when You take the New Roads (go, Thee, with great care)

when You take the New Roads (go, Thee, with great care)

A Poem by Richard🖌
"

English Sonnet Doublet (while teaching KLGoode [Lyn Anderson] the Sonnet, it got me in the mood to write one)

"


when You take the New Roads


Upon that day You take the new roads there,
be ever mindful of the ways You choose;
remember, too, the ones You leave still care,
that all their hearts and souls ~ you'll never lose.

The road ahead may seem a brighter way,
the visions far … You feel a longing lure,
and everywhere You look … a bright, new day;
then, looking back you'll see naught but a blur.

A sort of wavy imagery that fades,
of faces you once knew that smile no more ...
where colours once, now grey and shadowed shades,
as memory becomes a closing door.

Yet, so much more (unknown) is calling now,
and all you've known seems useless now somehow.



We'll miss your tender love and gentle hand,

that always knew the touch and words to say,
Whenever’s needed your sweet, special brand
to warm cold dark and sweep the clouds away.

With You, be sure to take all that you'll need;
You know, those little things that were the best ...
like poems, love, and promises decreed,
each tender heartbeat made within our breasts.


Aye, heed the road ahead … its luring call;
and, tarry not lest roads ahead fade, too.
As all you leave here far behind grows small,
remember, Dear  ~ I'll always wait for You.


Tho, those new roads may take You far away,
you’ll always be my first breath ~ every day.



Richard W. Jenkins
©2016

© 2022 Richard🖌


Author's Note

Richard🖌
Top painting: Watercolor, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Landscape oil painting: by Carl Milton-Jensen (1855-1928) Danish artist

Please, feel free to offer critique or comment on anything you feel will help better my skills! : )

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Featured Review

This poem fills me with emotional ambivalence, a warning within an invitation within a wistful imagining of doors closing and paths opening. I walk forward on the new path with you, looking back to see the fading memories, sad and grieving, then filled with expectation of something new, a roller coaster of emotions. Another warning to take everything I need fills me with anxiety- will I forget something important? More gentle fluttering of anxiety- will I be caught between the past and the future- if I do not hurry, the road ahead will fade just like the road behind did. The anxiety is hidden behind beautiful words, barely felt, but it is there, prodding me forward. Confusion- how can you wait for me as I travel far away, the road behind fading? Maybe it is in the heart you wait, beyond the path, beyond time and space. The last line is piercing to the heart- that she will always be your first breath, everyday. Such joy mingled with loss there. A beautiful poem, with all the paradoxical emotions love brings us. Thank you, Richard. I don't really feel qualified to critique the form, novice that I am. I can only say that there are places that old-fashioned words feel slightly out of place, because the whole of the poem does not read like a classical poem, like Shakespeare, but like a poem that is written in our current language. (Words like aye, naught, tarry not) But that's just my opinion based on how the words seemed to lessen the emotional impact for me. Beautiful work, my friend.

Posted 8 Years Ago


4 of 4 people found this review constructive.

Richard🖌

8 Years Ago

Goodness, Marianne!
How I ever missed your amazingly beautiful and rewarding review for this .. read more



Reviews

Into the great 'unknown' I dare to venture in oblivious to what lies there be it goodness or 'sin'. Ignore alarms and dare to have a go - throw caution to the wind! You only live once they say, so live it well, enjoy the ride and leave regrets for another day! Sincere are those to wait for you when experiences are spent for time to come you'll wonder where those years went!

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Richard🖌

6 Years Ago

Hi, Dear Kitty! : )
Thank you ever-so warmly and gratefully for selecting this rambling littl.. read more
kitty

6 Years Ago

Thank you for your appreciative comments on my humble view of life. The life I live is from the guid.. read more
so much more is calling now... that could be a motto for life, and the secret each new road holds.
There is nothing more graceful than a sonnet and yours is a journey true.

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Richard🖌

6 Years Ago

Ah, Cherrie,
It is a such a delightful pleasure to know you've come along on this touching jo.. read more
I imagine the first sonnet specially, to be read from a father or a mother to their child, urging them to go their ways in life, but to know that their place inside their hearts and home will never change, whenever they might need or want, they can come back for warmth and care, with Your simple language, it even touches more powerfully, more tenderly... wisely, I see You here, the perfect father, the real caring friend, the loving generous lover... to be able letting go someone who might be very much a part of You, needs that heart of sheer generosity and beauty, a heart that is filled with light no tiny room of darkness... Yes, it's Your heart🌟

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

This comment has been deleted by the poster.
lightsong

6 Years Ago

to let go Your loved one goes her way, with a heart filled with gratitude and care, wishing her only.. read more
Richard🖌

6 Years Ago

Yes, so well we with this depth of emotional insight truly know … thank you for sharing your under.. read more
Beautiful words full of concern and best wishes- roads untraveled can be scary and challenging but also full of welcoming adventure- leaving unburnt bridges behind- life will treat you kind- but you are so right the other side is not always greener but unless we adventure out we shall always long for unknown grounds and our hearts remaining prisoners to self , lovely poem🌹

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Richard🖌

6 Years Ago

Bore da, Kelly! ("good morning" in Welsh)
Thank you ever-so warmly and gratefully for selecti.. read more
What an expression of love! To be willing to encourage the one you love to travel new roads, to experience more of life than perhaps you could provide. Loving her enough to let her know that she is your first and last thought of the day. I'm reminded of the saying, "If you truly love someone or something, let it be free. If it comes back to you then it is truly yours.

Besides this I want to take the time to tell you that I am slowly, but surely, savoring your wonderful book.

Take care -Dave

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Richard🖌

6 Years Ago

Ah, my good friend, Dave,
You are a true connoisseur in the enjoyment and appreciation of cla.. read more
I'm poised to retire next year and travel again; my only worry is that the roads wait for me. Don't fade now! Another lovely one, Richard.

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Richard🖌

7 Years Ago

Ahhh, my beautifully talented friend, Roland!
How wonderful is is to see you, to receive the .. read more
Richard, this beautiful sonnet brings me back the feelings I had when my first son went off to college. There's something about your sonnet, wistful, nostalgic, encouraging, caring, filled with love and hope for the traveler. Thank you for this!

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Richard🖌

7 Years Ago

Oh, Mary,
Thank you ever-so warmly and gratefully.
Your shared sentiments have truy to.. read more
And you wonder why I am soooo drawn to the more structured form of poetry. I was hooked from the first Sonnet I read. Now, this. Oh my goodness!!! So, loving the English Sonnet!...I know ( because I know you)..everything as far as technique is spot on. Well, now..subject. Ah you touch on a good one! All those choices in life!...what's the saying? "You're free to make a choice, but not free from the consequences?" or something like that.But the twist in this little beauty...is that forgiving ( understanding) soul that accepts decisions ( perhaps not one they would themselves make) with grace..and chooses to acknowledge what was...and more forward..BUT yet a gentle little tug at the heart with "you'll always be my first breath...everyday". What more can I say?...ya, you did it again!.. ps. one typo 2nd sonnet V2L3 poems of love...I think I should get a A++++ ( on next poem) for even finding that!!!!!! just say'in :-P

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Susan 🦋

7 Years Ago

yes yes yes... i can read between the lines.. it sounds like this, " get working on that free verse".. read more
Richard🖌

7 Years Ago

Well, a teensy bit of that might have been in there, but not exactly all! ; )
Susan 🦋

7 Years Ago

teensy bit! ha.. ok :-)
My first read of yours since I have returned. It points directly to my writing friends I have missed while away. I often feel the guilt when I'm away for seemingly abandoning you all. When i return the welcome arms are so wide welcoming me home though I have left you all with my silence... this write helps make some Peace within my guilt knowing that friend's Love is still always alive and welcoming us back as we travel on life's road. Thank You for writing this Richard it is a Good thing :-)

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Richard🖌

7 Years Ago

I missed you immensely, Kate!
How marvelous to see you're back and haven't lost a smidgen of .. read more
Cryingkate

7 Years Ago

Your words bring a smile every time> Thank You sweet Richard. Your Chivalry is unending/ Sir Richard.. read more
Tho, those new roads may take You far away,
you’ll always be my first breath ~ every day.

Touching lines! At first wanted to share this one with my collegue whose last day in our organization is approaching.. :) But now I know with whom to share!

Thanks.

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Richard🖌

7 Years Ago

With my most ardent gratitude, Tanmay, I thank you most sincerely for selecting one of my humble Son.. read more

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Added on July 11, 2016
Last Updated on March 11, 2022

Author

Richard🖌
Richard🖌

USA, TX



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