A Time Past
The old wooden steps to the front door
where I was sitting that fall morning
when you came downstairs, just awake,
and my joy at sight of you (emerging
into golden day—
the dew almost frost)
pulled me to my feet to tell you
how much I loved you:
those wooden steps
are gone now, decayed
replaced with granite,
hard, gray, and handsome.
The old steps live
only in me:
my feet and thighs
remember them, and my hands
still feel their splinters.
Everything else about and around that house
brings memories of others—of marriage,
of my son. And the steps do too: I recall
sitting there with my friend and her little son who died,
or was it the second one who lives and thrives?
And sitting there ‘in my life,’ often, alone or with my husband.
Yet that one instant,
your cheerful, unafraid, youthful, ‘I love you too,’
the quiet broken by no bird, no cricket, gold leaves
spinning in silence down without
any breeze to blow them,
is what twines itself
in my head and body across those slabs of wood
that were warm, ancient, and now
wait somewhere to be burnt.
poem by Denise Levertov
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Related quotes
Two Steps
Two steps together
Our Myths says
Brings two souls together
Two steps together
Is the surround of
One’s life to another
Two steps together
Can bring the long path
Seeming so far away
To so close that
One can feel the step’s beat
In his own heart.
Two steps together
But,
Will life be just the path of two steps only?
Anyhow, any steps walking is incomplete
If it is not done in two steps
All begins by just two steps together….
poem by Kriti Krits
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Steps
Each house has steps of various types,
And numbers, leading to its door;
We leave our foot-wear and walk in,
As tradition demands us so.
And there are steps to temples too,
Especially those built on hills;
We do most things in steps in life;
But walk, we must in Lord’s footsteps!
Our spiritual life has steps to make;
We cannot take a nap at all;
The door to heaven has no steps,
And so also, the fall to hell!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-16-2008
poem by John Celes
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One Step Up
Woke up this morning my house was cold
Checked out the furnace she wasnt burnin
Went out and hoped in my old ford
Hit the engine but she aint turnin
Weve given each other some hard lessons lately
But we aint learnin
Were the same sad story thats a fact
One step up and two steps back
Bird on a wire outside my motel room
But he aint singin
Girl in white outside a church in june
But the church bells they aint ringing
Im sitting here in this bar tonight
But all Im thinkin is
Im the same old story same old act
One step up and two steps back
Its the same thing night on night
Whos wrong baby whos right
Another fight and I slam the door on
Another battle in our dirty little war
When I look at myself I dont see
The man I wanted to be
Somewhere along the line I slipped off track
Im caught movin one step up and two steps back
Theres a girl across the bar
I get the message shes sending
Mmm she aint lookin to married
And me well honey Im pretending
Last night I dreamed I held you in my arms
The music was never-ending
We danced as the evening sky faded to black
One step up and two steps back
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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But Mostly In The Wrong Direction
day 1
took 1,473 steps today(or rather night) under the dark, weighted
sky, nearly stumbled but the cracks in the sidewalk
can't bring me down
day 34
love left me today(or rather morning)
7,893 steps say run, run, get away
and never come back
day 127
hope returned today(or rather afternoon)
and so did i
with 7,894 steps just to make up for leaving
day 542
walked today (was it morning or afternoon?)
do you know how the cold makes the sunset freeze in gold?
didn't count steps today
much better things to do
poem by Alexzia Ferdinand
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Predator’s Prey
A young boy is crumbled in a bundle small
Under wooden boards of stairs outdoor
His breath is held as he grips the ground of the floor
In his back an ache, from the angst in his heart a longed-for break
Just a few steps higher hiding in the same place I
His brother older I cringe at the fear my body holds
My muscles trembling and my mouth distastefully dry
I wish to be bolder as the strength I have, it all folds
I taste the dust in my mouth as I press my face to dirt
Afraid to look up I still feel the fright of my brother ‘neath my heels
I long to break out with might,
Protect those I should and fight
In this old park we lie and wait
Two boys young who ran to hide the first place straight
Our parents off far out of sight or shout
The earth still as our hearts pound and grabs our stout
I hear the slow sliding of steps approaching
Grass underfoot shrieks a still and menacing yell
The steps stop hardly two feet above head
And timely steps forward creaking wood an earsplitting bell
Treading down I see the dirt on his sole
He looks around
Seeking a glimpse or a sense of some sound
Of the prey he seeks to please his soul
He walks down further to where my brother lies
With all I have I yearn for him to keep the silence
To protect our sanctuary’s secret from probing eyes
To keep our hearts and lives from this impending violence
He moves down the steps and I take some courage
And see him walking past and ‘round some foliage
I nudge my brother to make an escape
Squeezing out through the gap and scraping my nape
Out free in the sun I sense the need to run
Whispering urgent I beckon my brother along
But down low under the steps he falters and stays
A choice to be made, I choose to run
Across the lawns and the fields I stumble in fear
To the park’s other side where my parents near
Thoughts of my brother haunts me forward
As tears of dread propels me on
Reaching safety I shout the urgent distress
To parents in anguish strained no less
We run back toward the old wooden stairs
Finding empty the place where terror now stays
We search for a cause with hope seeming grim
No trace of a boy whose chance now is slim
Tearing me apart the guilt and the shame
Of leaving him there, will life be the same?
(2008-02-04)
poem by Francois Hoon
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I Recognize Your Voice
I recognize your voice, your cheerful laughter,
when I enter a room full of people
and even your soft steps each day
catches me with a tingle time after time,
through your beauty that flowers continually.
I recognize your voice, your cheerful laughter,
sometimes it feels as if you are waiting on me
but constantly you do astound me
and even your soft steps each day
has a kind of skipping to them
and with being in love I am stupid.
I recognize your voice, your cheerful laughter,
sometimes hear it echoing at night
although your face is disguised by the darkness
and even your soft steps each day,
but our love is not a game of force
and still continually you turn my life upside down.
I recognize your voice, your cheerful laughter
and even your soft steps each day
poem by Gert Strydom
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The Steps
Your steps, children of my silence,
Holily, slowly placed,
Towards the bed of my vigilance
Proceed dumb and frozen.
Nobody pure, divine shade,
That they are soft, your steps selected!
Gods!… all the gifts which I guess
Come to me on these naked feet!
If, of your advanced lips,
You prepare to alleviate it,
An inhabitant of my thoughts
The food of a kiss,
Does not hasten this tender act,
To be soft and not to be not?
Because I lived to await you,
And my heart was only your steps.
poem by Paul Valery
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199 Steps to Heaven
They were my 199 steps to heaven
Grandad found them 199 steps of hell
Angina.
But still he always climbed
Never complained
As I think he knew,
He was climbing the 199 steps to heaven.
I can't even remember
When I first did climb
just always had.
I can remember
Counting
Did it really take 199 steps to heaven?
Some debate
That there are only 198
But they were my 199 steps to heaven.
But
Then I realized that
By counting the 199 steps to heaven
Meticulously
Religiously
I was missing the view on the way up
To heaven
And it didn't really matter if it was
198 or 199
They'd always be my 199 steps to heaven.
Then my eyes were opened and I saw
the view up was just as spectacular
As the view from heaven.
And I realized how much of it I'd missed;
Counting
So I stopped and
Just admired the view
On the way up
My 199 steps to heaven.
The view, like time stood still
Old tile roof tops,
Sprawling cliff faces
And the sea.
It was always the sea for me.
Whether in a rage or in a lull
I loved it unconditionally
The long straight pier
Jutting freely.
And all this I could see
From my 199 steps to heaven.
And sometimes we'd have to stop
Half way
For granddad to recover
Breath labored but still
Determined
To climb those 199 steps to heaven
And I'd wonder
Who?
How many?
Had climbed these 199 steps
Did they know they were climbing
My 199 steps to heaven?
The tourists, locals,
And in days long gone;
The coffin bearers.
All climbing my 199 steps to heaven
And, if you believe him
Mr Stoker
Claims
That the Count
Formed in a hound from hell
Climbed those
199 steps to heaven.
And when we'd finally reach the top
My world spread out before me
I'd weave between the gravestones
Thinking how lucky
These corpses were to be
Lying, eternally
There;
Their own piece of earth;
At the top of
My 199 steps to heaven.
And the north wind blew strong
And sang me a sweet sad song
As I gazed over my world
Cliffs, sea, a never ending horizon
Calling to me, welcoming me
Needing me as much as I needed
It
My 199 Steps to Heaven
And if you ever climb my 199 steps to heaven
Please throw my name off the edge,
Into the wind to blow it free
Forever
As I am separated by distance
heart breaking
soul aching
For my
199 steps to heaven.
Shadow Girl
poem by Shadow Girl
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Steps
Maybe one step ahead, maybe two
I could ease my day a little
Maybe two steps ahead, maybe twenty
I won’t be chased in doing my work
Maybe twenty steps ahead, maybe plenty
I could enjoy my day at peace
Maybe plenty steps ahead, maybe more
I won’t be surprised by any outcome
Maybe more steps ahead, maybe none
I let my life to be freely flow
Maybe no step ahead, maybe just one
I could focus on what I want to achieve
Maybe one step ahead, maybe two
I could take a little nap
Maybe two steps ahead, maybe twenty
I won’t be alerted every time
Maybe twenty steps ahead, maybe plenty
I could prepare the worst
Maybe plenty steps ahead, maybe more
I won’t be bothered by all strategy maneuvers
Maybe more steps ahead, maybe none
I don’t really care about that anymore
Maybe no step ahead, maybe just one
I won’t waste my energy to worry
poem by Maria Sudibyo
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Two Hundred Steps
After a life how many step
Little small learning capability step
Youth strives for to learn to walk
A grown-up marriage step
Marriage to seek live hood step
Holds a young learning capability step
Old age to retire a step
Life needs 200 steps
Several to permit 200 steps
Accompanies several 200 steps
Has not refused stubbornly to pause
poem by Albert Wong
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Adonis
1.
Each of us like you
has died once,
has passed through drift of wood-leaves,
cracked and bent
and tortured and unbent
in the winter-frost,
the burnt into gold points,
lighted afresh,
crisp amber, scales of gold-leaf,
gold turned and re-welded
in the sun;
each of us like you
has died once,
each of us has crossed an old wood-path
and found the winter-leaves
so golden in the sun-fire
that even the live wood-flowers
were dark.
2.
Not the gold on the temple-front
where you stand
is as gold as this,
not the gold that fastens your sandals,
nor thee gold reft
through your chiselled locks,
is as gold as this last year's leaf,
not all the gold hammered and wrought
and beaten
on your lover's face.
brow and bare breast
is as golden as this:
each of us like you
has died once,
each of us like you
stands apart, like you
fit to be worshipped.
poem by Hilda Doolittle
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The dance of life
grow as it grown, in my mothers womb i crib, in her veins i
take my strength, what wonders i survive only in her i live, as
i sleep, in the wall i cried cover me, with her tender skin, that
a mother tongue and lips i know
now iam here, dancing with the song of life, perfecting the steps
i knew, in my mother laps i go, teach me mother to do all what
you already have know, as i hear the music played, my whole self
want to evade, but sure i know that there is no escape for
everybody has to make
i node but nobody look, i tried but everybody have steps, the
dance of life, that never have ever made a mistake, the timing is
so loud and clear, the tune is encompass to the rhythm of the song
step by steps, my heart breath, step by steps, i will make.....jump....
and jumps my soul shout for joy, for in every beats life is there to
wait, quivering, conquering what music i'll take, my feet moves
and the flesh puff where my head is out to hold me, as i lift high
the in and out of my life
every choice i made, is a thing to remember, that as it goes, a
dance may go, life has wonderful moment to view, that each day
is an experience to be with you, dancing with the song of life
is not only to be alive, but away of life to live alive
poem by Antonio Liao
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The Ottoman
At the foot of my parents bed was an ottoman,
it was old fashioned, but solid and sound.
My father said it had been locked for a reason,
to stop children from nosing around.
This unusual ottoman kind of haunted me
and I was curious to look inside.
One morning I found a key in the green house
and it looked like the ottoman’s size
Within minutes I was face to face with the ottoman,
the key turned the lock, so I took a peek.
A burning light shone at the bottom of a stairway;
so this was the secret my father wished to keep.
My burning curiosity had got the better of me,
so I lifted the lid wider and got inside.
Down the steps I ventured with caution,
my ears twitching, and eyes open wide.
The steps led down a narrow spiral staircase,
which met a corridor, with a door at the end.
Behind the creaky door was another corridor
and a wooden stairway which I did ascend.
This led me back up to the ottoman,
which was strange, but had to accept.
I decided to mull this over in my bedroom,
but someone was sleeping, so out there I crept.
I couldn’t believe it when I saw myself sleeping,
but then my father called me down for tea.
He and mum smiled, and dad ruffled my hair,
it was then that I came face to face with me.
I ran from the kitchen, up to my parent’s bedroom;
into the ottoman, and returned the way I came.
Everyone was sitting down for tea when I joined them
and dad knew, that I wouldn’t be disobeying him again.
poem by Orlando Belo
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Go out, it is cold.
If you don’t remember how I used to kiss you
Take a look at the willows by the road
Whispering behind your steps
Unheard awakening with the hands by you
The touches made hand printed into your oblivion
Take a look at the waves breaking
A name rock chiseled on the threshold of love
And at the foam that used to kiss your feet
Take a look at the door opening
That thirsty for your steps stood waiting for so long
And at the doormat that so often you stepped on
There are the traces of my warmth underneath
A welcome that I am saving from you
Go out, it is cold.
©Miroslava Odalovic
poem by Miroslava Odalovic
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Sitting In An Empty House
Sitting in an emtpy house
Waiting for the phone to ring
Sitting in an empty house
Wanting someone to call about anything
Sitting in an house
Just a cat for company
Sitting in an empty house
Will someone please take time for me?
Sitting in an empty house
No one knows I'm so alone
Sitting in an empty house
The pain I feel remains unknown
04/29/06
Under the Sunset Sky
Sitting under the sunset sky
Laying around I wonder why
You value me so much more
Than any other you’ve met before
Why you feel so safe by me
And no the others that you see
Sitting under the sunset sky
I find comfort and I sigh
Knowing all is well by you
Having peace in all I do
Watching my troubles fall away
Not wanting then back any day
Sitting under the sunset sky
When you’re sad I want to cry
Feeling you’re sorrow, hurt and pain
When it’s done, all for gain
Drawing away from the past
What’s done is done and shouldn’t last
Sitting under the sunset sky
Only thing to do is deny
The comfort found when we’re alone
Feelings around us never shown
If only to live for how we feel
Soon this love would we seal
Sitting under the sunset sky
Longing for you by and by
Can’t get you off my mind
All the reasons trying to find
Thinking so hard never to know
Why you might care for me so
Sitting under the sunset sky
Hoping you won’t chose another guy
To be the one, to live the life
That good men live, without strife
To be with you is my goal
Are you the match for my soul?
Sitting under the sunset sky
To be with you when I die
Would be the best of any dream
Looking around, you see me beam
I’ve found the one out of all
Now it’s done, this task not small
poem by Brian Potthast
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A Step
There are these steps
which rule my life;
I look behind
and see them:
pathways I've taken,
impressions here and there
from the baby ones
to my teens
all there in the sand
trailing behind me.
I've stepped up to challenges;
my first apartment
my first home
career and children
all steps along my way;
I see the future ones
arrayed in front of me
marker points to strive for.
Sadly too
I have known
the 12 steps
of sister who
needed these.
I have known the 12 pillars of light;
stairways to heaven;
the two-step dancing
and step-ford wives.
I've looked behind
and at times,
there was only one set of tracks;
my walking alone.
There have been big steps
and little steps
none greater than
the one
I took
stepping up to you
who awaited me
at the stair case height
taking my arm
to ascend
to the preacher standing there-
the biggest,
happiest,
most wonderfullest
step
I have ever taken
in my life.
Thanks Dear
for walking with me
for all these years.
poem by Lonnie Hicks
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What Do You Do I Ask
(5/4/12)
What do you do when you feel all hope is gone
And hanging by a thread you linger on.
What do you do when you take three steps forward
And eight steps back, and in life you're always under attack.
What do you do when you have door after door
Slam in your face, and to hide - there is no place.
What do you do when your loved ones have lost faith in you
And you don't know what to do.
What do you do when you pray every day
And the answers don't come your way.
Is this really the time to give up hope
When all your life you learned to cope.
Your dreams don't come when you want
And may never come at all
And to the ground they may fall.
Your dreams may not be what GOD has intended
But in your life, your dreams may be ended.
There may be another path that he wants you to travel
And his answers will all unravel.
Your life is not lived just for yourself
You must touch everyone else.
We are surrounded by millions of people
And each life touching another
And giving hope to so many others.
We can not see what he has in store
But we live with faith as we open the new door.
The door may be something that we don't expect
And it will make our lives better yet.
So open the door and let that radiating light shine through
For this is the light and path that belongs to you.
poem by Louis Rams
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If I Should Fall Behind
We said wed walk together baby come what may
That come the twilight should we lose our way
If as were walkin a hand should slip free
Ill wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me
We swore wed travel darlin side by side
Wed help each other stay in stride
But each lovers steps fall so differently
But Ill wait for you
And if I should fall behind
Wait for me
Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true
But you and I know what this world can do
So lets make our steps clear that the other may see
And Ill wait for you
If I should fall behind
Wait for me
Now theres a beautiful river in the valley ahead
There neath the oaks bough soon we will be wed
Should we lose each other in the shadow of the evening trees
Ill wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me
Darlin Ill wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Gimme Three Steps
I was cutting the rug
Down at a place called the jug
With a girl named linda lu
When in walked a man
With a gun in his hand
And he was looking for you know who.
He said, hey there fellow,
With the hair colored yellow,
Watcha tryin to prove?
cause thats my woman there
And Im a man who cares
And this might be all for you.
I was scared and fearing for my life.
I was shakin like a leaf on a tree.
cause he was lean, mean,
Big and bad, lord,
Pointin that gun at me.
I said, wait a minute, mister,
I didnt even kiss her.
Dont want no trouble with you.
And I know you dont owe me
But I wish youd let me
Ask one favor from you.
(chorus)
wont you give me three steps,
Gimme three steps mister,
Gimme three steps towards the door?
Gimme three steps
Gimme three steps mister,
And youll never see me no more.
Well the crowd cleared away
And I began to pray
As the water fell on the floor.
And Im telling you son,
Well, it aint no fun
Staring straight down a forty-four.
Well he turned and screamed at linda lu
And thats the break I was looking for.
And you could hear me screaming a mile away
As I was headed out towards the door.
(chorus)
song performed by by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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