Long Crawdads Poems

Long Crawdads Poems. Below are the most popular long Crawdads by PoetrySoup Members. You can search for long Crawdads poems by poem length and keyword.


Missing Nick

What was missing in my life?
You!

I lived many years without you,
not knowing what I was missing.

One day a surprise came to us
at an unexpected late- in- life date,
it was a baby boy.

He smiled at us with blue eyes 
and bald little head,
and we were complete.

I treasured the cuddly feel of you, 
fitting into my arms so well,
your weight seemed just right,
to pack you around every day,
even as you grew and grew.

You added an element to my life
that had been missing.
I now learned to slow down, 
stop at playgrounds, push your swing
 and sit in the one next to yours,
leaning back, looking up into
 the crowns of swaying trees.

Taking walks, delighting in gathering fallen
red maple leaves, watching bugs 
and birds.

  Frogs and crawdads appeared in our bathtub,
I emptied your pockets while doing the wash
 of rocks, seashells, dried katidid shells, 
sticks and marbles.
I learned that stepping on jacks 
at night while going to the bathroom hurts.

On your first fishing trip you accidently hooked a duck
and cried because you thought you hurt it.
I already knew of your compassionate heart.

You and I  laughed and cried watching " Free Willy,"
"The fox and the hound" and "Alladin."
You brought joy to my life.

I learned that it is exciting to watch you play soccer,
I cheered and hooted and watched from the bleechers,
while you ran your little heart out, 
I watched for signs of your asthma acting up,
but luckily you seem to outrun it.

On the first Halloween  you were a little
 smiling pumpkin that I  pushed in the stroller,
but soon you were running with your buddies, 
dragging a pillow case filled with candy,
and I had to scurry to keep up with you.

On your first day of school I was nervous,
I had to leave you with strangers.
Several of us Moms were hanging around the hallway
peeping into the door's little window,
until they made us leave.

Then came field trips, help with homework, 
I was "room mother" to be near you and help,
and visited you  in the cafeteria at lunchtime
 on "Parent's day."

Suddenly, you are taller that me!
The braces came off, and you have a summer job,
and you are very good with it, I am proud of you.

You now have a Highschool Diploma and 
are getting your driver's licence,
but you will always be my little boy, 
and I will love you forever.

Love, Mom


Childhood

childhood (puzzle poem)

                                           Dancing to the Jackson 5 at three in the morning

Burning marshmallows on a campfire

                                              Bananas and chocolate with mom

                        Sitting under the awning in the rain, listening to baseball
                          
 running from cicadas
                                                    
                                                          The smell of cigarettes on dad’s jacket

kissing Billy in the dark
                        
                         That time dad called the White House and got through

Picking blackberries with aunt barb
                                     
                                     Sneaking into a movie theater with the girl next door

Eating alone at lunch, too shy to make friends
                                
                         My brother falling in a hole in the road

Fishing for crawdads, then being too afraid to touch them
                                                        
                                                        Scaring my sister with daddy long legs
                     
Waking up in the hospital after a seizure
                                                           
                            Getting a check that bounced for Christmas

The lake in Wisconsin so clear you could see the bottom
                                 
                             Trying to attract an older boy by pretending to be British
                                         
                    Going to the drive-in when dad left after a fight

Taking sleds to the meat market during the storm of '77
                                                                          
                                                                  Jumping on the milk box
                   
                   Another brother in braces with an icicle as tall as he was


                                            pieces of my childhood
                                              each of them a story
                                    I cannot put them together for you
                                             You just had to be there

The Lady Flies From the Ocean To Return a River

In her slippery salmon swim
    And red streaked Crawdads chute
    Into her eddying pools
    To stare at her from beneath rocks.
    Whitewater rapids challenge men
    To stand against her torrential frame
    And face her, screaming out in pain
    Torturous centuries of ecstatic rain
    To be her solitary stone
    To stand against her all alone
    A true man to soften her cold soul.
    And who’ll be her Reigning Lord
    Echo her insanity
    To lover her shade and slippery slopes
    Crevices’ waiting, sharp inclines.
    Once a current in the sea
    So filled with green and mystery
    To her a man did rarely come
    Then, pulled up by curious shapes
    Like lambs, in white puffs she flew
    And traced her shadow cross the land
    Till the puffs released her soul
    In little flakes, gentle and slow
    For a time entombed in frozen snow.

    There men saw her as a sprite
    Reflected in her cage of white
    Men chased her form of watery light
    In dreams that came hard in the night
    Her body lucid, long and lean
    A cold corpse, frozen to the earth
    Blue hair, bent arm, frozen knee
    The sun took pity, broke the back
    Of the ice block and set her free
    So through high mountains, cliffs
    And rocks she trickled
    In a gathering streams, in rivulets
    Of tears, mouths open
    Her bosomed skin slipped as ice
    Pain built up the rage within
    And sorrow brought it to the light.
    Green – the color of fast and deep
    White – the foam that came in waves
    Along the long and joyous vein
    She spreads her long body
    Knee bent, her heavy breasts pinned
    Blasted, rippled by the wind
    She’s touched only by old earth’s hand
    Its gravity like a naked man
    Basking in her pools
    Her faces and belly ghosting him, a mirror.

    Watch her through the thickening trees
    Her body sliding toward the sea
    A torturous rape, a rapid ride
    For all who’ve hung upon her side
    Hearts pound, as she shrieks and sighs
    With each down stroke a demon dies
    Within the man who’s bourn the pain
    Endured her crushing fingers round
    Who’s felt the pound of her breasts soft
    Been beaten by her to the blood
    And awaits for centuries her cold flood.

Premium Member Autumn Hums


“Autumn leaves don’t fall; they fly. They take their time and wander on this, their only chance to soar.” Owens, Delia. Where the Crawdads Sing, Chapter 17: “Crossing the Threshold” (p. 124).


Dressed up in their September best,
Falling silent, swirling and twirling
Reminiscing on how they’ve been blessed
By the God who created them
With all their vibrancy and quiet dreams

Sinking to the earth amid a hodgepodge
Colors in brilliant flames, awakening
Autumn with inspiring themes, coming 
Alive like the moon and the starlight,
Glowing like a blaze of whirling insights

Darkening the past, whispering a caress
Through the gentle night, kissed
By the breathless hopes of a long-ago who breathes
Kindness, brilliant peace like the sunset
Echoing beauty throughout the twilight fantasies

Restoring grace to the promises, the faith
Abiding in the spirit of those who know
This October will bring more joy and more peace
Than any memory, any imagining – wishes
Thriving on the prayers like psalms in the wind

Welcoming the rich sighs of those who believe
This is the autumn’s ambition, to bring to us
A gathering of grief salted with intimacy,
Wonders so complete they feel like freedom
An album of lyrics, poetry fading into the symphony…

Autumn glory – beautiful anthology of truth
A compilation laced with inspiration, the muse
That relies on free will, shimmering solitude
Gratitude and pleasure, blended, mixed together
With the curiosities of life – completely satisfied

In all the beauty fading into the quiet silhouettes
Free feelings, relieved by time and bringing
Delight into the heart of those who remember
This is the way of the morning, the sun and the moon
All who remember to listen to the silence of Autumn’s song,

The enduring stillness, serenity roaring through the twists
And turns of the melody that this voice of Autumn hums






Feel Free Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Sara Kendrick 
Used Quote Number: 7. “Autumn leaves don’t fall; they fly. They take their time and wander on this, their only chance to soar.” Owens, Delia. Where the Crawdads Sing, Chapter 17: “Crossing the Threshold” (p. 124).
Date Written: December 23, 2022

Oy vey iz mir, one day in the life of a common house broken schmeckle

Oy vey iz mir, one day in the life of a common house broken schmeckle...,

who did pötschke
and squander many an opportunity
to become a mensch
instead he became persona non grata
condemned to a history of misery,
not unlike Doctor Hyde and Mister Jekyll,
where friends, Romans countrymen did heckle.

After all said and done,
I best have stayed
safe and sound in the womb,
or hopefully at the least honored after death
with a squadron of B-52s
flying overhead with vroom
while being enshrined in a tomb,
cuz the living years of yours truly (me),
one after another trial and tribulation did loom
which figurative weave
courtesy weft and warp wove gloom
ordained I experienced hell on earth,
thus an inescapable doom
left no option except to skadaddle
into the outer limits of the twilight zone
at the edge of night
courtesy magic broom.

Plenty of times,
I ate in a crowded house,
where the crawdads sing
sinking their teeth into cranberries, meatloaf
and red hot chili peppers
served with a side order of pop slop
don't be put off by the name,
which mishmash actually yum zook,
nevertheless cuisine fiends spurred a tussle
where flock of seagulls
who got into a spat took
sparring mates to the cleaners
with angry yardbirds twittering about xyz,
and tweeting when loosely translated
into English language essentially meant
much ado about floccinaucinihilipilification,*
(Sounds like
flaa·suh·now·suh·nai·uh·luh·pi·luh·fuh·kay·shn)
according to legendary interpretation
by expert ornithologist with keen insight
rivaling that of the eagles
known for their skill playing chess
ofttimes, use an upside-down rook
to designate a queen
under United States chess federation
rules and in casual play take a look
for yourself, rather than believe amateur
what might be considered poppycock hook
line and sinker qualifying as gobbledygook,
which utter nonsense I did cook
up, yet please feel welcome my gibberish to brook
*the estimation of something as worthless.
Form: Rhyme


Premium Member A Glimpse of Autumn

7. “Autumn leaves don’t fall; they fly. They take their time and wander on this, their only chance to soar.” Owens, Delia. Where the Crawdads Sing, Chapter 17: “Crossing the Threshold” (p. 124).

Somberness into existence is not a tumble.
Earth's ever-changing season mumbles.
Longing, pining, and scouring to leap, a sense free.
To beat, rupture of the endometrium of worry.

Find out how to tour this aesthetical orb.
Whatever you might protect is potherb.
Each step will pay off; Earth seems endless.
Maintain in mind her charming prowess.

Without mild radiation, stars would be ablaze.
The sparkle of your eyes makes you in a daze. 
Shine bright, we made you for this world.
The zeal of fate, separate yourself from the herd.

It soars, snows, splashes, and seeks shelter.
Grasping beyond, setting up a binding welter.
Fall leaves were reflected on the bright floor.
Is it confined to a life of pain, as to explore?

Will the fall petals retain the bitterness of the shrub?
Was it chopped from moisture roots and snubs?
Are you rebelling over harsh conditions outside?
Or maybe the mood wasn't truly steady inside.

I identify dry autumn leaves with a restless soul.
How are the parts pulled out of the whole?
During leisurely walks. Integrate, and create a flow.
Awareness of the paradox of infinite glow. 

Written: December 24, 2022

Feel Free Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Sara Kendrick
© Sotto Poet  Create an image from this poem.
Form: Rhyme

River Fishing

RIVER FISHING


After school my friend and I would walk through town to the river
Soon to bait our trout lines with cotton cake, crawdads and liver.
Sometimes we used baby bullheads, perch or great big frogs
Tossing out into the current next to a snag of logs.

At times we would disrobe and wade out in the stream
Attaching lines to anything hoping to hook our dream.
One day I made some doe bait and stuffed it in my sock
Attached five hooks, hundred pound line and tied it to a rock.

When I bragged to my classmates they snickered and called me fool
Till the next day they followed me to the river after school.
I made my way to the water my path was a fallen tree
Something big was on my line it was easy for us to see.

I tried to pull it in but the current was too strong
Three boys ran to assist me as we began to sing a song.
Going fishing instead of wishing for the granddaddy of them all
If we land this monster will give the sport shows a call.

It seemed like forever before our beast was ashore
Eighty-five pounds of flathead cat as big as a closet door.
We shared his steaks at a fish fry, food for heart and soul
Took his head and nailed it high for all to see on a pole.

For a time we ceased our casting instead we chased the girls
After marriage with our kids we again fished the swirls.
Too many of my friends have past and the years have raced by
Though here I sit with rod in hand a fisherman till I die.


By Tom Zart
© Tom Zart  Create an image from this poem.
Form: ABC

Premium Member My Coloring Book

We loaded up for a Sunday drive
The Ozark Mountains were alive
Wild dogwoods of pink and white
Every shade of green in sight
Blooming jonquils and daffodils
Woodpeckers, blue jays, and whippoorwills
Even though the painting was unfinished
Nature's bounty was being replenished

On switchback mountain roads
Past gray bluffs where eagles abode
A long slow roller coaster ride
With buzzards feeding alongside 
Headed to our favorite place
A canyon God's finger had traced
Where echos and memories yearn
Friendly fires cleanse and burn

The raccoons, the skunks and the deer
Cared less that we were here
A nervous lizard escorted us to the creek
Clear running ice water froze our feet
A white misty blanket of fog
Spread out for the picnicking frogs
The rocks played a gurgling tune
In the middle of Mother Nature's bedroom

Sitting under a cottonwood tree
It all comes back to me
Generations of family laughter
Roaring in the treetop rafters
I saw an old man with his two sons
In shadowed waters catching crawdads for fun
My children's voices heard in the wind
As they both were learning to swim

I started coming here at age five
We've camped here hundreds of times
Back then this water was deeper
Each year the stream grows weaker
But time's wind blows no weather vane
All around memories remain
I come here a lot to look
And color in my life's coloring book


  an original poem by the "poemdog" Daniel Turner
Form: Rhyme

Premium Member When I Was a Mere Lad of Ten

I was a mere lad of ten living on a prairie farm in Hoosier land,
Roaming the fields in my old straw hat, barefoot, carefree and tanned.
My faithful dog, Spooks, was always with me chasing rabbits,
(And rabbits were very plentiful due to their prolific habits!)

We had no inside facilities such as running water or a bath.
Our privy, as it was called, was located at the end of a winding path!
A Saturday night ritual was taking a sitz bath in a metal washing tub,
Then we'd pile in Dad's '35 Dodge and head for town after my scrub.

There was no TV in those days and my ears were glued to the radio,
Following the adventures of my heroes, filtered through static-filled audio!
I spent my meager allowance buying model planes and crafting the things.
Dozens hung from the ceiling of my room floating on gossamer wings.

I used a supple willow branch for a rod and a safety pin for a hook,
Angling for crawdads and wily crappie in the cool and flowing  brook.
The Great Depression was ending way back then when I was ten.
Alas, World War Two began and things were never the same again.

On languid summer afternoons on a limb of the old oak tree I'd stretch,
And watch the scudding clouds as boyhood dreams I'd sketch.
Those were some of the things I did way back then when I was ten.
I'm four score and five now, but how I cherish memories of way back then!

Entry for Kelly Deschler's "Way Back When I Was Ten" Contest
Form: Rhyme

Premium Member A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Mall

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE MALL

A funny thing happened on the way to the mall
It came in the form of a really odd call
My smart phone rang and answered itself
And began a conversation with a TV chef

The chef was Italian, my cell phone speaks Creole
I pulled to the roadside to hear things unfold
The chef indicated his need for her to see
What ingredient was missing from his new recipe

She said to the chef what you need is crawdads
The chef asked if that was all that he adds
She explained to him in her Creole accent
Crawdads would be his greatest advent

And in his Italian brogue he said okey dokey
But I think it will make my dish rather hokey
My Creole smart phone made this reply
I am a smart phone and I do not lie

The chef said to her how you getta my number
And why you calla me and tella me this bummer
She said to the chef get a line and a pole
Then take a walk down to the crawdad hole

Catch yourself a dozen or two
And change your recipe into crawdad stew
Then you'll be the most famous chef of all
Because you got it all from a smart phone call

Now the moral of this silly nonsensical rhyme
Is to see how many of you will take time
To see if your smart phone is smarter than you
And give an Italian chef your recipe for crawdad stew

25 June 2018
For the contest sponsored by Robert Haigh
Form: Rhyme

Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

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