Home » Poems » Best » Ray Dillard » Best Ray Dillard Poems

Best Poems Written by Ray Dillard

Below are the all-time best Ray Dillard poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Ray Dillard Poem

If I Were a Butterfly

If I were a butterfly...
Your yard might be the place to fly.
I'd flap my wings and fly all day.
From tree to tree...I'd bounce my way.
I'd ride hot puffs of air
Like a roller coaster at the fair...
Like a schooner on the ocean's waves...
I'd soar and swim the sky all day.
And when your children came to play...
I'd dance about their noses.
They'd laugh and chase 
And then I'd hide...safely in the roses.
I'd perch among the sharpest thorns,
My wings...the roses to adorn...
Tomorrow I might float and soar...
Visit neighbors yards next door.
And when my flying day is done...
And I am finished having fun...
I'll float and flutter back through space...
Your garden ...still my favorite place.

Details | Ray Dillard Poem

Cloud - Recited

http://youtu.be/X5lfjFatgZU

Floating in the sky...
Changing patterns fill my eye...
What will you become?

Vagabond and wanderer...
Riding wind so high,
No matter where it blows.
You thumb your way to places
I have been and some I'll never know.

Chameleon...
Changing shape and color,
Hiding your identity,
Until you speak with beauty and power.
First, a turtle, moving slowly.
Crawling and paddling in peaceful grace.
Next, a shark swimming swiftly
Consuming those around you.
Finally a dinosaur...
Your neck and tail extended
So I will know your name...
Forgetting you're a cloud.

Vagabond and wanderer...
Just vapor in the air, traveling everywhere.
Marshmallow treat
So soft and sweet...
Then dirty and dark...you loudly speak.
Rain, thunder and lightening are your friends.
It's pleasant when your anger ends,
And rainbows arch to show me where you've been.

At night, your shadow hides the stars
And makes us wander where they are.
You choose to show selected few
The moon and stars...romantic you.

Sunrise...you meet the sun with colors of the day.
A canvas. A pleasant palette 
Where light can play.
Sunset...you form a beautiful pillow
To gently catch the sun.
So rays may rest til morrow come.

Vagabond and wanderer...
Tomorrow let me see your face,
Another chance ...
To watch you dance...
Until you catch a ride...
Shift shape...
And hide.

Details | Ray Dillard Poem

Remember the Alamo

The Texans weren't supposed to be
 Holding the old mission.
Sam Houston sent Jim Bowie there.
 Said he had a vision.

Bowie wanted to save the fort.
 So did Colonel Travis.
They say when Santa Anna came
 Carnage there was massive.

Two hundred men would die that day.
 One was Davey Crockett.
He couldn't save the Alamo.
 Too few men to stop it.

Santa Anna won the battle,
 Taking back the city.
He killed each and every soldier.
 Showing them no pity.

Santa Anna was defeated
 Outside San Jacento.
The Texans bore the battle cry,
 Remember Alamo!

1/15/2013
RAY

Details | Ray Dillard Poem

Dancing Bird - With Video Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtpPcmLKRFU   Dancing Bird


Yesterday, I saw a shadow dart across my keyboard.
When I turned to look outside the window, 
I spied upon a sparrow playing in the sun.
He was dancing in dramatic fashion 
Across the shrubbery that was his home.
I could tell it was a male by his markings.
He was busy with his boasting, and proud.
No longer a fledge, he fluffed his feathers
To parade his prowess to all that might adore him. 
Then, he pivoted into a pirouette, and pranced
Most skillfully across the length of a branch
And launched himself into flight.  

Today, the sounds of birds cackling and chirping
Inside the shrubbery drew me to the window.
I could see three sparrows engaging in some fun and frolic.  
Perhaps it was some flirtatious mating ceremony. 
While most sparrows do look alike,
I’m sure that one of them was the dancing bird
I’d seen the day before.  I watched briefly and smiled,
Remembering my own courtship and rivals
Who would fancy my choice as their own.
I returned to the monitor and before I could begin 
My work, there was a loud thud upon the glass.
I gazed outside and there upon the ground was a small hawk
Clutching the dancer in his talons. 

Tomorrow, this bird will not dance.
He will not sing or court another.
And as sparrows are many,
I will no doubt find another to enjoy from this vantage.
I chide myself for failing to warn him of the danger.
I was too busy with my own enjoyment to notice.
Now, I close my eyes and reconstruct those moments
As I attempt to resurrect the dancing bird,
And preserve him....forever.

Details | Ray Dillard Poem

Hummingbird

Still, I wait.
Alone, In silence.
Listening for your whispering wings,
hoping I will hear them sing.

At last you motor past,
and briefly pause-
checking to see that you are safe,
rapidly fanning the ambience,
filling the surround with vortices
that suspend you statuesque,
without a fainéant feather.
I know you see me,
those dark eyes opened wide,
never blink.
Yet, you are unafraid.
Or, maybe hunger rules your reason,
checking flowers of the season.
You hover slightly back,
and then decide
to probe the flower for what’s inside.
Sweet nectar…Elixir of life.
You lap a little as hummingbirds do,
and then you stab another two.
Then, purr closely past my face,
Darting to another place
having had your tiny taste.

Now retire to who knows where.
A bird must have a nest somewhere.
You’ve earned a respite for your wing.
Next time, maybe, will you sing?

Details | Ray Dillard Poem

Message From My Daughter

So… during basketball season… our manager, Anna,
             would sit by me on the bench.

After Christmas, 
I told her about Nana drawing with charcoals. 
I told her about how I wanted to buy her charcoals 
             so she would draw again. 
I told Anna about how Nana won’t draw anymore 
             because she used to draw…
                          when Papa was sick. 

             (I was telling Anna all of this because she likes to draw
             and mentioned she likes charcoals the best)……..
 	           All that being said…

Anna gave me the most beautiful charcoal drawing 
            of a basketball on a wooden floor.
It is framed and really big. 
You can tell that she put time into it 
            and really wanted it to be pretty. 
When I opened it in class today, 
            I was so surprised…… 
                           and told her it was beautiful. 

She smiled at me and said, 

            “I drew that because of the story you told 
             me about your grandma.”

I bawled like a little kid. 

Just that the story would influence her, and 
              inspire her to draw that for me. 

It is awesome.

I had forgotten that we even talked about drawing……. 
             She didn’t. 
                            That story meant something to her.

 And that is why people teach.

Details | Ray Dillard Poem

Balloon

Happiness is a bright balloon
On the ceiling of the living room.

Confined in space it can't go far,
A butterfly in a small glass jar.

I watch it bounce and bobble by,
Searching for a big blue sky.

It finds a corner and there it parks.
A puppy dog that lost his barks.

Saddened by this circumstance,
I seize the moment, take a chance.

And guide my friend outside the door.
It's good to see him dance once more!


For Francine-- "Happiness is a Balloon"
by Ray Dillard on 7-21-11

Details | Ray Dillard Poem

Butterfly Song

A butterfly fluttered into my space
And tried to lite upon my face.
The beautiful creature had no fear
And kissed me softly on the ear.
As delicate and tender as she was,
she whispered to me with no fuss.
Sharing the wonders of her life 
She made me smile for just a while.
A sweet spring flower to brighten my day.
Careful flight my friend, I pray....


Appreciation (In Honor of PD)
5-14-13

Details | Ray Dillard Poem

Flowers,,,Beautiful Flowers

Flowers...beautiful flowers.

These flowers will not replace my friend.
Their beauty will soon go the way of life-
Fade and wither and then take flight.

Piled upon this mound of dirt to mark our sorrow,
Offered as a sacrifice to soothe our souls.
Petal nor thorn could save this rose.

Like flowers cut down in height of beauty,
This face that bloomed and wore big smiles,
Is covered here to rest awhile.

Then beyond the markers numbered many,
Placed in rows to make order of death,
I saw something that took my breath.

Flowers...colorful flowers...that filled
The field yet fallow...waiting for the day
When friends and family gather...and pray.

Flowers...beautiful flowers.

Details | Ray Dillard Poem

Blame It On the Moon

I dare you to say,
"It's because of the full moon."
My heart is not made of iron.
No magnetism 
Pulls me like the ocean's tide,
Holding me here by your side.

Instead, please tell me
That our hearts will beat as one
Regardless of the moon or sun.
Say that you'll be here
When we become old and gray...
Then, say the moon made us that way.


Ray Dillard   10-13-11