An unexpected perspective...

I recently spent some time doing something quite unexpected and pretty unusual for someone like myself. I'm not going to into the details but it was time spent with close family and the words that time inspired are literal and metaphorical


Your living canvas awaits the brush
A delicate hand applies a touch
The mirror reflects the colours true
The potrait emerges that you choose

The way yourself, you wish to see
The person that you'd like to be
The portrait painted helps you find
Your inner self, a view defined

It matter not what others deem
Your worth lies not in their esteem
Look within, strive to perceive
Try not to yourself deceive

Upon your canvas allow to show
The one that only you can know
Though just a glimpse, a simple peek
Of the one that others seek

Through subtle shades and gentle hues
Or colours wild & bold you choose
To show the world a part of you
A portrait that to you is true

Self & Doubt...

A few thoughts on during a lunch break on a sunny Friday afternoon.

A question arises in my mind

A thought to ponder, time to time

Of who I am both now and then?

Is a thought beyond my ken?

I stand afraid amongst my peers

And try in vain to calm my fears

That here revealed for all to see

Is the one I've come to be

Does everyone this curse affect

As always we seek to confect

An image that we’ll safely feel

Can our inner self conceal

Do anyone ever truly show

And can we ever really know

What it means no more to hide

The self that’s living deep inside

Perhaps to ponder overlong

On such as this is always wrong

With crises ever looming nigh

When all that’s done is think of “I”

For doubts will always grow apace

And ne’er we’ll know a moment’s grace

Til we outwardly we gaze and give

To others, then, at last, we’ll live

A life that brings us joy and finds

Friends and neighbours of all kinds

A life that means so much to all

No more to self in bond and thrall

Decisions

I've wanted to try writing poetry that was a little more structured and perhaps a little more traditional. I'm not sure how it came out though :)

I was thinking about life and where it leads us, and how we get there. How much impact the little decisions we make each day can have on ourselves and those around us. It seems to me that in some way every moment of every day is an opportunity to make a decision. To go forward from that moment in any number of different ways. Whether things are going badly or well, no matter how wonderful or how restricted or even oppressed we are, or perhaps feel we are, there is always an opportunity to decide. Even if it's simply to strive to a little more tranquility of spirit. Do we accept a hard road that in our hearts we know is right with radiant acquiescence? Do we fight for what we believe in? Do we do nothing? 

One of the uncomfortable conundrums is that not deciding is also perhaps a decision, but one where we relinquish control to others, or maybe to random chance...

Decisions...

Does every step to a crossroads lead,
To endless potential that waits to be freed?
Does each new tread upon the ground
Start paths unnumbered and yet to be found?

The paths ahead in the distance wend
The agony of choice the heart does rend
“Don’t make me choose” the soul bemoans
“I cannot decide. Too many unknowns”

It matters not ere the instant is here
The direction, the choice can never be clear
Free will, desire, it’s ours to choose,
We’ll always have all and nothing to lose

As life flows on we have to decide
Whatever transpires we take in our stride
The moment is now the time tis here
Decision made with heart sincere

A new path before us endless doth reach
To heart, to soul new wisdom to teach
What’s gone before is gone… no more…
The new path our spirit doth beckon to soar