A dime on the road catches my eye,
partly submerged in dirt and grime.
So I pass it by.
My life, it seems, is submerged, awry;
And in this mire I don’t have time
For a dime in the road that catches my eye.
I once had a dream, but by and by
It transformed, submerged—and lost its rhyme.
So I passed it by.
Perhaps when the grime is hardened and dry
When my dream is no longer covered in slime,
A dime on the road will catch my eye.
I’ll stop and hold it and laugh and cry.
I’ll think of the dream and I’ll think of the dime
I once passed by.
In this sweet time, with the past gone by,
I’ll say of the memory, as if describing a crime:
“A dime on the road caught my eye.
And I passed it by.”
Tracy Stoffell says
Heather,
I love this. The picture you painted was amazing. It truly spoke to my heart. Thank you. There are times when I feel like my dreams are doing just that and I don’t want them to just pass by. I desire to grab hold but sometimes it just seems like I can’t. Thanks for inspiring me to grab hold and clean off the grim. Your poem was a great way to show how sometimes in life we allow things to pass us by.
Heather Gemmen Wilson says
Thanks, Tracy. I think we all go through those times, and we look back and wonder why we let them pass us by. I’m thankful that God gives us opportunity after opportunity!
Tracy Stoffell says
Amen to that.
Katy says
Beautiful! You’re a fantastic poet! So inspirational! Thank you!
Heather Gemmen Wilson says
Thanks, Katy! This was my first attempt at writing a villanelle. Ironically, I learned of this beautiful poetic form by picking up my dream this past fall and going back to school. 🙂 I hope you are able to pursue your dreams as well!
Katie @ Imperfect People says
Wow a poem! I love the different writting styles I find here. Thanks Heather!
Heather Gemmen Wilson says
That’s what I love about (in)courage too: So many different personalities and styles of writing! Everyday I seem to find a new insight.
Jennifer says
Beautiful, Heather!
Amy Hunt says
Why do we do this? Pass something by, only to think of it as we journey on.
So thought-provoking, Heather.
Rich blessings as He leads you to slowing down and unwrapping what He gifts you with!
Heather Gemmen Wilson says
Sometimes the seasons in our life force us to let things pass us by, sometimes we’re just lazy or scared or uninspired. Don’t you just LOVE that God is always providing new opportunities? Many blessings to you, Amy!
Amy Hunt says
Definitely! His Grace never ends! And when we miss it–He never makes us feel shameful!
Betty Draper says
Love Love Love the poem….it so spoke to my heart Heather as I near the winter years of my life and have had to pass a couple of dreams by but there have been a few I have picked them up and wipe off the grim and God begin to bring them to pass. I am not so old that i still don’t have a couple of dreams left in me and your poem has given me courage to pick them up again, especially one. Thank you allowing God to drop those words in your soul and for the courage to pen them down….you have blessed us.
Heather Gemmen Wilson says
So glad you found a message from the Lord in this little poem, Betty. You always have such an open heart, and your comments never fail to refresh me.