I stumbled upon a collection of poems that I penned during what must have been my grade twelve year of high school. I think that they are significant only in that they give me insight into what was rumbling around in my head thirty-one years ago. Oddly enough, some of the same thoughts are still rumbling around in there…. testimony to the reality that age doesn’t in itself produce wisdom. In fact, reading these words with older eyes makes me wonder where some of the wisdom has gone.
These poems were never published in 1987, so I feel it only appropriate that they get published now.
ANTICIPATION
Silence
deep, unnerving
the birds all gone
the leaves all fallen,
and blown away.
The fields all barren
now stored:
grain or hay.
Silence
deep unnerving
waiting only,
for the first feathered flake.
UNCERTAINTY
Often confiding,
daring almost to share,
Often restless,
almost accepting support,
Often doubting,
almost accepting advice,
Often saddened,
accepting cheer, then no!
Often fearful,
nearly accepting comfort,
seldom a friend,
But gladly taken.
THE FARMER
The sky darkens with heavy dark clouds,
rain transcending to the ground.
The stalks heavy laden, ben lazily down.
Hail ten miles over; shells that which
is already on the ground.
Hope flutters like an autumn leaf drifiting
in a breeze.
He sits watching and waiting for a
sign up above.
Time crawls slowly across the plains.
Patience prevails and a new day brings a new
light and new warmth, he looks up
smiling as if greeting an old friend.
Migration near completed; off on cold north
winds.
The lands now silent.
What once was, is now only half.
Struggling on he thinks only of next year.
FRIEND
Caring,
yearning,
listening,
comforting,
loving always in a special way,
seeking,
thinking,
then dropping from view,
resting,
watching,
until needed again.
YEARNING
The sky cold and windy grey,
and as I sat there that day I pondered,
the events of that day,
perhaps is was only in my sight,
yet within it still grows,
to you probably,
always untold,
yet someday, who knows.
The man who sits here may someday seem more bold,
until that day,
I sit here and ponder,
hoping still a sunny day may come,
gazing at hidden stars up yonder,
wanting only for this day,
to finally be done.
THE BEAST (man)
I chanced one day upon a fawn,
a clear could morning early,
just before dawn.
No wind blew.
The grass swayed to the sound of the silence,
each blade shedding a single drop of dew.
I pondered then on man’s great achievements in science,
though never able to create the simplest form of life.
Yet I marvelled at the beauty of nature
before my eyes.
The pines awaiting the breath of day,
across the meadow up on a hill I spotted the doe,
watching me; seemingly with perfect trust.
Through the trees the sun now rose,'
and as I walked away, a shot shattered the silence.
My heart filled with rage, my mind with shame,
and I pondered once more,
Man’s Great Achievements In Science.
GRADUATION
For most
eighteen years do pass,
slowly at first,
then almost too fast,
hurts, wants, goals, failings, wins,
losses, friends, shadows,
all are now past.
For most,
parties,
some seldom not,
but one remains!
Anticipation arises,
childhood dreams now dying,
friends crying,
come what may,
yet always take the time to ponder the past,
yesterday,
life goes on
but memories always last.