above;
thinking now the time is right
to consummate our love.
Fulfilling all our fantasies
in hopes that love’s not blind;
chasing rainbows to appease
these dreams held in our mind.
June 6, 2019