Crossing the River TIme

a reflection on the journey we all are making

Aloft on this narrow bridge I sway

fast I cling, this tenuous stay
rail of hope long worn bare and tattered
last failing remnant of all that matters
spurred by the dreams I flatter
lit by Luna's ghostly shine
with expectant feet I climb       

Back I peer o'er the endless stark     
expanse, that lost jaw i embarked
the innocent side of this chasm dark
my bid for the path to impetuous gain                  
armed, a fool's heart to surmount the pain
leaning my stave, crudely carven
propped in vain 'gainst this grim harsh winds bargain

But up ahead the vistas stretch
with heavenly light I long to catch
lain in spectra's ethereal bliss 
reveling ‘midst the dream of this
divine splendor, shining golden and fatter
than my forgotten dull recipes long battered

This high aloft the mists becloud
His passing below but a whisper-loud
softly drifting the light bedims
now lost in the roar of him
in the high and the narrow I climb
where the past and the future twine
perched, crossing this river- Time

The bridge of lives there stretches back
beyond and behind me weaves this track
each life a plank over which we've passed
some built with the splendor of an artisans craft
while others lay, but a broken slat      
aye stretched to the distant past
and ahead for the days that last

Ah! from this height I so clearly see
the vales that in youth were obscured to me
listen my son I will tell thee
but your ears shalln't hear if I yell thee
for the vision of elders, though keen may be 
a gift of insight only seen by we
and sound naught but the dithered stammering
of an old man gracelessly yammering

For I have danced in his eyes as the tiger stared
pulsed with the danger and laughed with the scare
basked in the glory of this crazy game
withstood the heat of the whitest flame
wrestled the beast and left him tame

I've braved the Reaper when he called my name
spoke my truth when the reckoning came
then held my head high as he cursed in vain
proved I've got nothing to hide
was the devil's truth that lied  
but this lesson came hard that I took with me
you best fight for that which you believe!

I've abandoned riches to scoff at fame
to lay my stake in this perilous game
I've no legacy other to leave thee
than this love always given you freely
and this map from below to the dreamers heights
a stair to the Heavens if you dare to fight
the good fight, but beware of what’s “right”

for many 's the man who marked his name
in these halls where the crazies and we dreamers hang,  
but little of worth ever grew there
if the seeds bore no truth that they threw there

 

So I walked wide o' the crowd and rolled my own
this chagrin at my follies has surely shown           
if my stance hadn’t stood me up squarely            
then my demons or ghosts would’ve snared me

So let it be seen that I fought and stood      

For in truth was the greater good

 

And pass on to your sons for integrity’s sake
this honorable pride, sure as hell no fake

Have the strength you’ll not fall for deception

and if you falter it will be the exception

 

then hand down this wisdom from whence it came
a straight high path you can boldly claim

well wide of the mark in deceptions game

shaped by gumption that some call sand

tis what gave me the upper hand                

now lean close while I whispers me secret

in your heart lad I’m trustin you’ll keep it!

ne’er let your hands ‘come estranged to the craft

of compassion for others that opens the path

darkness is the constant companion to wrath

the pleasure in life goes to those who can laugh

steel yourself, for harsh trials do await thee 

only kindness in the end sets you free

may the magic of music ever lift you boy             

and fill your heart with its carefree joy  

for the blessed still see through the eyes of a child

and seldom are harsh, keep a temperament mild

and live with a spirit both thoughtful and wild        

then laugh at the riddle life rhymes

can still dance in the worst of times

at the end, comes the time you at last step down

just look back then and marvel the hard fought ground

you covered and the truths you found

then please pause to relay what you’ve learned
from the vantage you gained ‘fore you turned  
leave in grace then with nary a sound
walk away with both feet on the ground

rikkevi rue copyright 2015
all rights reserved

Author's Note

all reviews are welcome. I'm interested what this communicates to you

Reviews

[Tate Morgan]

As in the times of the ancient mariner we all hear the call of sirens that gesture us to sail home. Continuity of purpose flows from the wellspring of our lives. In the end we all find we are drawn inexorably home, to the hearth from around which we told our tales of long ago and spun our yarns of a life well lived. The well spent life will always beckon from the winds of change a call for home. In truth who we are is as simple as from where we come.

The 40,000 or more generations that came and went passed to you, me, everyone, the hopes and dreams of each generation that came before. It is our duty to pass those dreams on along with the collected knowledge they engendered. While I tie my son to the past going back to Antiquity. He takes us into the future granting immortality.

Wondering on our purpose is a pastime of most of humanity. I see this piece as a thought on who am I. Our purpose is survival. I told my own son many times "your purpose son is to create a soul greater than your own to take your place and carry your dreams.

Time has a way of wearing us down. The old recriminations seem to ring out hollow as we ourselves become polished by the winds of time. In that end we see that love shines bright upon the simple truths of life. We find that one thing that makes life so worth the pain, that of unconditional love of another that both grants us the strength and grace to struggle on.

[Rikkevi Rue]

long I was in responding to your review my friend. As always, your words are true and strike deep, into the center of my world and my heart! You are the best kind of friend Tate, always truthful, yet compassionate and understanding. There is an awful lot to learn in life and the process doesn't ever stop...right up til we breath our last breath! But it is very true that we exist to pass on to our progeny the wisdom and means of survival we have learned along our own paths. I count it one of the greatest beauties of the human lot, that humility and kindness that separates us from the rest of the beasts! Thank you for your wise words and perspective

[Tate Morgan]

You get it you really get it I'm glad I wish you well life's purpose is easy work at being remembered fondly when you are gone that is what will endear you to the heart and force memories to the surface of shared times events and wisdom

[Rikkevi Rue]

brother i just reread your review, and i thinks one of the finest things that you wrote that i have ever read. it is such a rarity to find another who can articulate these deeply profound and revelatory concepts in such inspirational terms. Thank you for being, and for communicating your unique perspectives, always valued highly

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Rik my friend David Moore who not only taught me but selflessly helped me publish my books had died of cancer yesterday yet what I remember is a man who gave his knowledge time and kindness to me selflessly those are noble efforts

[Rikkevi Rue]

Wow I'm really sorry to hear that, I am a fan of his. And you are so fortunate to have a mentor and friend such as he. Those are indeed noble efforts. Thanks for paying forward in my direction!

[KWP]

wow there's a lot going on in there - but then I guess that is life right and we all travel through it and we all have our own markers to show us we are heading in the right direction.

it's a funny thing when you see things as they are - you begin to experience synchronicity and are able to bring yourself back a wee be closer to alignment of the everywhen - where is the everywhen? everywhere, everyhow, everyhappening, nd we have been there all along, just perhaps lost a touch of alignment when viewing this reality through our own stubborn eyes.

although I feel you poem is a wee bit long and you could cut and skim to add directness to the path that dithers and dathers through life, your words have given me cause to stop and reflect and explore a new avenue of thought - I like that X

[Rikkevi Rue]

Yea. I was definitely long winded on this one. It was a ballast kind of thing and more written as a spoken word kind of idea that would go in a play or something.

I wrote it some time ago and it was sitting around unfinished to I just pushed it out the door after a few fixes, but it could be about half its length. I was going for that dithering old man feel!lol
Thanks for your kind words and I'm glad you got something from it

[KWP]

:) pleasure Old Man ;)