running the gauntlet

we are surrounded by life’s beauty, 
in innumerable ways, varied and splendid
in fullness of sight, sound and feel
there’s so much,
much more than what we need
it’s the state of mind thing, 
if i am depressed, and well i should, or could be,
given the infinite issues that daily affect humanity,
it's no surprise

if i am fearful, no surprise, 
there’s plenty to be frightened about on planet earth
no need here to itemize,
or embellish specifics

nonetheless, there’s so much beauty, 
so much to do,
to keep the heart joyful, the body and mind occupied
and yet, of course, the hindrances,
the challenges

these are those that bring varied levels, 
states of pain,
these that keep the soul at bay,
confined to prison walls,
imposed by forces, 
some known, most unknown

there be those that keep the spirit weighted down,
like a leaden anchor 
in the murky mud, 
of the depths of overwhelming 

there are states of being, 
whether circumstantial, inadvertent, or self imposed,
like the sparks that come out of the fire,
so is man born into trouble

and yet, of course, 
we may be surrounded by overwhelming beauty 
juxtapositioned with the images say,
of the slums of calcutta, mexico,
any city of the world including new york
keeps me living on the edge
ill content with the full life of just fun and leisure
. . . state of mind thing and real

while we live upon this world,
it's easy for joy to be concealed,
even when it’s there to grasp and feel
we’re often bushwhacked in our zeal,
as we focus on our wants,
our wants to be left alone,
to live our dreams unimpeded,
no stumbling blocks,

but think again, no refrain,
something, someone will surely rise, 
to impose another obstacle,
by default or intentional, without a doubt
the majority of our kind lives in a world of squalor,
their dreams if any, always to find relief

always on watch, 
take a bite of bread
pause to raise your head
listen close there's someone at the door,
someone on the phone
wanting something may not even be owed
always in some kind of race
there's always some kind of trick
i'm always on guard,
next step may be your last,
waiting for the next attack 
from where it might come, 
you never know 
in this world trouble always comes, 
guaranteed,
no reprieve 

overwhelming beauty, 
such as is found, whatever your own taste may be
nature gives me room for escape,
my  breath to take,
of pristine air in solitude
although nature's beauty will surely kill the ill prepared
we are after all, but flesh and blood
naked born into planet earth
tender feet, no contest to hooves or claws
snow white mountains in a blizzard's face and fury
are beautiful behind closed mountain cabin windows
they win the match when electricity's down
or the wood supply's out

the trick is, state of mind, 
more than positive thought,
the trick is live each day by grace
to escape in prayer, so to speak, 
by the planting of your feet in trust
on the One who overcame,
to be as one in thought and deed, 
like Him all of the time,
depending on His strength,
whether i understand or not
mind on Christ
until the end of the gauntlet
here on earth

Reviews

[LKBillips]

This echoes through my mind with resounding clarity. Each line a little bit of myself woven in. Wondering if there is ever a lull to the hustle and then when there is I tend to squander it away on cheap entertainment never enriching the soul that so desperately thirsts for it. Your writing speaks to me. Very wonderful read. Thanks for sharing.

[RuseInex]

feel your comment- echoes thru your mind... resounding clarity, (like a crisp ring of a bell on a snowy mountaintop), you relate to these lines- (our common humanity), this is a great part of reward in writing, feedback from a fellow poet as yourself, yes, as is common to humanity, i too have squander much on cheap entertainment, yet work to find enrichment for the soul, yes, i thirst for it, gives strength and meaning to my writing- the power of the written word, a marvel!