Straight Arrow Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

Premium Member Something I Can Touch

I don't always get your literal direction ~ though worth reflection

your margins may be quite narrow ~ but you always shoot a straight arrow

searching for something tangible to feel ~ may not lead to a reveal

Premium Member Somewhere Between Love and Hate

Love means

A-Never having to say you’re sorry
B-Leaving the toilet seat up
C-Tug-a-war
D-Going on a safari

Hate means

A-Holding up a knuckle sandwich
B-The final countdown
C-Stealing someone’s lunch money
D-Having a murderous twitch

Lukewarm is not

A-Half-hearted
B-An ice cold bath
C-Tepid
D-Life uncharted

A kiss is

A-A prelude to making love
B-A peck
C-French
D-All of the above

Cupid is

A-A cube
B-A straight arrow
C-As cupid does
D-Test tube

In Paradise by the Dashboard Light, why is the guy singing,
“Praying for the end of time?”

A-it’s where a light shines
B-Forever happiness
C-So I can end my time with you
D-Where there’s more fruit on the vines

2/13/2023

Aiming For Just Under the Bullseye

A lack of a horse or a Harley had long held him back,
the curse of normalcy and no redeeming truck.

Some said he held himself back
others shrugged 
knowing he had already lost a race
he never dared to enter.

Nevertheless he plowed his own track
kept a neat furrow
a straight-arrow aiming steadfastly
to nowhere worth a mention.


Premium Member Straight Arrow

pristine-white rudder
flapping wings of straight arrow
— God’s witness

7/1/2018

Road Side Flowers

Glimpse of harlequin beauties,
engrossed my colorless sight,
like the angler hook.

Their fragrance swayed 
in the breeze and reached me,
like the straight arrow.

No one noticed the wonder,
Even,I could not go near them
or nudge them.

I pondered"Why are they alone?
How do they grow and 
for whom do they bloom?"

The flight of hungry honey bees,
answered my silly questions
 "God is Great"  

Seeds of hope are planted
in my heart,
by the Road side flowers.

My Winter

When I was a boy I took my sled named
the Straight Arrow and I’d walk a short way
to reach the trails and steep hills I then tamed
with runner streaks that showed a youth at play.
Then walking home, with blade’s tip I’d cut deep
concentric circles made in ice on street
all free of traffic giving signs to keep
of geometric figures looking neat.
A snow fort used sled’s side as great defense
and gave protection fine against attack
that came from foes but quickly we’d dispense
swift retribution driving same aback.
Boys take their winter games in spite of cold..
With coats and mittens we are very bold.


Premium Member If Dancing Barefoot, Watch For Broken Glass

If Dancing Barefoot, Watch For Broken Glass

Shot straight arrow into a crooked sky
to find if it washed upon me black rain.
Strange that Fate decreed then, I would not die
at least not until later, not in vain.

Time flew into shadows upon dead plains
my quiver empty, my heart cut to shreds.
We all have our secrets and some dark stains
while others sleep with ghosts in bloody beds.

Times of despair, hard choices must be made
if dancing barefoot, watch for broken glass.
Beware for heavy dues, they must be paid
there is no hidden splendor in the grass.

My bow now silent and cracked due to age.
All shot out- words sent from wizened old sage.

Robert J. Lindley, 12-11-2016

Going Back In Time

As Cupid search hearts between spaces,
 Ardently compelling hearts to be fonder,
Like forces attract and unlike ones reject.

Unlike ones sometimes  regretfully cry out:
Alas, “Our chemistries don’t quite match”!
So on goes Cupid, next victim in mind. 

Backwards he draws that huge Bow of his,
Pointing a straight Arrow never to miss,
The tender  spot with an amorous shot.

One lover’s heart stirs as the Bow quivers,
The other experiencing chilly shivers;
Feelings mounting, thoughts embracing.

They walk through the garden sided by over-hanging
Trees, with shades and shadows blending
In the cool and luxurious breeze.

Thinking of each other among green blades of grass,
There reminiscing on passed moments they shared;
Smiling and tenderly looking at both moon and stars.

Now Cupid, patiently waiting drew back the Bow
Silently striking both hearts, a single shot,
Causing an outpour of love with passion divine

Practical Cliche

I long to drive an impractical car
     a convertible
with seats for two
and wear impractical clothes
     Chanel suits that say
“Dry Clean Only”

I want to live in an impractical house
     downtown
three stories high
with white carpets, 
and closets I can lock 
with a key.

But I'll drive my practical van
     with seats for seven
and wear denim and sweats

I'll buy that split level in suburbia
     with carpeting the color of body fluids 
and chocolate milk

Because the soft sweet cheeks of a newborn,
the smile of a gleeful toddler, and
the straight arrow logic of a preschooler
and the antagonism of a teen
are worth far more to me.
True, it's a cliché, but only
truth breeds cliché. And my love
is true.

Practical Cliche

I want to drive an impractical car
     a convertible
with seats for two

and I'd treasure some impractical clothes
     Chanel suits that say
“Dry Clean Only”

I long to live in an impractical house
     downtown, three stories high
with white carpets

I covet a phone that rings only for me
   a password the kids don't know
and shoes only I can wear

but I'll drive my practical van
     with seats for seven
and wear denim and sweats

I'll buy that split level in suburbia
     with carpeting the color of body fluids 
and chocolate milk

Because the pillowy cheeks of a newborn,
the smile of a gleeful toddler, and
the straight arrow logic of a preschooler
are worth their weight far more to me.

True, it's a cliché, but only
truth breeds cliché. And my love
is true.

Premium Member Straight and Narrow -Formally Test

I have
Been
Relegated
Condemned
To follow
The straight
And narrow
Path
Of Poetic
Minimalism
I shall not 
Stray
From behaving
In this way
Its the straight
And narrow
All the way
From now on
For me


Straight Arrow

No more
Than a few
Words I can
Say
Its the new
Style
Of Poetry 
DONT stray
I shall abide
Keep things
Straight
Narrow
Like
The Indians
Arrow
I shoot this
Poem
Over your way
Do not laugh
Nor should you
Play
From now on
Its the straight 
And narrow
All the way


If you wish

Spaces

That’s ok too

As Long as

You know

Straight and

Narrow

Is still for

You

That’s the rule

So don’t be blue


If you cant beat them join them!!!!!!!!!!!!



Notes: The
formatting issues of
short lines and
double spaces seems
to be fixed, however
if anyone needs help
to fix their posts
feel free to email
me, be happy to
assist.

I stand corrected, there still seems to be issues. However, it seems if you post 
in the Chrome browser is ok. I have tried in in Firefox and sometimes it works, 
and sometimes not.

My Faith Is Resilient

Lord, this
Stiff bow
Needs a straight arrow
My faith is resilient
Even though,
A flock of arrow
Have pierced this heart

Jungle

Each day I open my eyes and the sunshine through my window and I wonder 
what's out there.

 Who's going to be main course today for dinner? Chewed up and spit 
out like some piece of prime rib we all need to be Carnavour or we were all better 
off dead.

 Counting off the terrorist stories and tragic mysteries of how many girls 
disappeared today? Oh next it might be me.

 That's why I look both ways when I  cross the street and on dark nights I stay on the 
sidewalk where there's light enough to see my predators lurking. Because you never know 
in the jungle " she wrote" and she'll finish it.

 She's not sympathetic to those who are idiots because your just walking and you'll fall 
into her trap. 

You better be smart or she'll have you lying on the ground crying. Don't think she's a 
punk because being ignorant never got no one a slice of pie. 

She's sweet but she can also be bitter, and you don't want to catch her on her bad side.

Dreams and determination can keep you on a straight arrow 
out of the jungle but some never leave and they never will.

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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