I have been running
For so long now on treadmills
It seems I have long forgotten
Why I started running in the first place
They say life is what happens
Outside the plans we make
It waits for no man "pull your weight up son"
To get his house in order
It is more like, build as you go, clean as you go
But don't forget to lift the carpet up
Every now and then for spring cleaning
A few skeletons piling up, weighing us all down
Half way the game changes not like predicted seasons
Never at the finish line as we expect
To start as new, a fresh page of conundrums
All woven into each other finely abstract and entwined
And life just keeps happening tic toc
John Lennon knew best with wisdom
Guess that made him a lucky man
To have had the realization, awakening call
An understanding on the meaning of life
Life is what happens when you go making plans
Saving the world and exposing the pretentious
And just in a blink of an eye he got shot, dead and no more
I read somewhere a list of five things
Most people say they regret on their death beds
And sat down to stock take and ponder
A true check list, avenue to compare with
No man lived wiser and spoke with sincerity
Said the ultimate truth without prejudice or falseness
Than a dying man with last breaths
To call his own nothing to lose of this worldly desire
No hold backs
For game change
In last cards played
The five list of regrets on death beds given by a nurse to compare with
1. I wish I had the courage to live a true life to myself, not the life others expected of me
2. I wish I didn't work so hard
3.I wish I did have the courage to express my feelings
4.I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier
Breath of fresh air.....
ReplyDeleteTo start as new, a fresh page of conundrums
ReplyDeleteAll woven into each other finely abstract and entwined
There's so much truth here. Such realism.... What a beautiful poem...
No-one, but no-one, lies on their deathbed and wishes they had worked more overtime.
ReplyDeletesuch wise words! really enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteThis is a poem that makes me pause, think and resolve to lift the carpet under my feet and clean it up. Very powerfully written.
ReplyDeletenice...you caught me with the opening lines....as i def feel that burn of the treadmill at times...lennon def was in tune...and i dont want to have to live with those regrets...or even die with them......
ReplyDeleteah did you mean to post last weeks again?
Deletehmm... i wish i didn't work so hard.. can say it now already. ;) love the last verse.. how life can just slip by...
ReplyDeletesometimes you wonder where it all went... great poem that I can relate to...
ReplyDeleteOh Kodjo, truer words were never written. The 5 things are absolutely right!!!!! Especially living the life "others expected of me". I adore John Lennon, loved finding him in your poem. Great write! Happy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteHe was onto something, wasn't he? John Lennon... Yes, you've got me thinking too with your insightful, probing poem
ReplyDeleteNice, how this poem leads to self reflection. I felt the tragedy of Lennon's death and doubt he had much to regret. He lived each moment so fully. And I? I take this in as food for thought.
ReplyDeleteThat's life for us. It better to live everyday like the last and get fulfilled of things that interest us! Love the 2 opening stanzas of this poem so much
ReplyDeleteThat's life for us.... Its appears according to how it pleases it... Its better to enjoy life and get fulfilled of our living it!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely made me think about my life. Thanks
ReplyDeleteBack for another read from the Pantry and got even more out of it this time. The bad news is, in old age, sometimes we are STILL learning a lot of this stuff. Sorry , kiddo!
ReplyDelete