Life's Journey to Wisdom

Worthy all, the trials of life won,

Where we fit in, gain peace of mind,

Clear the hurdles and hope to find

Eternal rest when time is done.

Childhood metes us a fleeting time

To learn what can and cannot be.

Like birds alight in family tree,

We perch twixt cruel and sublime.

We learn the bounds of love and hate --

Lacking love, wither and fall away,

Without hate, survive another day,

With love, our needs we learn to sate.

Teen-age years show us worth of faith 

That good abide, bad betrayeth -- 

To trust ourselves, serve greater good,

Cede fluff and flake to Hollywood.

In adulthood, should we survive,

We bend and sway, hoping to thrive.

At times we pray, prostrate all,

To bear the stress, to spare a fall.

Duties and demands give us pause

To dwell on meaning of the fray --

At best stay, at worst run away.

In penance we assuage the cause.

 

In old age through the tears of years,

We can find hope as God appears

In works and dreams to belay our fears

And give us peace as our end nears.

Author's Note

Life's ordeals and happy times give us pause to reflect on things worthwhile

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

An interesting look at the successive ages of man here. Noted especially the wording of the adult phase. "Should we survive" is much more meaningful at a time like this. It is at this time, if we have learned anything, that we should "dwell on the meaning of the fray." If we do so correctly, we should pass without fear into the last phase, although the current crisis seems to make that one the most hazardous of all.

[bigfootprint]

Thanks for your review, John. I like your reaction to the work, especially the passing without fear. If we can face the end with a clear conscience, it means we proved our mettle and did our duty. Just reward is up to the Almighty to sort out.

[NotUsinganymore]

Very nice poem! we do learn everything as we move on to the next stage of life!