Having Direction

The walk of life.
A rocky road full 
of potholes and pitfalls
causing stumbles and pratfalls.

Your destination is clear.
You can't see it from here,
but at the end of that road
lies the end of the road.

Did you love?
Fully; unconditionally?
There is no price on love,
but its value is infinite.

Yet, we give love away.
That is to say the more we dispatch,
the more we receive, and do not believe
the blessings you bestow on others

do not flow back to you.
It is true. Love is the compass 
of all journeys. If you foster love
and give love, you're well on your way.

Love gives you direction.
Follow it!

© JPW - 2013

POETRY JAM - Steps 

dVerse - Poets Pub : Meeting the Bar: The Beat Poets and their Poetry

Fate and Destiny Do Lunch

“Glad you could meet me,

it always works out just how I’ve planned!”

“Oh really? What makes you think

my wish is your command?”

“Why do you think they call me Fate?

I knew you’d be here… and you wouldn’t be late!”

“You don’t control me, no how, no way –

I’ve a mind of my own! I still have a say!”

“I’m not so sure, if I must sound defeatist!”

“Go to hell, you overbearing elitist!”

They sit and stew, as that’s my hunch,

the way it goes when these two meet for lunch!

The waiter arrives, with menus he stands,

but Fate waves him off with a sweep of his hand.

“I’ve already ordered and I know what she’ll have.

She’ll eat the veal (she loves baby calves)”

“You see”, he explains, “I’m planned by divinity,

don’t question my motives, they’re from my mythology!”

Destiny smiled. “Excuse me, nature calls”

and she headed off for one of the stalls.

Fate sat there sipping his drink and awaiting his friend,

a relationship that was a dead end!

They weren’t really connected as far as he knew,

as through the front window a transit bus flew.

There lays the late Fate, now in celestial unity,

since Destiny influenced a great opportunity.

Fate met his fate, his appointment with Destiny,

cards fall into place through a deal of humanity

Now a table for one, but what the heck,

she didn’t even mind kiting the check!

© JPW - 2013

 Poetic Asides - Prompt #236 - Appointment poem

From God to Godot

Sometime today.

Or tomorrow, I’m not sure.

He said he’d be here by then,

but when? We don’t know.

Philosophy escapes me.

It takes my mind away from

the task at hand. This grand

stand has me annoyed…

beside myself. And I’m a man

who prides himself

on being patient.

Okay, so I’m impatient

but he should be here!

Passers-by and posers,

Lucky asses and hosers …

I can’t remember yesterday.

Spare me your angelic messengers,

my guess is I will die by my own hand

if I stand here much longer.

My resolve is not as strong as

when I started waiting.

Sometime today.

Or yesterday? I’m not sure;

He said he’d be here!

I’ll wait until the end.

These shoes aren’t even mine!

© JPW – 2013

Poetic Asides - Prompt #236 - Appointment poem

Poets United - Poetry Pantry #167

Beach Front Property

Along the pier, planked and weathered,
boats tethered to the slips with twisted lines.
Spattered bow with gull souvenirs;
airborne psychopaths swooping
like kamikaze canaries on steroids.
And the noise in constant barrage
is a din that's never done.

But in the distance and on all sides,
the vignettes are very telling.
To the right the congregant gulls
continue their cackle, a drone.
Before wandering eyes, a horizon calls
sun speckled and bright, a light
of enormous clarity bringing this day

to a promising start. It is good
for your heart to be blessed by the beauty
inherent in this shore's edge.
Behind you are all the journeys
that have brought you away from a past
tattered and trampled, over-sampled
and weary. You can't go back again

no matter what your friends say.
For today, you take what's left.
Or to your left. Up the shore a way,
she stands in mirrored contemplation,
a situation you've encountered a myriad
of times; written in prose and rhymes
of every new view. Oblivious to you

she is lost in thoughts all her own.
A seminal glance; a chance look
that crosses paths and distance
to plant the seeds of curiosity
at trepidation's feet. She, 
with her sweet smile (when
she gets around to it) and tender wave. 

New "neighbors" sharing the open waters
along this knowing shore. Memories 
of former lives play in repetition;
new players in this ongoing game.
The outcome isn't always the same,
but this pier brings you back to start;
to beach front property and exploring hearts. 

© JPW 2013

Poetic Asides by Robert Lee Brewer - Prompt # 235 - "Front" poem

Poets United: Verse First - The Places You Love

HAVE YOU NO EYES?

The soul has no windows,
as far as I can see.
But the truth has a heart,
and getting to the heart of the truth
takes a lot of belief
and a bit of faith.
Your ears will hear
what your eyes will not receive.
Do not trust your eyes,
for you realize that the soul
of a person rests in the eyes of truth.
Why didn't I see that before?

© JPW 2013


Poetic Asides with Robert Lee Brewer - Vision - Prompt 234

HERE ON THE SHORE

He saw her at the beach,
lovely and lanky was she

and with a style that outshone
every summer sun ever seen.

Her voice was quite hypnotic;
his thoughts of her were quixotic.

That memory always brings him back. 
Alone he comes to stand

there on the very sand
where they had first made love.

© JPW 2013


dVerse Poets Pub ~ Getting Tight In There (55)

GRANA AD INFINITUM

Granular silica reaching
fully across the beach,
allowing the lake to leach
through every niche
and crevice, it teaches
us that infinity is within reach
in every step we take, each
in silent prayer, we beseech.

© JPW 2013