Hiding in barns and outbuildings by day
Walking in hedgerows undercover of night
Head down, senses alert
Day after day, avoiding the light.
The border’s not far; check point ahead
Dive for cover or put up a fight?
Crouch in the undergrowth; senses strain
The longest day; freedom’s in sight.
Evening comes, it’s time to run
Pound across fields, vault over gates
Soldiers shout, shots are fired
Adrenaline pumps, heart thumps.
Hounds at my heels, boots thud on the ground
Screw up my courage, don’t ever look back
It’s now or never, my ultimate hope
Striving for freedom, just one final leap.
Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #86 photo prompt.
Image credit: Warren Wong @ Unsplash
The image shows shows a stretch of empty road. There is a man in running shoes taking a leaping jump over the yellow dividing line on the road.
Great inspiring piece filled with action! Loved this, Chris 🙂
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Thanks, Tom 🙂 I feel quite out of breath after that!
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You know that state you find yourself in when watching a movie, with all your muscles tense?
That’s your latest creation’s effect.
And resonant as #$@*!!
I even matched the verses with the music from Aerials by SOD… punch in the face it is!
Love it!!👏👏
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That track fits well! Somehow I was with Steve McQueen in the Great Escape (minus the motorbike) 😉 Same feeling. I’m pleased it made your senses tingle!
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Oh wow! Such intense emotions in your beautiful poem. Thanks Chris for a wonderful poem.
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I’m not quite sure how I got to that, but it was a fun ride! Pleased you enjoyed it, Sadje 🙂
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It is very real, powerful and moving
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Keep it alive and commented:
Reblog; Enjoy this wonderful poem by Chris Hall in response to WDYS # 86
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Thanks so much for sharing. Such a boost! 🙂
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You’re welcome my friend
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Oh wow Chris…i can feel the emotions so high so intense…i love how you gave us a staccato feeling of poetry.
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Thank you, Mich 🙂 I really found myself inside the escapee’s head; quite exhausting!
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put it on
then roll over beethoven
and smell the roses and the clovers
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Excellent response! 🙂
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thanks . sadly poor alan white and rod argent , classic rockers must share their bday and our us flag day with ugh trump. gosh.
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Well, we can’t choose our birthday companions unfortunately. Happily for me, I share with Charles Dickens and Laura Ingalls Wilder!
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cool.
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Your poem goes perfectly with the photo! 🙂
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Thanks, Debra! I’m still not sure from which corner of my imagination it came.
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🧐
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I really liked the structuring and rhythym within this poem. It’s rare that I see perspectives written from the point of view of someone entering or fleeing a country because it’s usually frowned upon. But these people are humans too and are probably running for their lives – thank you for writing such an important poem. ❤
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Thanks so much, Simone. I’m pleased you got something out of the poem. I suppose it could reflect a myriad of situations: so many people forced to flee from war and oppression all over the world and all down history.
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Wow. Fantastically creative, Chris. Love it. 😊
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Thanks, Jeff! I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. 🙂
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You’re most welcome, Chris! I did indeed. 😊😊
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What a pulse-pounding poem! Well-done!!
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Thanks, Liz! My heart was actually pounding as I wrote this.
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You’re welcome, Chris! It’s so cool that your pounding heart came through the poem to make my heart pound.
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Wow! That really is a result.
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😀
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My son was telling me about the Angola war last night, Chris. My cousin fought in that war for SA. This poem reminds me of what Greg was saying. The SA Vietnam…
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Another gap in my historical knowledge, Robbie. I was vaguely aware of the conflict, but it wasn’t widely reported in the UK as far as I remember. I guess the poem can represent part of many conflicts though.
Now to pop down another rabbit-hole and seek out some Border War literature…
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So many fascinating topics out there, Chris. Your poem could fit many conflicts, but this is the one that came into my mind when I read it.
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Outstanding Writing❤️😊
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Thanks so much, Olivia 🙂
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So much of this is real in the world in the past and in the present, sadly, in the future, but as a metaphor this works psychologically too, the choices we have.
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Quite so, Paul, that leap of faith beyond constraint.
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Ah, es, some leap.
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Fabulous x
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Thanks, Gary 🙂
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Oh wow! Beautiful poem Chris.
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Thanks, Dakshali. I’m pleased you enjoyed it.
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🙂🙌
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Such a perfect take for the prompt Chris! It invokes so many emotions .. glad he did take that leap ..
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Thanks so much, HS 🙂
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What an image. Those shots fired ramp up the tension. I could feel myself there, out of options and running for my life. Well done!
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Thanks, Diana! I’m so pleased the words came alive for you.
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It’s now or never sums this up nicely, Chris!
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Difficult to stop with hounds at your heels! Thanks, Tom. 🙂
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That sounds like the truth, Chris! 😉 😀
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Wonderful inspiration and as usual very beautiful poetry.
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So kind, Jude. Thank you 🙂
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My pleasure.
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WOW! That is a realistic piece written beautifully. Loved it. 😊
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Thanks so much, Goutam!
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Amazing, Chris! The second-to-last stanza had my heart racing (with the incredible pacing–rhyming is accidental or contagious 😊)
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I think I got under that one’s skin, somehow. It was an interesting experience and I’m really pleased you felt it too, Susan.
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[…] Death or Glory […]
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Could feel the battlefield and the shots fired and I felt my heart racing with the rhythm of your words. Wow.
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I’m so pleased that came over, Kritika! 🙂
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🙂 🙂
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Oh wow, Chris! You really built the tension so well! Excellent take.
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Thanks so much, Punam!
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My pleasure.
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[…] Chris Hall; Death or glory […]
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This reminded me of many current events in the news in regards to borders and folks trying to leave countries that are ‘tense’ and seeking freedom to just live without having fear in their sights 24/7.
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It’s tragic that so many have to flee. All these wasteful wars and unnecessary oppression. 😔
Side note: our query from ages ago… I just discovered emojis on my new Windows 10 – right click on the mouse and click on the emoji tab at the top of the list. 🙌 It’s about the only thing I do like about W10 though.
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I still am at a loss with so much. I don’t use emoji’s all that much but occasionally they work 😀
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I’m sure the novelty will wear off for me soon.
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💦🧨🎁
😀
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😁😂😆
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