Rest a life-span’s choices
Some for good
Some for naught
Most with barely
Any thought
A good many
I regret
But the life
Which made them
I do not
I learned
I grew
I fell down
I got back up
Some for good
Some for naught
Most with barely
Any thought
A good many
I regret
But the life
Which made them
I do not
I learned
I grew
I fell down
I got back up
Events
Connections
Love, loss
Attainment, failure
Lessons, places, people
Glories and gaffes and grace
Everything that ever happened
To get me here
Where I’m standing
In this moment now
On the path
To who I’ll be
If nothing comes
Find a prompt
(Photographs usually work.)
Start again
Breathe
Quiet mind
Write what comes
Don’t argue with the words
It’s OK to not like what they say
Write them anyway
It’s OK to not have the right words
Write down the wrong words
The right ones can be found later
Wait or pause whenever it feels
Like the words aren’t coming… yet
Or the meaning isn’t right… yet
And the right way isn’t present… yet
Though much I seem
To go astray
Just trust the flow
To lead the way
So long as I
Keep steady craft
Row with the main
And level stay
I’ll reach the calm
Upon this raft
Outside
The first layer
I remind myself
The darkness is always present
Even in the brightest light
Its balance is available
I remind myself
The light is not too bright
Rather my eyes remain
Accustomed to the darkness
One score and five thousand years ago
Human eyes came to see
Human hands learned to make
All our grandiose change
No match for nature’s hand
As comfortable as I am
With the window
And its pretty scene
Offering distraction
As respite
It occurs to me
Pass through the window
Come aboard
Set sail
Horizons calling
To journey beyond
I build castles on the beach
Realizing my dreams
Adventures unfolding
One bucket of sand at a time
While the boats
Tug gently at the lanyards
I’ve tied firmly to the shore