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The glass staircase

 

 

He said with a piercing smile and wink,

"you want to find faith."

Walk upon the glass staircase,

and not ever blink,

secure and safe.

 

He reached into his dark leather coat,

placed a gun to my head, and cocked it.

Slowly the echoe did flow,

raced into my thoughts,

shocking my soul.

 

Leaning close to my ear.

His breath warm, stalking,

all tender hair tense and taunt.

My weary beliefs singe,

lightning fast.

 

Whispering relief his words shook.

"What steps are you.... willing,

to take now, for killing you would be,

too damn easy,

pointedly.

 

Frozen in fear.

Amazing it is, 

how deep we will reach,

to find our soul speak,

boldly.

 

An important lesson,

I learned that day.

Courage comes AFTER the doing.

When we boldly step out,

finally fed up ..enough...to consider,

glaring glass staircase of change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

So what will it take for you to take the first step?

 

 

Author notes

Contest prompt faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."-Martin Luther King, Jr.

I was inspired by a woman preacher Joyce Meyerson,
who said, you'd be surprised, how fast you would find
your faith and consider change...if a gun was pressed to your head...

and then I saw your prompt...and thought, oh yeah...
put a gun to my head...i'll RUN UP THAT STAIRCASE of
FAITH.

The glass nature of the staircase requires faith
and trust that you will not fall through, putting
great hope in the architect.

A contest entry

How's the imagery?

    : , Your review:

    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression? • Line numbers
    : no Cost: 0 free left 0 points, You have (?) (Line numbers)

Comments

1 - 34 of 34

  • HeavensDaughter
    2 days ago
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    Very interesting poem. I think you did a great job of combining the prompt quote with the thought of how having a gun pointed at us would crystallize our faith.

    What a picture in the idea of a glass staircase. This is very powerfully written. You have quite a way with words here.

    Keep writing!

    Congratulations on the bronze!

  • cokacolacowpok
    2 days ago
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    Edit | Reply
    Amazing write. I believe with faith courage will soon follow. You express yourself with such vivid imagery. I see you won the bronze well earned.
    Brian


  • NewDay
    2 days ago
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    Edit | Reply

    woooow

    well written!
    An important lesson,

    I learned that day.

    Courage comes AFTER the doing.

    When we boldly step out,

    finally fed up ..enough...to consider,

    glaring glass staircase of change.

    amazing!!! liked this ending.


  • Swangrnv
    August 18
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    Edit | Reply

    OK..

    So, I THOUGHT I read this, but evidently I did not, thank goodness my bro. wrote his response, bwecause I was sure I read this! EXCELLENT fully absorbing piece that makes the mind's eye look even closer. loved this piece!


  • Solidified gold member
    August 17
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    Edit | Reply
    Wow, I love the question you posed at the end. I had to check this out because asithink wrote a poem in response to yours, so had to read yours first. Love this anecdote with a lesson. Cleverly spread out before us. Thanks!


  • AsIThink gold member
    August 17
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    Edit | Reply

    Chilling...

    ears...mine hear your words so clearly. Of all that you've written (that I have read to-date), this stands alone in its starkness; its call to question - its call to action. I emboldened your name because you are bold enough to stand firm and say what needs to be said. I really connected with this present work of yours. The imagery was fantastically chilling. The reality of your propositions 'got right in my face'. This is now my favorite piece by you. I loved it... And you won the gold already for this prick to our conscience. This is dark writing - it is a call to ignite our faith; to turn on the light. Thank you very much.

     

    ** ears you influenced this, as you know: http://allpoetry.com/poem/4521785 

     

    AsIThink...

  • Dobar Dan
    August 8
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    Edit | Reply

    Sooooooo True

    I read this poem through twice and then I read your Authors notes - and thought of a scripture verse - Faith is the substance of things hoped for - the evidence of things not seen" - I may enter the contest. Is that what you were asking? And the song "Leap Of Faith" comes to mind - oh to have the faith of a child - Go Obama Go - Bless God - Joe - (Dobar Dan) ------------------- hagd


  • Kazytc gold member
    August 7
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    Wow phenomenal!

    Wow phenomenal! What an amazing write! I was griped al the way through, such an amazing storyline and incredible realism and empathy brought to life with fabulous poetic graphics and descrtiptives so well chosen and used and to create a work of poetic perfection.
    I really felt as if I was in the scenario you have painted here, wow, amazing.
    I acutally had a gun put to the side of my face when I was working in the USA, back in 1989, so I can really relate to this fabulous poem, you are amazing in the way you express things and I love the glass staircase analogy and the fabulous picture too, You should have won gold or even platinum for this, never mind Bronze!
    Well done, bravo, love it phenomenal.
    Poetic Hugs,
    Kaz.
    Kazytc xx

  • individuality gold member
    July 23

    Edit | Reply
    a good poem which skips the light fantastic and dives into smiles with ease even though there is a dark element here inside the poem, the light wins true.


  • unbroken record gold member
    July 4
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    oy. this makes me scared, a little bit.

    but definitely well put together.

  • hardeepb
    July 2

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    The first step is always the hardest...but then again some of us LIVE in that first step. I see that glass staircase in front of me; and I see it is endless...great poetry. The emotions and movements in this image are BRILLIANT! I love this poem, I enjoyed it a lot! 8/10!
  • celadia gold member
    May 31

    Edit | Reply
    I'm sure if a person showed courage, it would make a killer think twice, remember the story of Cochise and Tom Jeffords?

  • poetryality silver member
    May 28

    Edit | Reply
    Oft' times, divine intervention must take place for us to move! I have been a faithful person for many years and once had a .357 pointed in my face by a police who thought I was breaking into my own house. Guess the neighbors didn't recognize me, and called the cops. I took a deep breath and prayed for my life. I know this feeling. Intense!

    Congratulations on earning the Bronze Cup!


    Much Love Always ♥

    Your Cleveland Sister

    Renee
  • davidwright silver member
    May 28
    Edit | Reply
    Very nicely done. It's interesting how you put in the form of a lesson. Happy trails

  • toomysterious
    May 28
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    Great concept here. Thoroughly enjoyed the read.

  • Gwenevere
    May 24
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    A well deserved trophy.A very strong write that grabs you and doesn't let go.Well done, Ros


  • NeonRose silver member
    May 23

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    What a great response to the prompt, and backed up by another! Excellent write, well-deserving of merit!


  • Lucy. gold member
    May 13

    Edit | Reply
    Wow, I loved reading this. The imagery was brilliant and an admirable message. I love the image of a glass staircase and your use of the 'gun to your head' was shocking and effective. Write on!

  • pruedence
    May 7

    Edit | Reply
    Your words ring truth...we do most often have to take those steps to find out what we really do want in life. Well done, good expressions of life as we all live it daily. Thanks for sharing

  • miasma
    May 5

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    Marvelous

    Rhyming is fantastic and fits in with the flow.
    It's really catching, suspenseful almost.

    I like how breath is compared to stalking.

    I love the 4th stanza.


  • forever mika
    May 5

    Edit | Reply

    WOW!!!!

    I love your poem it is really good i mean it toughched me deeply and i wish that i could be like that in my poems......
  • lora1208
    May 5
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    I like the colors on this. It just kind of grabs you right away. A nice work here.

  • apbluefairy
    May 5
    Edit | Reply
    Beautifully said. I'll ALWAYS walk up that glass staircase.

  • oikevois baby gold member
    May 4
    Edit | Reply
    beautiful. lets SPRINT up that staircase together.

    love,
    miley

  • Storm-Goddess
    May 4

    Edit | Reply

    nice job

    you really put your reader right in the drivers seat of the poem great flow and great subject matter i really like this poem and hope you get gold good luck and keep up the good work

    . Rewarded 4


  • ThornPuppet
    May 4

    Edit | Reply
    i liked how faith went from "oh it is glass, it probably wont break" to "THIS MAN IS CRAZY HE _W_I_L_L_ KILL ME!!!" i never can let myself trust someone, human kind is just unpredictable. but i fear the faer that we put on other people.the glass staircase was the best title because no one would want a gun to their head, like no one would want to walk up a "glaring glass staircase of change". you might could include a bit more of emotion because it is not every day that you get a gun pulled to your head. make sure to feel the poetry, that would make the reader feel it more and it would improve itself after that!

    . Rewarded 8


  • poetryality silver member
    May 4
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    You gave me food for thought with this write Sis'! Sometimes the "gun to the head" is metaphorical. There are countless times that I've had to consider that "first step". Suppose we had no choices. Isn't it good that we do! I love this poem. It is all that I needed and more on this day. I truly hope the influence of these words touches others as I have been so moved. I wish you the best in this challenge.


    All My LOVE ♥

    Renee


  • grannyeri gold member
    May 3

    Edit | Reply
    Really quite a unique interpretation of the quote served to inspire writers in this contest. Awesome picture you found to go with this too. Liked the way you made this your own- quite the tale you told in these lines.

    . Rewarded 4


  • ennovy silver member
    May 3

    Edit | Reply

    Masterful Write

    Excellent take on the quote and you nailed it to that wall. This write was well balanced, the read flowed sweet and smooth. The concept was awesome...you rocked...novy

    I love the points you shared with us...

    . Rewarded 4


  • islekine
    May 3
    Edit | Reply

    Well penned...great take on the prompt.

    Best wishes in the contest!
    Write on!
    *PEACE*

  • Trafalger679Curious silver member
    May 3

    Edit | Reply

    Superb

    Wow, super fantastic. I whole heartedly agree. Very well written indeed. Thanks for sharing this one with us.

  • Angelica Suprano
    May 3
    Edit | Reply
    Kept me there until the end, so worth a comment.

  • Pingwen gold member
    May 3

    Edit | Reply
    This is very interesting. I saw in it exactly what you described in your notes: that in life-or-death situations, change can seem like an easy thing to do. I saw the glass staricase as meaning fragile, not quite invisible, if that's what you meant it to be.

    . Rewarded 6


  • elmundopasa1
    May 3

    Edit | Reply
    obviously true emotion and very well penned. you followed the prompt well and it flowed nicely as well. thanks for entering!
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