Courage: Steady On

A day of surprises
And unexpected turns
In the road,
Heavy and light is the load,

Present moments
Punctuated by punctures,
From sharp objects
Hidden amongst the clutter,

Pitfalls and potholes
On the trail
Producing mayhem,
Leading to

Loss and gain,
Elation and despondency,
Fruitful reflection
And pointless rumination;

Feeling oppressed
And wondering
How not to be,
How can such freedom be?

How can I find that
Within this predicament?
Back to practice, is it?
But I don’t feel like it!

I’d rather rage, or run away
Or forget about it,
But I can’t forget,
And I can’t get out.

To examine the details
Would be too tedious,
So I just gaze ahead
Negotiating the trail mindfully,
Struggling to steady my rickety vehicle as it goes.