Two Steps Back Poems | Examples

List of Member Poems

Premium Member Line Dancing

The blind lady was line dancing with Jack
Taking one step forward and two steps back.
Flirted and giggled
In sequin, jiggled,
Tripped, fell, hitting her head as all went black.

Vanity

His name is spoken, heard and seen
As part of every goddamn scene
Sweet be a cap on every bottle
It all goes on, without a throttle

A new banknote? Oh, there he is
The Arc of Trump? Well, soon be his
The Center for Performing Arts?
Rename attempt, sans playing parts

Half of White House's gone for good
Big void where once the building stood
Leave stains, not marks, is way to go
Our pride’s absorbing every blow

A golden phone, "Made in US"
Except it's not and what a mess
Cashed in our loyalty like a chip
When crypto fails, abandon ship!

He yells and screams and stomps his feet
So, heads of states are rife with grief
Hey, "pay attention to this matter"
Or chance become a worthless splatter

It's one step forward, two steps back
"Go make a deal or we attack"
The weak and meek don't win no war
Phone calls end war, he’ll stop few more

Vane jester of his own court
Amusing pledges, then abort
It hurts to watch, foresee effect
Entire world's pain in the neck

Forgiving History wouldn't be
No lion shall behave like flea
With vanity's his love affair
Except in bath, it's good nowhere

May 30, 2026

Premium Member Facing The Future

"The future is an unimagined landscape." - Thomas S. Monson

I beg to stand still
The future whispered
"Progressive science
Situations change
Dare to dream bigger"

"But it scares me"
My confession
The future grinned
"One step forward

Two steps back"
Mocked by youth
Torn by age

"Be kind
I pray

Please"


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

One Step Forward

One step forward, two steps back –
That’s the way I function.
There is something that I lack
When I am at the junction

Of making a decision
Which will finalize a plan,
No matter the precision
Since my research first began.

It’s like I’m on a diving board,
Afraid to take the plunge,
My hesitancy like a cord
My body can’t expunge.

And yet I search and plan and hope
My M.O. might just change
And I can shed that binding rope
And step-wise, rearrange.

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 what have i become

i lowered my guard and let you in
a child-man disappointing me at every turn

i'm fuming under my hat
half afraid of an explosion

one step forward
two steps back

how easy it is to close my eyes
and pretend everything's alright

a balancing act when in fact we are
at opposite ends of the spectrum

have i become someone who settles
or are my dreams still out there within grasp

Premium Member Simple Jack

I'm not sure 'bout your plan of attack

Take one step forward and two steps back 

You say we can't be beat

It sounds more like retreat

So don't expect me in your war Jack

Premium Member I'm tired of the way the ball always bounces

I'm tired of the way the ball always bounces,
and of gaining pounds while only eating ounces,
tired that for every one step forward, there's two steps back,
and that my glass is always half empty because of the crack,
and tired of that poetry teacher ~ who my name perpetually mispronounces.

The Breath

There's a stillness inside.

One to confide in.

To release emotions,

Setting energy in motion,

It's an oxygen explosion.

Racing around the track,

Life gets out of whack.

Take two steps back,

Inhale.

The Breath of Life entering,

Reaction rendering,

Slowly centering,

Exhale.

Uneasy feelings,

Flee from our beings,

And begin balancing.

Our Mind is thinking,

Your Heart is syncing,

The Soul is singing.

With rhythmic breathing,

We begin seeing,

The stillness fleeting.

Practice is seeking,

Expand and releasing.

Inhale,

Flooded with oxygen,

Love comes pouring in,

It's life's Magick potion.

Exhale,

Sharing our energy,

Our Connectivity,

Through the air we breathe.

MY LIFE

In the quiet whispers of the night,
My heart battles its endless fight,
With every step I bravely take,
Two steps back, my soul does break.

Alone in my room, I shed my tears,
Each drop a testament to my fears,
A life once bright now fades to grey,
I question how it slipped away.

Friends become shadows in the light,
Afraid they'll drown in my endless night,
Tomorrow's dawn fills me with dread,
I wish for peace, an end to this thread.

Once, my world was pure and bright,
Now I'm lost in an endless night,
Did I stray too far from faith’s warm embrace,
Leaving me in this desolate space?

Dear God, hear my silent plea,
Lift this burden, set me free,
My life crumbles, bit by bit,
Only You can heal this rift.

I hold onto hope with trembling hands,
For love and joy in distant lands,
Youth's deceit or fate’s cruel guise,
In darkness, hidden strength lies.

Premium Member Playing Nice



At the edge of the dark forest, in shadows
Breathing the heavy morning dew, just the two
soft commotions kiss the silence as they froze

listening, for a presence, gentle hearts flew
huffing, puffing, thick scents of moss, blackest earth
outfoxing the hunter whose sure to pursue

he’s been an ever present danger since birth
always, she’s two steps back and one step ahead,
hoping to make it through fall for what it’s worth.

she feels like she is living in constant dread
and her fawn, oh, how she yearns to protect him
each season, she’s trying to avoid bloodshed

often, she travels in the creeks where they swim
sometimes eating bits of their corn on a whim.

Contrast:

Between the predator and the prey:

She starts the hunt with blood in her eyes,
She’ll seek out the trespasser to say her goodbyes,
Outfoxing him, soon he’ll pay the final price
She’s going to kill him, so next fall they’ll think twice
Before trying to trick her – he should have played nice!

Premium Member The Photograph

The wedding photograph took centre stage

Eight great years

Two years gone now

She had sort of moved on

Slowly

She gazed at the photograph

So strange, it looked different

It was as if he had taken two steps back from her

She began to study the photograph again

Maybe it was just that photograph

She looked out some others

It didn’t make sense

He was behind or in the distance

Moving out of her life

She began to shake

It didn’t make sense

You can’t change photographs

You just can't

The family photo

He was at the back

Was she going crazy

She grasped at the wedding photograph

Watching as he slowly began to fade from view

Was he punishing her

Trying to tell her to move on

She woke with a jolt

Studying the room

God, that was awful

So awful

She needed coffee, and quick

The caffeine kicked in

She spoke out loud

Okay Tom, I finally take the hint

Glancing at the photograph

So strange she thought

She wasn't in it.

Rays Of Light

Rays Of Light

Information contextual
never absolute
Naked in isolation
relative and moot

Inspiration celestial
gifted from the throne
Sending rays to light the dark
— truth to stand alone

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Science

One step 
forward
two steps back

Look around
you
see the facts

Sky scraped
cities
health care gods

Obese
on drugs
gender fog

Ghetto
masters
children stoned

War
a plaything 
religion owned

Information
but a mask
to hide us from the truth

DNA
and quantum theory
— kills the Golden Goose

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


Dreamsleep

No words into boxes
all Muses set free
Not quatrain or sonnet
or limerick for me
The feeling’s unleashing
the verse as decreed
Whose words birth inside me
— unspoken in dreams

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


Feelings

They come to
me vacant

No plans
to deceive

In silence
they wait

My words
— to conceive 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Premium Member Our World

Try to wake up every morning with a smile on your face
Be thankful you are still part of the human race
Send out rays of happiness to everyone you might meet
If you take the bus and it is full give someone in need your seat
The media continues to spread doom and gloom it's a ratings game
Why do we accept that everything has to be the same
Negativity spreads like dandelions on our lawn
If we could all just be a little more positive maybe we could attain a new dawn
Working together is what we need to get our world back on track
We always seem to proceed one step forward but then go two steps back
Spreading love is the way to go, without it we would probably not be here today
Let's treat everyone with kindness and respect, what do you say

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