Hallway to Nowhere

Tag: poetry

  • Solace In Desuetude (Poem)

    I walk on crumbling pavement in derelict streets

    To gaze upon abandoned buildings with boarded doors

    And dusty signs that advertise sorrow for closure.

    I travel to the overgrown fields

    To visit wakes of vultures with avid mien

    And clamorous geese that fly overhead to nowhere.

    The lowering skies and threatening clouds provide refuge

    For a journeyer such as I, hooded in gray and solitary.

    When all ground is unsteady and every kindness a threat,

    I take comfort in the evidence of decay.

    With knowledge of such dark glory, can misery abide?

  • What I Can Hear (Poem)

    As a child I lived by the sea.

    I swam in its waters and played on its shores.

    I watched the birds write poetry in the skies,

    Read stories left by crabs scuttling in the sand,

    And was lulled by mingled songs of sun, waves, and wind.

    When I drifted to sleep with salt lingering on my lips,

    I was visited by sea serpents, the wisest denizens of the depths.

    Their sibilant sagacity wove through my dreams,

    Finally coming to root in my bones.

    Now in my waning, I begin to understand.

    Ancient laughter echoes through the years,

    While the very particles of existence appear and disappear,

    All joined in a dance.

  • Thus I Hear Once More (Poem)

    As a child I lived by the sea.

    I swam in its waters and played on its shores.

    Once I dove deep into the dreamland of the depths.

    There I encountered all manner of magical creatures

    And sat with sea serpents to hear their stories.

    They would curl around me to whisper in my ears

    Marvelous tales, wise and wondrous and whimsical.

    They said, “When you arrive at the surface again,

    You will forget our time together, but only for a while.”

    I am beginning to remember and often hear their laughter

    Rippling through the stars at night.

  • Thus Have I Heard (Poem)

    As a child I lived by the sea.

    I swam in its waves and played on its shores.

    Once I cut my foot on a shard of glass,

    So my blood has mingled with the sand.

    But remember this:

    We all come from the ocean.

    Its salt waters run through our bodies.

    Hence if we choose to listen,

    We can hear the murmured stories of sea serpents

    To guide us on the path.

  • For Edgard (Poem)

    So much love continues your presence here.

    Our laughter and tears are testament to your being.

    No shadowy ghost that haunts,

    You remain a warm solid comfort for us all.

    Our stories and memories share your light,

    As we move through our days and nights.

    We remember your smile, your kindness, your generous spirit.

    We hold these in our hearts with gratitude

    And give thanks for your existence.

    You live on, beloved friend, and we cherish all that you are.

  • Winter House (Poem)

    I am come late to build my dwelling.

    It proceeds slowly, hampered by age and infirmity.

    Lest I get discouraged by this,

    I keep in mind that my life antecedent

    Has all been preparation.

    I now have more skillful means to construct a proper residence

    With patience, foresight, and expertise.

    The foundation has been laid through prior experience;

    The design has been shaped by acquired knowledge;

    The materials have been gathered with painstaking care.

    I know that I might not live to see the completion,

    But that is not the point.

    If need be, those who follow can finish;

    Whatever I manage to construct will be beautiful and sturdy.

  • Patience On The Path (Poem)

    Thank you for teaching me patience amidst urgency.

    Yes, my time here in this body is precious and brief,

    And I wish to do as much good as possible for both myself and others.

    But I can relax into this path

    By realizing that my limitations are many and varied.

    I am a traveler like everyone,

    And my supplies and journey are affected by myriad different things.

    The way can seem daunting, with unexpected detours and deterrents.

    My progress speeds and slows and sometimes halts for awhile,

    For I am not commencing alone in a void.

    I continue step by step with a steady mind and open heart,

    With the knowledge that eventually I will reach my destination.

    While I travel, I experience pleasures and griefs on the way,

    With appreciation that they are temporary and ever-changing.

    Remember always that scenery is only scenery

    And continue to walk.

  • The Seedling (Poem)

    I walked on the trail and saw

    Amongst the usual plants and trees

    A small sapling that appeared different.

    This thing is not like the other things,

    Thought I. But then I said

    Stop and look again and see.

    I did. Here is what I found:

    Like the other growing things,

    The little seedling grew from the earth;

    The branches reached to the sky;

    The wood was brown and the leaves green;

    The sun and rain and soil nourished it.

    This thing is utterly like the other things.

    So with all, if only we look closely

    With openness.

  • The Gateway (Poem)

    I stand at threshold of the path.

    The gateway stands before me.

    I look once, twice, and yet again.

    At first glance, I see a plain simple structure.

    Then it appears rich, bejeweled, and ornate.

    On third look, it transforms back to an ordinary entrance.

    Will I pass through to start the journey?

    Yes, and yes, and yes.

    All I have to do choose to begin.

    One step, one breath, one life at a time.

  • How We Weave (Poem)

    Let us consider our actions with care,

    Be they verbal, behavioral, or otherwise.

    Any of these done has force in the world,

    With consequences unforeseen and unknown.

    Each gives rise to a certain tendency of repetition,

    Increasing in weight into often unconscious habit.

    Patterns can trap us in complex webs

    Which take a lifetime or more to unravel.

    Much simpler to choose with intent.

    Not easier, as we are connected with all around us.

    Start now, wherever we are.