new thread
Okay, so I realize poetry is technically off topic. But oh well, we go off topic sometimes anyway.
I read Stu's poem below. I figured I'd sahre one of mine. I have tons of stuff I've written through the years. Some good, some bad, some in between.
Enjoy!
You know, people
Living life is like driving a car
You’re always moving
Never staying where you are
Sometimes you move fast
Sometimes you move slow
Sometimes things are smooth
Sometimes things are rough
You never, ever know
Well, not for sure
No, you never know
Never sure what lies ahead
But still you drive
You keep moving
Keep moving on
Sometimes you gotta stop
Gotta stop and think
Are you going the right way?
Or are you not?
Are you in the wrong lane?
So many of us keep looking
Looking back at the past
But the rearview mirror
Ah, that reflection of the past
That which we use to look back
Can often be our own worst enemy
For what has come and gone
Forever cannot be changed
So let go of the pain
Let go of the blame
If you keep looking back
You lose sight of what’s ahead
Like driving a car, remember?
If you stare at it
That damn rearview mirror
You eventually run off
You run off the road
You crash! You wreck!
But it isn’t a car you destroy.
No, it isn’t metal and plastic and rubber
It’s something far more valuable
Oh yes, yes indeed it is
It’s your life, your precious life
And you only get one
It’s not like a car
For a car you can replace
A life you cannot
And like the car you drive
Your life cannot be rolled back
Time, like miles, comes but once
Use the time wisely
Use it the best you can
Each minute that passes
Is one less minute of life you have left
Just as each mile on a tire
Is one mile less it has left
And there’s no turning back
No, there’s only one way to go
Straight ahead, with eyes open
Keep your eyes on the road
So what about that rearview mirror?
What about that damn thing?
Well, let me tell you how to use it
Ah yes, how to use it wisely
Don’t stare back and wonder
Wonder about what’s left behind
Instead, my friend, adjust it
Yes, adjust it to look at yourself
That mirror is to see you
To see you? Yes!
Yes, you – and just how good
Just how good you look
An occasional glance
Not at the past
But at the present
To see just how good you look
Going to wherever
Wherever the road leads
But where does it lead?
Where are you going?
Well, aren’t your hands on the wheel?
Oh yes, yes they are
So it’s no so much
Not so much where the road goes
But rather which way you steer
You have the power
You have the control
You can go anywhere
Anywhere you want
Left or right, high or low
What’s that you say?
What about those that cut you off?
Those that get in your way?
Why blame them?
Blame yourself
You can go around them
You can pass them up
If only you believe
Believe you can
Do you believe?
What’s that you say?
What about the road?
Sometimes, maybe just sometimes
We have to leave the comfort
The comfort and security
Of that road, that smooth road
And venture off
Yes, off the road and somewhere else
Somewhere scary, but maybe better
Maybe it’s better there!
You see, if you don’t try it
Don’t try the other way
You never know
And worse, you never live
Never live life
For off the road
Off that beaten path
Lies a world of fun
A world of excitement
A whole new world
Flowers don’t grow on the road
No, they grow off the road
So how can you stop
Stop and smell the flowers
If you stay on the road?
You can’t, can you?
Is it time for a change?
A change of direction?
A new way to go
A new way of thinking?
I can’t answer that question
Oh no, I cannot
For only you know where you are
Only you know where you’re going
Are you in the right lane
Or the wrong lane?
On the right road
Or on the wrong road?
Well, wherever it may be
Remember, it’s YOUR hands on the wheel
Take a glance back
See where you’ve been
But keep your eyes on the road
And see where you want to go
Then steer your life, just like a car
In that direction
Don’t blame others
Those bad other people
Because blame and anger
Are the breakdowns of life
Oh yes, the breakdowns
The times when you don’t go anywhere
You don’t go because you can’t
Can’t let go
Can’t let go of the pain
The disappointment, the anger
The frustration, the desire
Desire for what?
For revenge, for reconciliation?
Ah, yes, oh, no - such aggravation
Keep your eye on the road
And watch the new sun rise
A new day, a new promise
The day you changed direction
And watched a rising sun
Not a setting sun
A new beginning, not an end
Not the end of what was
But the beginning of what is
The beginning of your drive – your life!
I enjoyed this poem very much. I like the philosophy and metaphors.
And while it may be off topic, it's always good to
reflect on our lives.
I guess Life is full of little twists and turns...just like
the roads we travel. You just never know what you will find;
what kind of 'surprises' you may encounter along the way.
Thanks for posting your Poem.
Blessings on you & yours...
Most people I share this with seem to relate to it, so I'll post it here:
People -- people everywhere but nowhere a familiar face.
But wait, over there, across the room, a face I know.
Yet I don't -- I'd like to, if only I had the opportunity.
If I just wait for the right moment.
But it never seems to come.
Come.
That's the problem.
I can't just wait for it to come.
One of these days I'll make it happen.
Excellent! I can definitely relate!
First, I can relate to the beginning. The whole idea of "I may be lonely, but I'm never alone". I feel that way far more often than I care to admit.
Secondly, to the last part. I'm a very, VERY shy person when it comes to one-on-one situations, especially romantic/ intimate ones. Put it this way, if I see a woman, even talk to her, and she blatantly shows interest, I'm still too shy to ask for a number or anything. I wait for the "right moment", but it never comes and I lose my opportunity.
Well, unless SHE does something. For example...I was in PetSmart in late July and met this very nice, very attractive lady. I have an English Bulldog, she has a Pit Bull. Anyway, she struck up a conversation (I never do...too shy) and we talked and walked around the store for quite some time. A younger couple talked to us. The girl asked us, "so do you two live close by?" She assumed we were a couple. Anyway, I was too shy to ask for a number, even though I KNEW she was interested. I was waiting for the "right moment". As I watched her leave the store, I was frustrated with myself. Well, she walked back in, asked if I was single, I said yes, she ripped her name, address and phone number off of a deposit slip from her checkbook, and asked me to call her!
I can definitely relate!
Well.....
Did you call her?
Yes, I did! And we've been meeting and going out on occasion since! Now, we aren't like "dating" or boyfriend - girlfriend, but it is nice to be able to go out and be with someone.
Thanks for asking...and thanks for the poem!
That is a very nice poem Rokker. I really enjoyed reading it. It made me think about my own life at this stage. It's not really what I want, but still I hope for a change some day. Thanks for sharing it, it's much appreciated. :o)
Thee Longhaired Gal
Thanks! I almost didn't post it. I wrote it as a way to convince myself to move on and not look back at the past. At the time, I was trying to get past dwelling on my failed relationship.
Again, thanks for the compliment!
I know what you mean...I can relate to that experience....
Rokker, Ive had quite the emotional train wreck over the past few days. And what you had written was just what I needed. It made me realize many things I had been blind to and at the same time hit me where it hurts. Thank you for sharing it, if you hadn't I dont know where I'd be within myself right now. It has left a very positive impact on me.
I would have emailed this, but I couldn't find one for you, so I thought I might as well post here. Thank you Rokker, thank you.
Wow! I don't know what to say except thank you for the compliment.
Try to remember that we all have emotional train wrecks in our lives, and no matter how strong we try to be, we aren't always as strong as we wish.
I'm glad this poem helped. Feel free to e-mail me anytime.
ruddman63@yahoo.com
Thanks for the compliment and you're quite welcome for the poem!
