As I Live My Life (Title and Preface)

As I Live My Life

Philosophical Poems

John Lina

6/1/2012

Poems in a similar pattern that could lead to a better understanding of life and living.

Preface

As life has progressed there are repeated themes that can be explored in verse.  The general form is two sets of two lines each of assertion, four lines of exposition, two more sets of two lines each of expansion, four lines of erudition, two lines of advice, and a one line conclusion.

I originated this form for esoteric expression.

The Future

The Future

In a turning world

Changes are the horizon

Briefly

Rise to see

Yes I see it

But do I want to

Yet it will happen

See it or not

My present passes beneath me

Am I willing to let it go

Above

Beyond

Foreseeing it

Change what can be

Accept what can't be

Prepare

Let this go

For that

Want to or not

The Dream

The Dream

There is a mountain

Shrouded in the clouds

Where the cotton is high

And the corn's a growin'

The mountain top experience

That is my dream

As I trod along here below

Tripping along the daily path

There are rivers

There are chasms

There are fruited plains

There are shady forests

The path is long

The temptation is great

To stop and enjoy

To give up the quest

But then there's the mountain

Looming in the distance

This is my dream

My Life

My Life

It is sunrise

I stand at the wheel

The silver disk rises from the sea

The chains on Phaeton's chariot clang

I will have known

I will have understood

I will have helped

I will have been helped

It is sunset

I stand at the rail

The orange disk drops into the sea

The rattle of the chariot recedes

Who has helped me

What more do I understand

Where am I

Whom have I helped

I go below

Plot my course

This is my life

Attitude

Attitude

Positive

Negative

Same being

Poles apart

Shakespeare's weaver

Restores the sleeve

Unraveled is the chaos of fatigue

Knitted is the order of love

Psychic energy

Source of order

Youth has deep pools

Aging silts them in

Rest

Restore

Recuperate

Reconstruct

Reverse the entropy

Order from chaos

Life's purpose

Routine

Routine

Arise

Do daily tasks

Mundane

But skipped only at a risk

If one doesn’t do the dishes…

If one doesn't make one's bed…

Soon enough events overtake one

And the mess has to be addressed

The cupboard is bare

The bills must be paid

A movie

A game

But take care

Lifetime is passing

One only has the between times

To ascend the scales

The energy for it is scarce

And the regimen obscure

Seek and ye shall find

And So Goes the Day

And So Goes the Day

Six plates

Six sticks

Spin one

Then two

All a-turning

Eek! The first one is falling

And the second is slowing

Spin them up!

Six plates turning

All at different speeds

They fall

Clatter, shatter

Shards on the floor

Splintered and scattered

What a mess

Get a broom

And more plates

Spin them up

How many is enough

Insight

Insight

Thinking

Walking

It starts from where I am

And goes on forever

I won't tell you

You won't ask

I could tell you

You won't hear

A mass of knotted string

With two ends

Both lost

In the snarl

I follow

Never tugging

Am I in the middle

Or close to an end

Such is the truth

Be ready

To understand

Truth

Truth

It is here

It is there

Neither

Here nor there

Simple and profound

Hidden in imagination

Found and discarded

Unrecognized

Think and ponder,

Infer, deduce, and rationalize

The particle

The universe

Search for it

Recognize it

Lean against it

Live according to it

Ephemeral life

Eternal Master

Forever

Fear

Fear

Failure

Shame

What could be worse

The twins of inertia

What if it doesn't

What if it does

What are the odds

What else do I need

Either way I could lose

Why bet

Is it good

Is it possible

What is my dream

What is my goal

Does this take me there

Then I must go

Swallow hard

Say yes

Doit

Doubt

Doubt

Can I, should I

Is it even possible

Am I worthy

How will others see me

The path is hidden ahead

What dangers will I find

What obstacles  are in the way

Will I be able to do it

Am I wasting my time

Is it beyond my reach

Others failed

The lucky made it

Should I

Should I not

Take the first step

Go forward along the path

Clever

Resourceful

Successful

Woman's World

Woman's World

Overweight

Out of shape

I think about my make-up

My hair, what I wear, and don’t

I walk about

To get you to look

Annoyed when you do

Vexed when you don't

I like sex

But not with you

Moody

Unpredictable

I’m prissy and bitchy

But I get along

Do what I want

And you'll have peace

Young or old

Younger or older

So it was, is, and will be.

Man's World

Man's World

Overweight

Out of shape

I think about my manliness

How I look, what I will eat, and drink

I walk about

Looking for opportunity

Easily put off

Unsure when not

I fantasize

About most females

Distracted

Predictable

I abide

But I will act

When stimulated

Otherwise, just let me be

Young or old

Younger or older

So it was, is, and will be.

Married Life

Married Life

One

To t'other

For better or worse

In sickness and in health

Individually

Living and growing

Each moving forward

Yet merged into a life together

A stumble

A fall

Asked

Forgiven

Life goes on

Failings forgotten

Going for the finish

Troubles in stride

Awaken to see

Each t'other

Love conquers all

Family through Time

Family through Time

Two people

Form a common bond

Then there are more

Uniquely bound

Ups

Downs

Ins

Outs

Bugging

Hugging

Formative years

Spent figuring it out

Then spewed into the world

To make a way

Each finding another

To whom to bond

Then there are more uniquely bound

Carrying the torch

Illuminating the way