Actions I have taken and may not take again
Are outweighed by actions i am undertaking
Precisely oblivious to what is around the bend.
Putting one foot in front of the other
Automatically in the glory of bent toes balance
Directing the trajectory of the step behind
On the way to a destination
Chosen or prescribed
Without wondering ahead how or why
Only knowing what is given must be used
For nothing is better left undone
As nothing is better left unsaid
Naturally slow apace
Than miss a second of life to waste
Counterproductive to think of the seat
Until my body is ready to sit
As irrelevant the vacancy of a swimming pool lane
Until my feel are in the water
As I cherish every moment at no future expense
Swimming off steadily into a rhythm
That will pace me through twenty-five laps
Each stroke, legs and arms in concert
Head down thrice and two left twice for breath
One length facing right to smooth the chinks
Always one minute less than I think
In timeless tides being presently aware
Than think of behemoths or to stare
If I take it easy I might get there
What of the traffic there and home
Observed from the roadside on my bike
Solo or families drive through yellow to red
Hurrying vehicles into the crossroads ahead
Rushing to pass others on the left or right
To be the first one to reach the next light
What have they gained? Why did they try?
Is there something won in the bye and bye?
Some quick-thrilled pleasure of victorious games
Losing their leisure out of time
Or waiting impatiently for the
next sign
Actions disturbing them I do not care
Taking my time getting there
June 19, 2020
www.readingsandridings.jimdo.com
Purchase "Unnatural Beauty; Poems from the Han Riverside"
Copyright © 2020 by David Barry Temple. All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment