Monday, August 27, 2007

Poetry Train

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

“Do not do what I have done.” I heard my mother’s plea.
There was worry in her voice, worry for the future me.
“Do not wander aimless, better to grow roots instead.
You’ll be safer far than I am, don’t you know what lies ahead?”
Though the words were true and loving, bent on saving me from strife.
I was still surprised she couldn’t see the wonder of her life.
This woman, gypsy, faerie sprite
This friend to all she knew.
Had seen more world than most, and done things few would dare to do.
“You simply cannot run away, trust me child I know.”
But wouldn’t I be running if I settled? Can we grow,
If we do not walk in sunlight, never chase a rainbows end?
Never journey halfway round the world to help a needy friend?
Can we be happy if we are not true to who we are?
Is it right, that we lose sight of our own wandering star?
If my soul is a tree, then my roots grow in the hearts
of all those loves I’ve gathered on my journey since its start.
Watered with a million different vistas, different roads.
Fed by my imagination, life’s adventure my abode.
To respond I couldn’t find the words, so used Tolkien and Frost.
“I took the road less traveled” but “Not all who wander are lost.”


©R.G. Alexander

12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Can we be happy if we are not true to who we are?
Is it right, that we lose sight of our own wandering star?"

Very good questions asked there.

Beautiful pom. I loved the rhyming pattern.

12:11 AM  
Blogger Rhian said...

awwww RG! damn.
this is stunningly beautiful and profound. There are too many perfect lines that tie to make a perfect whole - i can't pluck a favorite. The message of this one calls to the inner gypsy that i denied.

6:34 AM  
Blogger T.A.Chase said...

R.G.

Wow! Great poem and very thought-provoking. I'm sure everyone's wondered those same questions before. Is it best to stay in one place or should we wander the world? there's a certain freedom in both, I believe.

9:15 AM  
Blogger Julia Phillips Smith said...

I can relate to your mom's desire to spare you the pain she encountered even while realizing her own dreams. But that's the whole point of living. You've got to stand at the bottom of the slide yourself in order to understand that a hurtling child at high speed will in fact mow you down. Then you remember to use the stairs!

These lines are wonderful:
"Though the words were true and loving, bent on saving me from strife.
I was still surprised she couldn’t see the wonder of her life."

10:32 AM  
Blogger Crystal Jordan said...

Aww. Bootyful as usual.

11:34 AM  
Blogger Lisa Andel said...

“Not all who wander are lost.”

A concept that you made into a whole world for me. Thanks.

Though I'm wondering...
(Guess that says it all. You'll have me thinking about this all day now!) :)

12:36 PM  
Blogger Y said...

wow, i love this poem. I agree with Rhian i can't pick a favorite, there are to many.

12:41 PM  
Blogger Susan Helene Gottfried said...

This has tied me up in knots; it's so true. I, too, wander and explore the world. If anything, it's made me a more grounded person -- and yet at the same time, more apt to chase rainbows.

Beautifully written!

1:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree, not all who wander are lost.

Strong poem, it calls to my inner gypsy. I'm a nomad at heart - who struggles with being firmly rooted in my very happy, very mundane life.

Thank you for sharing. Mine's up too.

3:36 PM  
Blogger Lila Dubois said...

This is STUNNING. Just beautiful.

5:25 PM  
Blogger Ann said...

Awesome poem, beautiful. But then I come from a long line of gypsies (or at least wanderers). I happen to be rather fond of the last two lines. :)

8:21 PM  
Blogger Jill said...

I think that if we cam the good balance between wandering and being rooted, we might become what we were suppose!!
Great poem!
It made me realise I wanted to wander for awhile...

8:21 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home