The Arrow

14 Comments

Poem Commentary

In honor of our friend StandingBear

The Arrow

The Arrow

With the twang of the bow an arrow takes flight

it pierces the sky as it soars out of sight

strong oaken shaft with a razor sharp tip

golden feathers to guide it on its mysterious trip

 

Through clouds it presses onward climbing higher and higher

 over land over sea spewing a trail of Greek fire

far below its shadow can be seen as it passes

green valleys, deep rivers and low lying morasses

 

Twenty days and twenty nights it remains true to its course

many miles has it traveled with a true moral force

many have seen it pass by on its path through the grey skies

all wondering and wondering of its final demise

 

In an instant it slows and begins its decent

as if all energy behind it has finally been spent

it spirals downward and downward its shining tip all aglow

Its destination it appears a high desert plateau

 

On the sand in the desert a single Indian stands guard

looking upward from land that has been pitifully scarred  

he watches for something… no one is sure what

his hands shade his eyes that seem never to shut

        

The arrow slices downward gathering speed and more speed

the Indian watches hopefully next to a patch of scorpion weed

the arrow strikes the earth and disappears neath its dry crust

sand and rocks spewing upward in a mountain of dust

 

Minutes pass and all is quiet until the earth starts to groan

and then a gusher of water to the heavens is thrown

the arid desert turns fertile and crops begin to grow

the Indian dances and chants giving thanks to he who bestows

 

An ancient ritual? Perhaps, but only the spirit really knows

 

©Copyright 2009 Charlie Gragg 

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gogant commented on The Arrow

11-20-2009

The pain is seen in the Indian's eyes, but not the meaning of why it must have to be...does any of us know for sure why ? Lots of metaphors, my good man.............................................g

Hampton

11/20/2009

Thanks for your read and your comments. I appreciate it.

lunamarie commented on The Arrow

10-16-2009

Dear Hampton, (excited) wow! ... there were so many parts and things that I liked! ... you are a real poet, yes? ... this must have won something ... I hope ... Luna p.s. so nice for Standingbear

Hampton

10/16/2009

That is very nice of you. I thank you for reading and commenting.

MSVanallen commented on The Arrow

10-05-2009

What a story teller you are! That is one of the many reasons I continue to visit your work. Great stories told with so much imagry and description it just takes you there...and then leaves you with something to ponder. Thank you! MSV

Hampton

10/05/2009

I appreciate your visits to my work and your always insightful comments.

lostalive77 commented on The Arrow

09-02-2009

i love this! your structure and the images.i felt as though i could see it happening!

Hampton

09/02/2009

Thank you very much.

devaamido commented on The Arrow

08-24-2009

Nice imagery, Hamp... pretty good for kid from Coffeyville. That arrow probably came from Pittsburg! LOL Ya hadda be there!

Hampton

08/24/2009

Didn't you know that Coffeyville is the mecca for all aspiring poets? And Pittsburg? Your dead right about that. Many thanks.

To have great poets there must be great audiences too.

Walt Whitman, American Poet (1819-1892)

Hampton’s Poems (111)

Title Comments
Title Comments
Searching 5
The Poetess 14
Nonsense 12
Solitude 18
Lame Limericks 14
Message to Papa 15
Young Jimmy O’Fallon 11
The Computer From Hell 18
Life Ain’t for Sissies 16
The Mind In Motion 13
The Game of Poetry 9
Silence 55
WordSlinger 19
Holiday Thoughts 12
Sweet Mary 18
From White to Grey to Black 19
The Reckoning 12
And All of That Jazz 16
Today 25
No Offense, Just My Opinion 16
Lucky 10
You’re Only as Old as You Feel 13
Saturday Night 13
Political Change? 14
The Female Gender 17
I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? ( With Epilogue) 10
I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? 7
Remembering 11
This Web We Weave 13
The End 16
The Day the Clouds Cried 16
The Path of Life 12
My Mother Ruth 12
Forever–ast
er
11
Humanities Challenge 14
A Cowboy's Perspective 12
July in Buda Texas 14
The OP Poets Parade 20
The Chatelaine 12
Shot Through the Heart 17
Poetry and Fine Wine 18
The Man What Am 10
The Final Beat of My Heart 16
The Rainbow of Poets 19
A Cowboy's Lament 13
Of This World I am Not 17
The Wee People 19
An Evening at an Irish Pub 15
The Scent of Love 14
Fresh News from Buda Texas 16
Memories of Times Past 13
The Dance of the Poets 20
The Confession 14
Road to Obscurity 18
Barbara 14
Shadows 15
Prescience 17
Words That Bind 54
Wondering 26
New Year News from Buda Texas 13
We Are All Witnesses 16
Christmas 25
A Cowboy’s Prayer 29
The 9 ers 24
Love Defined 27
Tis a Time to Give Thanks 21
More News From Buda Texas 26
Choices 26
News from Buda, Texas 21
In Search of God 21
Writers of Poems (WOPs) 26
Out of the Darkness 15
Visions from Within the Mist 18
Baseball 12
The Night Stalker 16
The Man I Presume to be Buck 16
The Sounds of Time 17
The Little Man in the Green Hat 18
Blah Blah Blah 14
One Two Three 13
Carpe Viam 11
Love in the Afternoon 13
The Moth 14
Lost & Dungeons of the Mind 11
The Creative Process 19
The Truth and the Tribe 19
The Long Wait. 19
Feathers 26
The Arrow 14
Take Two Cialis and Call Me in the Morning 26
Ghostly Images 16
Friends 11
Angels Without Wings 20
IN MY OWN WORDS 13
The Rider 16
Pride and Shame 18
The Winning Poet is.... 21
Memories 13
Politicians 67
Your Mailbox Is Empty 18
God's Visit 17
Poets and Poems 20
Love Thy Neighbor 13
Renewal 8
The Roar of Silence 17
Blessed Are These Days 4
Time and Space 5
Life's Journey 8
Gift To The Fallen 16
Hunger 21
The Antique Shop 30