Into the Light

When I was a great deal younger than today, and first embarked on a life devoted to poetry, I made a decision to write a one verse poem every ten years, starting at the age of 21. This was to reflect the way I felt at the time, in relation to my life, and to my writing.  The following is the verse written for the age of seventy-one, and below that the complete verses that built up to this point. The collection is called…

Into the Light

VI

Here I am, seventy-one
They say that only the good die young,

I’ve made the most of my current plight

To find dark corners, to sit and write,

The Chinese taught me their own folk lore

And Poe his raven, above the door,

So now I’ve written a thousand tales

Of shifting time and of dragon’s scales

While things I thought that would bring undone

Before the age of seventy-one

Have left me sat in my garret webs

To pen the last, to the final dregs,

I know where to head, the time is right,

     Out of the darkness

          Into the light.

 

David Lewis Paget

 

23 November 2015

 

                      - I -

 

• Here I am, twenty-one,

  So many things have to be done,

  Many’s the cause I’ll be fighting for

  Keeping the vows that I’ve sworn before,

  How many children blessing my way,

  How much love can a lover sway,

  How many words can I write and read

  In the years ahead for my restless need,

  Where am I headed, this fateful night…

               Out of the darkness

                    Into the light!

   

                       - II -

   

  Here I am, thirty-one,

  So many things still to be done;

  Where are the causes? Fought and lost!

  What of the vows? Tempest tossed!

  Where are the children? Left behind!

  What of the lovers? Love is blind!

  How many words have you written and read?

  Much too much for this aching head.

  Where are you headed, this fateful night?

               Out of the darkness

                     Into the light!

   

                      - III -

   

  Here I am, forty-one,

  And all life seems like a dream undone.

  Everything I would have taken for me

  Has slipped from my grasp, forsaken me.

  All my children are grown, but one

  And wonder; ‘Where did this man come from?

  What was the pact that he kept with me…’

  While I have nothing to answer thee.

  All my words as a mist, widespread

  Have since dispersed from a source long dead.

  Where am I headed, this fateful night?

             (Have you learned nothing….?)

                  I guess you’re right!

   

                     - IV -

   

  Here I am, fifty-one,

  The daylight fades and the muse has gone.

  The loves I loved as my vision bled

  All turned from me, and to them, I’m dead.

  The rhyme was lost and the music died

  As I turned to stone in my heart, inside.

  Where is the youth that yearned to write

  Through the endless days to the latest night?

  Is this what happens, the years take flight �"

               Into the darkness

                   Out of the light.

   

                    - V -

   

  Here I am, sixty-one,

  I thought the end would have come and gone!

  But then a light seemed to beckon me

  To trip through another’s history.

  When China called, I know not why

  I saw new future’s I’d never tried,

  The way was clear, my life was spent

  So I fetched up in the Orient.

  With all its bustle, its pomp, and pride,

  I picked up the pen that I’d put aside,

  For black-haired girls feed my heart’s content

  And children like jewels are heaven sent;

  Is this the future, I know it’s right....

            Out of the darkness

                  Into the light!

   

  David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Junction]

It is interesting how we change over the years. I am older myself. I am working on my bucket list.
The reality of life slipping by with each passing year. We don't live forever like we thought at 21.
It makes it so much more precious. Forgiving and love is the answer I found. When the time comes
I want to go with love in my heart.

[roarke]

Did you read each previous poem again before penning the next verse? I wonder how they would sound if you didn't look at the previous verse before writing the new one, and then read them in sequence..... the poems reflect the changes of age and experience, why did you choose a ten year interval? Why not a five or two or one? Reaching 60 this year, has caught me looking back in the past, looking around the present and against my better judgement, looking, rather speculating about the future... heh. Strangely, I end up back here, now, although I'm not a "live in the NOW" type. I do live, feel, create in the now, but everything flowing through me comes from all ages, dimensions... etc. And having just written that, I have no idea what it means. AND having said all that, I admire and appreciate your sharing your life with us in this way. Thank you David.

[Einstein Noodle]

71 and 41 are my favorites ..
" (Have you learned nothing….?)
I guess you’re right! "
gives me quite the chuckle!
one must admire your youthful pledge to yourself ... and you kept it ... wisdom that comes and goes .. all those ups and downs so neatly packed between and in your lines ... i really appreciate you sharing this very personal ride ... are you still in the Orient?
E.
ps. your skills of story telling and rhyme have certainly not been lost in my opinion .. always a treat to read your stuff!

[Calamityofgin]

What a cool thing to share with us Darlin! And how lovely.
A sight into a wonderful man and fellow poets full life.
I must say you have always been a wise and well spoken man.
Happy birthday David
And many wonderful.more to cum

Muuuuuaagh
Jennifer

[ANTO]

A brilliant peep into the life journey of one of the WC's leading lights. Thanks for sharing this DLP. Excellent time capsule poetry.

allow me to wish you a happy 71st Birthday my friend.

There is a great poet called Dave
On WC he's a fav
If his rhyming don't get ya
His stories will - I bet ya
- if you don't feel 'em
you're already in your grave. muwahhahhahhaa

[emmajoy]

What a wonderful stream of Self! From start to finish D.L.Paget keeps his literary promise to self that time has no barrier, neither will it ever have one. Except in part IV.. when a sharp blow to the core near splintered hope maybe..until a deep breath of something akin to a wake.up call revived him. You write with extreme subtlety, stride to stride.

'Out of the darkness - Into the light! ' Wonderful light, David.

[KeithFowler]

Sir, as always a magnificent goal and you have achieved the highest honor a great Poet like yourself can ever achieve. I know I am partial but I don't care, I feel blessed to be able to call you friend and mentor.

[Tomás Ó C..]

A brilliant read... and a fantastic challenge to set yourself!!!