Embarkation: Renewal

It’s a story of gathering frustration,
Year after stormy aching year
But who would want to hear?
No, and I won’t keep on telling it;

I’ll toss the old tale out
And get back to work,
The real labour
Of pulling pieces back together

Or, perhaps alternatively
Build an entirely new structure,
As happens anyway
In every moment,

Although it’s difficult to discern,
As repetition predominates;
These recurring themes,
Which fume and steam.

Turning it around
Is most likely sound;
I do it again and again,
Each time I pick up the pen.

No longer wishing to dally
With past folly,
Nor to linger over
Yesterday’s topple overs;

Looking ahead
Or even right here instead,
Discarding the duds
And recollecting the proud ofs.

Already I feel better
And embrace the welcome change of inner weather,
Rather than creating more rain
Than has already rumbled down the pane.

Emancipation: Penetrating Vision

Nothing to lose
Except delusions,
Better to clearly see
Even that which is unpleasant.

Otherwise, how else
Can one make wise decisions?
Without an unobscured view,
How can one determine what to do?

But such clarity
Is quite difficult to obtain
And even harder to retain,
It being so fleeting;

Yet even the clouds
Scuttling across the sky
Are part of it
And held by it;

And so,
Even by looking at these,
One can see something
Of what is,

Although they clog the vision
Of the blue beyond,
They are inseparable from it,
As they drift by.

And soon these fluffy blinds
Sail through
And once again
There’s only sky.

And after sunset, a starry night
Brings much delight
But if one forgets,
Even this can be blinding.

Emancipated: A Tea Break

Another rich cup of tea,
A welcome pause
In a busy day
And a pleasure to enjoy;

Astonishing, astounding
And quite delicious,
Sitting here like this
In complete freedom;

Soaking up the view
Of clouds and blue,
Green leaves stirring
And high rises gleaming;

Absorbing the aroma
And multi-layered taste
Of the hot dark liquid
In the sea green mug;

Drenched in peace
On a short surcease,
With no concern
About any other outcome;

All worries drop away
And there’s only
This activity,
Just this.

And then, the last swallow;
I wash the container
And begin to consider
What tasks come next;

Still somewhat sleepy and lethargic
From the humid weather,
Yet relaxed and at ease,
Refreshed by the brief hiatus.