Best Tread Poems
*Inspired by the famous line of William Butler Yeats
"Tread softly because you tread on my dreams"
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams*
Tread slowly because on your shoulders I lean,
Tread lightly on those weightless moments,
because they carry my heavy heart.
Tread carefully on those soft rosebush,
they hide your thistles unseen.
With every nuance of your love,
I have created my paradise
With every dandelion you scattered,
I have created my lavender fields.
With every color you splattered,
I have created my porcelain sky.
With every dream you shattered,
I have learned to caress my scars.
Tread your steps softly dear,
don't leave footprints on my heartway.
Tomorrow never comes, its forever yesterday.
Date written 1st February 2020
Contest 2022 Poetry Marathon Mile 9
Was ranked 2nd in best poem of the month February 2020
Resubmitted.to John Hamilton Your best free verse 2020
Sponsor Silent One
Contest Name: Famous poetic lines that inspire
Yet Pushed, Ever Onward, I Dare Tread
BEHOLD, I wade into darkening mists,
My journey, clarification of Fate
When I balked, black ghost said, I insist
Hurry destiny cries it is too late,
Strolling deep within, horrific the sounds
So strangely pungent the circling winds
In distant valleys, baying of the hounds-
I fear what that hideous sign portends.
Now so afraid, through weeping years I trod
Searching, ever onward, I did thus tread.
My shield, simply faith in Light and my God
And bushels of truth, to me, life has fed.
I pray for salvation of divine light.
Blessed ending of this courageous flight.
Robert J. Lindley, 9-02-2021
Sonnet(dark)
Walk Slowly, Tread Lightly, Voice Kindly, Hold Tightly
Walk slowly, Life with its deep mysteries awaits;
For within the moment Time breathes and dies
Spur gently, racing horses begging passion's gate
To bring Love from those towering blue skies-
Walk slowly.
Tread lightly, on daydreams that magnify desires;
Some are foolish, not ever meant to be
Step lively, into romance before it expires
As Love's joy, sets sails upon open seas-
Tread lightly.
Voice kindly, words that in gratitude issue praise;
For it is true tenderness so rewards
Give freely, heart's glow, its magnificence raise
To one's depths that life and honor safeguards-
Voice kindly.
Hold tightly, greater fortitude that courage brings;
As are cast rare gems of sweetest delight
See clearly, life's beauty and Nature's offerings
for such are gifts that prove life is alright-
Hold tightly.
Robert J. Lindley, 2-27-2020
Rhyme, ( Beneath The Starry Skies, Looking Into Infinity )
Choose not the path down trodden trail,
for broad the road that leads to hell.
Nor dance the night in Devil's arms,
fire that burns is also warm.
Trust not words that are spoken sweet,
gift of lies wrapped in truth so neat.
Don't wander far away from home,
strangers lurk where you aimless roam.
Sleep lightly when the dark night falls,
deep in dreams evil creeps and crawls.
Beware of friends you think you have
and shield your back from knives that stab.
Now don't be frightened by what you've read,
just watch your step when life you tread.
10 / 25 / 18
There are many thoughts and opinions about our elections in the U.S.
Someone even called it a disgrace; you’re entitled to your opinion, I guess.
Some claim to know all of the answers, but an ego is not always correct.
There are those standing on a soapbox and preach about facts they've never checked.
You have your conspiracy theories, but I’m afraid that's all you’ve got.
You are not an American citizen and your opinion just isn’t worth snot.
Like the Don, you can stroke your own ego. Maybe you’re two peas in a pod.
We’re the best and the strongest on earth; we are one nation under God.
Imagine there's no freedom in your country. I wonder what you would do?
You say Democrats are evil, but they would still have a place here for you.
They'd welcome you with open arms, give you food and a safe place to live.
Would your country be as generous? What would they be willing to give?
Before you dare to condemn our country and judge our way of life.
Do you know we’re the last stand on Earth and could save you from strife?
Instead of shaking your fist at us and spewing your vile words of hate.
Be grateful we are generous, and would gladly offer you our open gate.
You can cuss and rant and rave, you can even burn Old Glory
Disrespecting those who gave throughout Her entire story
And You can put her down in trying to toss Her Spirit aside
Even publicly tarnish Her Crown, for all your lack of pride
You can tread upon Her name upon all the sacrifices made
Being so filled with shame in this pool which you now wade
Call Her every name in your book and even thumb your nose
Even that disgusting look and complaining about all your woes
Yeah you can complain all day long about how She wasn't fair
And about how everything is all wrong and that only you care
You can spit upon each Shred as you rip Her piece to piece
Even cursing our very dead but one day... it will all cease
One day She won't be there she'll take her freedom and leave
Perhaps that day you will care the day you sit there and grieve
The day your freedom was taken away and you finally realize
When She doesn't have Her say everything else in your life dies
(An Addingham poem)
‘There! Where every curve
injects another memory.’
Analytic beauty that
nestled in verdant valley
allows the mind to review,
where archaic dry-stone walls
enhance the ancestral ghosts,
impeccable trees, nature’s
guardian to one’s heady days,
inscribed when lovers called.
Now historic brows lost
within the village face,
expressive meadows
from a bygone age did
grace now lay in waste,
every thistle upon
throstle nest cut down
and stone barns redundant.
For cement and brick
replace the gathering blooms,
fertile soil lay under macadam
and house numbers
supersede the hawthorn hedge,
and old ‘Bram’ on horse and cart
daily down moor lane
long gone and dead.
Oh. Them old manifestations
embedded, the labour
of many a village son,
where leaf and wood
do part but once a year,
after seasons of regrowth
give way to winter’s ascetic sun
that rolls across Rombald’s moor.
‘Oh. Yes, the sun, one thing
that man has not yet changed.’
© Harry J Horsman 2021
Were I, Born To Tread Upon A Cold, Sadden Earth
Were I, born to tread upon a cold, sadden earth
Walk naked upon barren and dark dusty plains
Strive only for wealth-never for my true self worth
Would I ever have anything but futile gains?
Were I, to yield to Fate, its cursed flaming breast
Accept living in its shadowy subterfuge
Begging and pleading well that my dreams give me rest
Wallow in the sorrows of Hell's pouring deluge?
Were I, to live and be damn'd to such a Fate
Would my fallen soul be naught but a chained slave
In such blindness only my evil lusts then sate
Existing but in darkness, well within hell's gate?
Were I, to such state, a prisoner born to be
No more than a destined walking bag of bones
Unable to love Nature, its true beauty see
Sentenced to break my teeth eating world's black-stones?
Shall I, wake to live, love and sweet life truly find
Thereby deny the world's darkness its wicked hold
Learn to dance and in calmness let love so remind
There is remedy for world's lies I have been told?
Shall I, another path dare to so boldly take
Seeking peace and joy a man desperately needs
Begin to understand tis greed one must forsake
As one replants with divinely inspired seeds?
Shall I, each new morn rise to a beautiful day
Enter the world but deny its foul, wicked breath
Stop to kneel down and in all sincerity pray
For divine light and courage to face mortal death?
Shall I, live thus to in God's true blessings partake
Of the gifts and joys such a new life thereby gives
Walk anew, a spirit reborn - world's dark mold break
Live as free and happy as man was meant to live?
Were I, to such light given knowledge dare to bow
Dare I, kneel to this light, this great truth, this hope pray
Shall I, with judicious thought rise to do so now
Know I, tis the light that casts the darkness away!
Robert J. Lindley, 12-08-2020
Rhyme, ( From Faith, Light and Truth cometh knowledge )
Note- This new poem was inspired by my having read Greg Barden's
poems Titled, --
1… The white tomb trembles - part 1
2… Sea of Trees
Yet Pushed, Ever Onward, I Dare Tread
BEHOLD, I wade into darkening mists,
My journey, clarification of Fate
When I balked, black ghost said, I insist
Hurry destiny cries, it is too late,
Strolling deep within, horrific the sounds
So strangely pungent the circling winds
In distant valleys, baying of the hounds-
I fear what that hideous sign portends.
Now so afraid, through weeping years I trod
Yet pushed, ever onward, I dare tread
My shield, simply faith in Light and my God
And bushels of truth, to me, life has fed
I pray for salvation of divine light
Blessed ending of this courageous flight.
Robert J. Lindley, 9-02-2021
Sonnet(dark)
Copyright © Robert Lindley | Year Posted 2021
My green garden grows
Beautiful and bountiful;
Tread lightly friend slug.
We hold these truths people secure above all We the people evidence mounts around us To contrary for some in order are rights Altered by greed
Where angels fear to tread;
And cowards never go.
Is where I wish to head.
With those I wish to know.
Where children cry to themselves alone;
In war torn lands of enemies and fear;
With no food, no family, no home.
Where death lingers and is always near.
Where soldiers line the ancient street;
Killing in the name of God, guns, and greed;
The bodies of babies at their feet.
The soul of humanity bleeds.
When so many choose to turn away;
Children need a warrior friend;
I long to be with them today.
If not to fight, but to defend.
Where angels fear to tread;
And cowards never go.
In the lands of the dying and dead.
I send my love. A’ho!!
In Loving memory of the Children who have died because of war , guns, greed, and religion this year.
Darlene Doll Smith
"Tread Softly because you tread on my dreams" (William Butler Yeats)
Allow me to shout in ancient ruins
Light up the abracadabra of existence
Let the pyramids heed my silent words
And unravel the tales of time
To uncover the hidden myth
How the lizards dance to the sacred drums
I want to create a call
Off ancestors not man
Allow me to summon my dreams
To call our ancient myths
And how the endless treading calls for vacuum
Not of ancestors but man
How the drummer mask up his sorrows
And the crowd moves to its tunes
Whether sorrow or happiness
The rythmn lies in the man and not the stick not drums.
This must be the princess, motionless in bed.—
She’s every bit as beautiful as they all said!—
But who could awaken her? She looks quite dead!—
Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread.
This is the chamber where my dreams have led.—
She is the maiden I’ve longed to wed!—
But who can ever know what may lie ahead?—
Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread.
A story of a princess once was told,
Whose magical gifts were manifold,
Doomed to sleep in enchantment— a hundred years old.—
What a strange and wondrous sight to behold!
In my wildest fancies I’ve visited
This vision of loveliness before me spread!—
I’m caught in a bind of attraction and dread;—
But who could resist those lips rosy red?!
Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread!
~ Harley White
* * * * * * * * *
Excerpt from my Work in Progress – Frame story – “Sleeping Beauty” – Song: from “Awakenings” – from “Convergence” – “Brought Round”Song: from “Awakenings” – (The prince, as he stands over sleeping Rosamond, “Sleeping Beauty”, sings :)
[ harleywhite.awardspace.com ] Click on “Poems etc.”… Table of Contents to my Work in Progress at bottom of page...
Dare tread
Narrow
Treacherous way
Up hill, easy to miss
Through thorn bushes and weeds, a trail
to risk.
Few dare
Hardly a trace
Upon precarious maze
Through a wilderness, virgin land
A place.
Unsafe
Upon ledges
Of rock hard surfaces
Steep climb, uneven, dangerous
Terrain.
Leading
To high country
where trees are evergreen
And lakes mirror slopes, tapestry
Serene.
By CarolineCecile
Copyright © 07.24.11