Life's Laments

My granddaughter Payton and I contemplating the mysteries of the universe.

Winds of change follow where I go

sirens cry o'er the sea

For what I wished I'll never know

songs they sing all speak to me

 

Had I missed a chance at ardor

to play, to run or to roam

Perhaps if I'd traveled farther

somewhere else I might call home

 

These the thoughts of a selfish heart

from love I could not render

Once loneliness had torn apart

all feelings that were tender

 

The hallowed heart I’d wished to find

most this life spent running to

Was never known to be too kind

longed for what it never knew

 

I spent this life a burning flame

forged eternally on the run

I have only myself to blame

For the things that I have done

 

These truths of life come slow to some

lessons I learned the hard way

It’s not the night that one runs from

it’s light of our darkest day

 

My wife has settled me a bit

such a handsome girl is she

She has my heart and well knows it

a better man lives in me

 

Author's Note

I am forever looking back upon the road I traversed. I don't always like what I see. But I have for reasons unknown to me always been able to see the better angel of my nature. I look into the hopeful eyes of my granddaughter and see the beautiful soul of innocence. It is for that hope that I strive to be a better man.

Reviews

[Marie]

I look at your regret, but still find you moving forward, not backward.

[AK]

Wow! I loved is poem woth its abab rhyming scheme and its signature rhythm. It is so wise and well written! Greta write!

[David Lewis Paget]

It's the sixth verse that says it all, Tate, that 'darkest day' that we blank out. We each have one of those. we can only hope that the last of them are behind us.