Warning Shot Poems | Examples


Premium Member Black Powder Mountain

Just about a mile outside pyrite town
there's black powder mountain, forever looking down.
It has a grizzly disposition and a couple veins of mean
lightning licks the summit at every opportunity.

Some went up to tame it and vanished like a dream
some say they saw the ghost of an old Chickasaw chief. 

One night, a 90-proof bet got the better of me 
I quickly packed up some grub and a fifth of bravery
I brought my four-legged chum, for a little company.

We made our way through the speckled forest
waded half a dozen icy creeks
thick mist slithered up the valley
that night I prayed up a little fire 
to keep the ghosts from icing dream.

The night dealt nothing but jokers and spades
Something barreled through the forest 
to where the two of us lay.
My eyes were wider than the barrel of my gun
I fired off a warning shot to keep the phantoms on the run.

Imagination was beating like a war drum
and somewhere in the trickster's night
I lost my little chum.

I never made it to the summit and lost the 90 proof bet.
A day later, when I was airing out my tent...
out popped the feintest chant and a pale green arrowhead.

Live or Die

How can we have made it this far,
and still not know what we’re doing?
We’ve come to that fork in the road,
where each way will lead to ruin.
Cause everything we’ve been told is a lie…
Does anyone care if we live or die?

So why can’t we all understand, 
you and I will be next to go. 
If we keep following this plan, 
then no one will survive the blow.
Because once the oceans have all gone dry… 
Will anyone care if we live or die?

I wonder what’ll rise from the ash, 
after all the trees are burned down.
What life will spring up from the dry, 
and barren, charcoal-covered ground?
When nothing but thick black clouds fill the sky…
There will be no choice if we live or die.

Now I have fired the warning shot,
I hope that the sound will be heard.
If we don’t try our very best,
then we will get what we deserve.
It’s enough to make the hardest heart cry…
Let’s all decide we want to live, not die.


Steve Seagull

High atop our chimney breast,
Lives Steve Seagull upon his nest.
He’s a highly trained, bombing master,
Atop my rooftop, his name spells disaster.

If you’re like me, and live down by the sea,
You’d better hide quick, and find the nearest tree.
He thinks the seaside sky’s his domain,
And his mission is to cause both misery and pain.

Steve seagull, he dominates his space,	
As you take leave of your house, of your place.
He swoops down low, he targets your head,
And ‘bombs away’ he just misses you instead.

That was his warning shot, next time you won’t be so lucky,
Next time will hit you, and you’ll be feeling all mucky.
You’ll have to return home, and you’ll then need a shower,
And Steve Seagull triumphantly returns atop of his tower.

Kidnappers

Guys eyeing a staggering ransom
And willing to unleash the gruesome
The senders to follow their uncomfortable instructions
Or get ready for the unpleasant ructions.

In a matter of minutes gagging protesting lips
On disobedient backs landing punitive whips
A chaining of the resisting limb,
Hopes of rescue making slim.

In unthinkable venue detaining their captive
Before him testing their firearms bloody active 
Any twist or turn attracting a warning shot
Unplanned funny moments punches tropically hot.

A hostage wishes things won't be savage
A dumping all day long like garbage,
His voice at the mercy of silencing sellotape
Body to the immovable tied against escape.

Kidnappers like bandits behave
Thesame choices of weapons making
Between knives so razor sharp they can shave
And hand guns that won't injury be faking.

The Key

a warning shot 
triggers the clock
heads tick to every second
enters the flip of a magnet 


a distinction to please 
entropy finds a seat 
takes the rein
broken strings gathered neat


provokes an impulse 
the overture tumbles 
pushes a soft warm breeze 
leans in with an ease
steals the air I breathe
holds the key 



Terry D'Arcy-Ryan


Enough

My conscience is slowly fading
My moral compass no longer leads the way
Ive come to a( no turning back point)in life
Where its time remove all thats decayed.

I never was a racist man
I looked at all men as my brothers in this life
But now those brothers attack me as a lesser man
And cause me grief and strife.

Ive decided to stand up for who i am
And my right to exist on this good green earth
I will fight and put down anyone trying to destroy
My values and sense of worth

So take this as a warning shot
If you choose to block my way
Vengence is mine says the Lord
But mine will visit you one day. 

To the lowlife scum who set my place on fire. Im coming.

It's Coming

White caps rising up
mirror surface gone silent...
Nature's warning shot.

Premium Member I Won'T Play Childish Games: With a Guest Poet

I don't want a flimsy daisy chain love
one the slightest breeze will sever apart
Their blooms are as pure as a turtle dove
I won't play childish games with my heart

Plucking flower petals, I would never do
for he either loves me, or he loves me not
Cupid drew his little bow and an arrow flew
He missed but I consider it a warning shot

Love is seldom simple. I'm aware of that
Unless built on honesty, it will surely fail
The man I will love must wear a white hat
not some scoundrel who carries a tall tale

The truth in matters will someday be told
So I'll not pluck daisies and strip them bare
One day my heart will discover and enfold
the hero searching for me, his own lady fair


July 7th, 2017
*Thank you, Marti Sutherland, for writing in tandem with me.

Premium Member The Dark -- Make Their Jaws Drop

Darkness surrounds me, obsesses me now.
I face the devastating power, feeling my strength draining.
I can smell the evil, as my insides roar a warning shot,
But lust for the dark has taken control.

How quickly our resolve can drain away.
Only hours ago I gathered with a congregation 
And pledged to flee from this sexy evil I now caress and
Dream of stripping to its most depraved form.

Why is it the dark that so attracts me?
Forces me to break all vows, regret it immediately?
My soul's weary from battles to overcome my destiny.
Damn Weight Watchers!!! I'm eating chocolate!!!

Warning Shot

My sins are of my own doing
Skeletons of my own choosing
None worse than forgiving
I shouldve known better
I know how you are
Right down to the letter
Cowardice and Betrayel
Same story from the theme setter
Should of known you would become her
Life is all about memories and lessons learned
Choices made and bridges burned
So i have my memories and the lesson im learning
Helped me make the choice to keep the bridge burning
Never again will i answer your call
Never again will i pick you up when you fall
Never do i want to hear from or see you at all
Go ahead and keep all those pics of us on your wall
At least your ex is worth keeping blocked
You aint even worth half the thought
I warned you not to awaken what you cant put down
Funny thing is you think you know me
But individuals cant be recognized by a clown
Hiding behind your own mask your tears run
Hide them the best you can
You cant compare in terms of the fun
Its why all your past prefers the love of a man
Here is your warning to stay away
This is the game you dont want to play

Premium Member The Trail

Sunlight is streaming through the tree limbs
A dancing wind rushes through the air
Two clomping horses mounted with riders
Gallop across a background so fair

Together they will face the trials
Of desert sun and freezing nights
Indian raids that just might come
When they least expect the fights

Cactus flowers brighten the trail
With pink and gold and orange
Colors seeming to draw them near
To the deserted landscape of scavengers

If a Indian crosses the plains
Making their way into view
The cowboys will fire a warning shot
To dissuade the onslaught of misconstrue

Hopefully, they will make it back home
Without losing a horse or a man
But will their bosses understand
When they arrive without their cowboy hands?

A Bed Is a Broken Hearts Only Friend

In the mornings I lie awake listening as the city comes to life,
I stay hidden under the shelter of my covers paying the price.
Mephistopheles lurks beneath; and he’s reaching up to grab me,
keeping me scared to venture out because darkness is all I see.

Shouldn’t there have been a warning shot? A flare high up above?
but then again, a blind man can’t see the impending loss of love.
This blanket will serve as my fortress, if I don’t leave, I’ll remain safe.
If I slip out of this feathery comfort I’m afraid I’d have to see your face.

My parents have grown tired of me they wonder what I’m hiding for.
My friends don’t reach out to me; they no longer knock on my door.
I did this to myself; I pulled bricks from the dam almost every day
now I’m looking up at the surface, drowning in this flood I’ve made.

Crows I count as they repeatedly try singing my racing mind to sleep,
 they’re only good for making it harder to keep myself away from me.
The walls if this desolate apartment close in more and more each day;
 life goes on outside my window but in my empty bed I think I’ll stay.

A Heart That Weeps

I jumped the hurdles
I climbed the rungs
you went higher
I couldn’t hold on

the song you sang
I couldn’t hear
words to the wind
or on deaf ears

you disappeared
without a trace
no tracks left
the trail erased

no warning shot
you were on the move
an empty chamber
an aim not true

when you left
you took it all
no safety net
to block my fall

a broken past
a wall left breached
a soul bereft
a heart that weeps

Knowledge

A tired retreat into the dust
The light has scorched the heart of our trust
Burning goals; more frozen reprise
A spinning web that poisons our minds

Identify the battles within
They come to life and no-one can win
Existing on in reality’s pain
To be shown an end is to die once again

Ceaselessly lost and aware
The circle brings us back to despair
Cold alone, but we’re too cold to leave
How can we love when we are deceived?

A warning shot from the barrel of truth
Stay away before you are used
The greatest shield is distance and time
As is the sword; as is our design

All for a world that can’t seem to see
We spin alone and then disagree
The circle grows because we’re too close
Knowledge kills, but how could we know?

Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

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
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter