Well Traveled
the road ahead
is traveled differently
a shorter stride
a stiffened gait
a lessened pace
guarantees it so
but being long a traveler
provides insight
to match the bruise and scars
of years and miles
and the will to move
can best the journey
where wisdom is employed
questions arise
what destination now
what provisions available
what light remains
with no destination
there is no journey
only aimless wander
and provisions grow scarce
the light more precious
loss of purpose
lack of focus
hastens journey’s failure
at this distance
this late hour
failure is not an option
so I will continue forth
eyes down the road
one foot then the other
in steady stride
mindful of the journey
holding to the dream
to arrive with love
spirit whole
full spent
from a road well traveled
rob kistner © 2019
These are all the same questions I have. What supplies? What light remains? One step in front of the other, whether in travel or in writing a poem.
Life’s a long journey. We need to stop and take stock at times. The last few miles require extra diligence Colleen.
Alright, almost like the lyrics for the “Drifter’s Blues”. I get the feeling your protagonist is a true loner, never happy to stay in one place too long, never willing to be saddled with obligations; perhaps not a hobo or fugitive, nor an uncouth homeless wretch, but not a man who fights the urge to move on–the stuff of novels.
He is profoundly independent Glenn, but not alone. For this person to end alone would be a failure — but to march to another’s cadence would be impossible
Good advice, a steady stride “one foot then the other”.
With periods of wander for sanity’s sake Frank.
Filled with wisdom for any traveller Rob. The journey is what matters I believe, rather than the destination, which can change over a lifetime.
I am a very free spirit, but I move with purpose. The destination must always remain flexible Grace, for certain. But to move forward with no “next” destination, is to wander aimlessly, and would dilute one’s life. There needs to be mileposts to feel accomplishments, even if the mileposts change and evolve along the way. This provides incremental satisfaction. Without occasional victories, life would feel less meaningful. IMHO
Rob, your poem speaks to me. Since retiring a year ago, I’ve been wandering aimlessly, with no goal, and it does not suit me. I need to ponder to decide what next. Your poem came at a good time.
Pleased this spoke to you Lisa. I have discovered for myself, that without some sense of purpose I was risking my mental and physical health. It didn’t need to be a major commitment to begin making a difference. I use a commitment to regularly designing and creating my 3D mixed-media art pieces as my complex mental focus, along with returning to my writing again a year ago (after giving it up for almost 4 years). Given I have difficulty standing or walking, I also now have an ongoing exercise regimen of M/W/F on the recumbent stationary cross-trainer as my physical focus. Spending regular time with my grandson is excellent for my emotional health. Having made an active dedication to all three of these, following my heart failure and pacemaker, I find they are making a difference in my overall attitude, and in my life in general. I still struggle at times, but the huge prolonged pits of depression I used to flounder in, now occur only occasionally, are much smaller, and they don’t linger. Human beings need purpose.
The last stanza is a beautiful poem in and of itself.
I see it Toni, you are correct. Nice find! 🙂
I really liked your ending Rob. Attitude and purpose are everything.
I liked this line…
with no destination
there is no journey
only aimless wander
and provisions grow scarce
the light more precious
I am very glad you liked this Dwight.
I’m not sure if I’m able to take to the road, Rob, especially not nowadays, because I love my home comforts. But I appreciate that ‘will to move’ – I had it myself when I was much younger. The list of three in the first stanza describes me now, with shorter stride, stiffened gait and lessened pace. I like the truth in this poem:
‘loss of purpose
lack of focus
hastens journey’s failure’.
I see the “will to move” as quite different from the “desire to move” Kim. And “will to move” is not necessarily connected only to taking to the road. It could be taking to an exercise bike. I see the will to move as refusal to be stuck, to be captive to your life, be it physically or emotionally — especially should a situation such as an abusive relationship, or chronic illness arise, or some such. “Will to move” can refer to willingness to get off one’s duff and physically move, with exercise, to help with your health. People depend on you, ya gotta be healthy as possible within your situation. It doesn’t have to only mean to change addresses. Having no desire, or need to move zip codes, simply means you are lucky, you’re happy and safe where your life is.
The lines relating to “journey’s failure” are aimed at the “dream” of where one should ideally want to arrive in life — “arrive with love, spirit whole”. I don’t believe if one has lost focus on a life with purpose, whatever that might be, perhaps occasional volunteering — if one has lost purpose in their life, one can’t “arrive with love, spirit whole”, feeling emotionally vital. I fear one would instead end feeling aimless, shiftless, and hollow… unfulfilled. And one does not need pto be wealthy or perfectly healthy. There is always someone in need of what you’re able to give — always someone you can serve, and that is the beauty of service, it gives to you as well. This is all ONLY my opinion Kim, based on my more than 72 years here on spaceship earth.
Rob, I think YOU are this seasoned traveler who has gained wisdom on the journey. An insightful poem about having goals, keeping destination in mind, and finishing well; truly inspiring.
Thank you so very much Lynn. It is uplifting to hear that you grasp the larger meaning of my words. This isn’t all about careers, or financial success. For some those might be lower component of feeling a life with purpose. Life with purpose is a higher goal. It included making a difference, even if just a small difference for just a few people. It is about using one’s life to make some kind of difference, to give help, to give joy. To find something outside your closed self, and embrace it. One could go from being CEO of a company to, on the large side of tge ledger, to establishing or actively participating in a foundation to help people in need. Or we normal folk to something as simple, but just as useful, such as helping at a soup kitchen once a month – but as a scheduled commitment. Be dedicated, dependable, useful, be focused to living a life with a purpose, large or small… just not being an aimless, useless void. Just My Humble Opinion.
Rob thank you for your response. It sounds like you have a routine set up for yourself that works for you. I can’t believe you went 4 years without writing!
In early 2015, after my 3rd heart attack, 4th angioplasty with heart stent, my neuropathy in my feet flared critically. The surface numbness of my toes, with the acute pain within the toes, made walking a difficult challenge. I detached from writing because my attitude fell to bitterness. I did, however, continue building my 3D multi-media art, as my morose attitude didn’t seem to manifest in the physical art. However Lisa, when my heart stopped in the hospital in April of 2017, while recovering from my 5th angioplasty, and the pacemaker was implanted – I fell into a depression so deep and dark, I ceased all creativity of any kind, becoming totally withdrawn and sedentary. Last year, 2018, at the one-year point of my pacemaker, I almost gave up on life. 71 years old at the time, constantly tired to the point of exhaustion, couldn’t walk effectively, chronic pain, my thinking was troublingly confused, and my mind was clouded with very scary thoughts. My cardiology/endocrinology team strongly suggested a focused cardiac rehabilitation program at Evergreen Medical, which included an important element of counseling. My family really encouraged it, so I thought, “what the hell can I lose!” It introduced me to the recumbent cross-trainer, which I can do without standing and walking. I now also do seated stretching and seated free weight training, and have regular discussions about my mindset. It has completely changed my life, including bringing me back to creating my 3D art… and writing!
Ooh, this poem leaves me wanting to hear more about the precious light. Perhaps that explains the divide between the faithful and those without it: when light is so abundant we take it for granted and forget its true, priceless value. Some go so far as to forget that it’s a gift, whether in full saturation or a speck on the horizon always beckoning. Thanks, Rob. And sorry for the delayed read; I needed some quality extended family time this week.
I was looking at light as meaning time Amaya — the time remaining of current life energy in this phase. As we near our life energy’s moment of evolution to the next level, the light (time) remaining of this phase grows shorter — like the light that remains of a dying fire. No matter our faith or belief, none of us KNOWS for certain what comes next for the energy that dwells within us. Some call it a soul, and believe it may go to a place called heaven or hell, to dwell there forever. Some believe it moves on it constant levels of evolution — some even believe there is no inner dwelling energy, that we are simply a bio-chemical composition that ends in nothingness. I believe that no matter what we perceive it individually, there is wholeness of being that results from life lived with purpose and meaning — even if it is simply a realtime experience of centered satisfaction, absent despair. A self-actualizing “knowledge” that we strived for our best self. Of course, this is just my humble opinion.