Sidestep Poems | Examples

List of Member Poems

Premium Member The Tyrants

¦¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦
Severe tyrants, ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦
¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦
¦¦¦¦ herd your visions
¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦
¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ with sledge hammer
¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦
¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ knowing ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦
¦¦¦¦ the tight bag of grammar,
¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ the clever sidestep
¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ is a comfortable
prison. A mirror ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦
¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ uttered ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦
¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ from the secret.


(Blackout of The Trade-off by Ruth Stone)

Monday morning in the Illegal squatter Camp

Monday morning sneaks through shack and grime,
Bullets whirr where drug barons plot their trade,
Gatas tread gingerly.wasting hours and time.

The spaza hums,mugs chime,Rooibos Tea in the lane,
Bambinos sidestep shadows,mae geri into dustty tins,
Old timers murmur incantations under the day's first pain.

Smog sprinkles from braai stands where mamtanies fry,
Pirated Kalashnikovs twinkle in the sun's first glare,
Yet souls beat steady,declining lies.

Klevahs shuffle,wallets empty,agrrements whispered fast,
Tiny tots peep through windows,hearts throbbing loud,
Even in agony,a tenacious hope holds steady steadfast.

Through shacks,mirth trembles,sharp but bright,
The day starts with grit,with pain,with dreams,
In this dream struggle, the spirit fights for light.

Oh, What A Tangled Interweb We Weave

Don't like the look of what's going on
seems to you something's wrong
the smell of corruption in the air
look around it's everywhere
can't place the feel of what's happening here
could it be something to fear
the sound of conniving on the wind
a warning call for all thin-skinned
so round and round and round we go
where it stops no one knows
it takes two to tango or so they say
but that was then not today
ask a question and they hand you
the same old automated two-step quango
one foot forward two steps back
while standing in quicksand
pose a query they'll sidestep the issue
and the matter at hand
giving you the light fandango
they'll look you in the eye and deny
it's all a web within a web
behind a web of total lies


Oh, What A Tangled Interweb We Weave

Don't like the look of what's going on
seems to you something's wrong
the smell of corruption in the air
look around it's everywhere
can't place the feel of what's happening here
could it be something to fear
the sound of conniving on the wind
a warning call for all thin-skinned
so round and round and round we go
where it stops no one knows
it takes two to tango or so they say
but that was then not today
ask a question and they hand you
the same old automated two-step quango
one foot forward two steps back
while standing in quicksand
pose a query they'll sidestep the issue
and the matter at hand
giving you the light fandango
they'll look you in the eye and deny
it's all a web within a web
behind a web of total lies

Premium Member In the Jungle

Allow me to address you child.
You've been born into the wild.
Listen to this friendly fowl.
While, innocently, you dream,
wake up and bawl and scream,
creatures crawl and scheme -
says I, the wise old owl.

Scuttling low, sometimes unseen,
you'll find something low and mean.
You must avoid this thing.
Pincers grasp and grip -
this fiend shoots from the hip,
his tail a lash or whip.
Sidestep the scorpion's sting.

The greatest danger you will meet
in the jungle that is the street
preys upon the young.
Slipping, sliding with a smile,
what he wields is guile.
His intentions are most vile.
Resist the serpent's tongue.

Premium Member Gifts of silence

What if silence too is a script we conjure,
tapping into subconscious mind, befooling
ourselves, as we sidestep the truth of what is …
   bemused by ego?

Trapped in swamps of dark desires, bound by beliefs,
how else can we exit this matrix unless
thoughts cease, that thus grace invoked, our soul’s eye sees …
   noumena within?


Premium Member THINKING OS the box

a new
    perspective
think
 unconventionally
from
a fresh
point of view
with
less constraints
break out
challenge
  assumptions
sidestep the dangers
with
a novel
 point of view
slant
 vista
angle
alternatives
  conceived
birthed
in
a bigger
  picture
    revealed
set
 upon
  the left field






The art of creating a visual response to a piece of writing is known as  a reverse ekphrasis ie the inverse of the centuries old poetic form of ekphrasis.The most well known example being Charles Demuth 'Figure 5' based upon a W C Williams poem.

EMAGI is a recent variation of a reverse ekphrasis derived by the advent of the widespread use of hand held digital communication devices  -where words in digital  symbols /letters can be represented as a shape
and uses a poet's poem to inspire the digitised 'drawing'

The dust settles

Kenya changes forever
Not in transition but out of pressure 
Built and passed on through the bloodline 
Until it sufficed to stiffen a generation’s spine
The gloaters are deflated of their dares
And will never again conceal the affairs 
For they tried on us the bait and hook
But now all shall be an open book 

But we must endeavor to be civil
Keep our tongues and hands from evil
No rage warrants taunting your elder
No reason rhymes with ousting order
Pay your honor to whom it is due
And in days to come it will be paid you 
Strive to sidestep curse and to clinch blessing 
In light of all offense most hard pressing 

The passage of time will usher you out of youth
Bear with you always righteousness and truth 
Guard your hearts with all diligence 
Choose your demeanor without negligence 
Be honest and clear cut
And let not the land revert to the rut
Place not aside your God in your fights
For it is He who crowns with privilege your rights

K. Muitherero

Premium Member The Bullfighter's Stand

In the ring, under blazing sun,
Stands the bull, fierce, on the run.
I, the matador, with focused eye,
Face the beast, no room to sigh.

Cape unfurls, in this daring show,
Dance begins, hearts aflow.
Muscles tense, each move I plan,
Facing danger, the fearless man.

The bull charges, a force untamed,
I sidestep quick, unashamed.
Cloak and sword, tools in hand,
Against this beast, I take my stand.

Crowd's cheer echoes, a distant sound,
In this arena, where strength is found.
In this clash, a story told,
Of courage, honor, both so bold.

In the fight of horn and might,
We duel on, into the night.
Matador's tale, in this grand land,
A warrior's heart, hand in hand.

Premium Member Love

If love is love, then what kind of love exactly is love?
Perhaps a word, spoken bright
Or a whisper soft in light
Maybe a touch when gripped in fright.
Does love move and sway like the wind?
Perhaps one swing and then a slide
Or a sidestep keeping narrow or wide
Maybe a retreat when it’s time to hide .
Can love be measured in loving quantities?
Perhaps to be immersed and deep
Or a submission of peace to keep
Maybe a weight of forever sleep
If love is love, there is only love.

Premium Member Witching Hour Minstrel Part Two

Whatever happened to the twelve o ‘clock rambler,
nocturnal venturesome brushstroke sort,
they face whirlwind snowfall, freezing ice,
while others brazenly squirm,
not for stoic diarist this threadbare exit,
exodus of the half-hearted humbug,
but ironclad ilk stubbornly remain,
eyes and ears are substitute antennas,
of this genus, genie, genius, glow worm ghost,
peaceful prowlers with pen on queue,
velvet moon worlds sidereal captured,
crescendo of cathartic bonhomie,
icy night frost  punctured by high drive fog horns,
deft nib from dark ink manteau nomad,
who engross themselves in light and shade reflection,
as we balk at the eerie life we revel in,
drama under bridges, shadow figure chinwag,
river stream babble, blind alley gust,
eavesdrop on historic past teaser,
litter swept aural gossip whoosh,
eventide mournful dog bark heart tug,
darting elfin’s sly mind peep thereon,
yet the vagabond minstrel has to comb,
each backstreet, zebra crossing, sprawling  suburb,
for inert sleepy after hour dozers,
who crave eye candy fodder as humdrum sidestep

Live and Let Live

Life is easier 
if you learn 
To manage
 your time.
   If you can't 
do lock-up, 
Don't do 
the crime.

   You get 
more done 
by focusing
On one thing.
   If you missed it,
You can get it 
on the upswing.

   Try to improve
 by 1% every day.
   Don't make excuses,
Never delay.

   Problem 
solve 
with a 
little logic.
   Stay aware 
Sidestep the 
dark magic.

   Keep a high value 
Network of friends.
   If you get the chance,
Make amends.

   Be honest and
 always work hard.
   Don't be afraid to
 show your scar.

   Seek and you can
 find your purpose.
   You could be 
 the ringleader 
of a circus.

   Walk at your 
own pace,
Stay on your
 side of the road.
   Sometimes the 
Prince can turn
Into a toad.

   Don't hesitate 
when you
 should act.
   Pay attention 
so you can find
 your way back.

   Experience what
 you feel and learn.
   Remember you can 
always make
A U-Turn.

   Make all
 things count.
   It could be 
pouring rain
 or in a drought.

   If you have it,
Learn to give.
   Last but not least,
Live and let live.

   Turbo1904 ?

Premium Member Unhinged Power

We know of course that our form is but dust,
that comes alive because of God’s breath thrust,
yet we adopt thoughts, words and deeds unjust.
Soul contract has this clause - put dark thought forms on pause,
gentle touch, till heart thaws - erase ego spawned flaws.
To unleash God’s power dormant within,
we may begin by gentling thought flow din,
wisely choosing to sidestep paths of sin.
To feel blissful and whole - reclaim light ego stole,
fulfilling our life role - soul search our only goal.
In the threefold flame of Christ we must trust,
gifted to us if we obey God’s laws,
felt within the body when chakras spin,
as affirmed in scriptures, which we extol.

Premium Member Romans Road

The starting point is one:sixteen
God’s power through faith foreseen

One:seventeen’s righteous decree
Salvation by faith is the key

Three:twenty-three indicts us all
Sin’s “glory of God” shortfall

Four:three is Abraham’s lead
Faith the only righteous deed

Five:eight provides a Substitute
Sin had left us destitute
God’s love delivered up His Son
The payment for sin is done

Sidestep death in six:twenty-three
Eternal Life in Christ is free

No condemnation in eight:one
Never separated from God’s Son

Ten:nine-and-ten is the TNT
“Salvation power for faith in Me”
With your mouth you confess it
With your heart you accept it

“Believe My promises” in ten:thirteen
Jesus Christ our go-between
Faith in Him the only condition
For Kingdom of God admission

Premium Member Pitiful Pits

You dig 
pit 
after 
pit 
after 
pit.
Then wonder why nobody comes around.
The few that tiptoe into your eggshell world  
are only there to use you...

In greener years you were just another cutter
graduating to just another pit digger...

Blood or not, I won't dance in your self-inflicted pits.
I'll just sidestep the "hole" mess and say happy digging.

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Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.

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