Sunday, December 12, 2010

Life, on the road ahead (a poem)

Life, on the road ahead ************************ ********* Feininger, Andreas, 1906-1999, photographer


On a long road, winding,
around the bend
a sign
warning
sharp curve, slow down
danger ahead


The long yellow line
a siren's call
pulling me into life
sprawling out beyond the gap
where valley wide
beckons
reaching out
to a far horizon
beneath a clear blue sky
streaked
with sugar coated promises
of the sweet life
opening up
just around the next bend

careening
joy
riding
I speed ahead
pulled by the yellow line
unbroken
ignoring the warning
I catapult into nothing
but the pure desire to experience

life on the road ahead.


*****************************************

It's another One Shot Poetry Sunday challenge and today's photo by Andreas Feninger, beckons me to the open road, to find that place where words collide with wide-open spaces, where sky meets earth and limitless possibilities expand into nothing.

There's a whole bunch of great poetry going on over at One Shot Poetry -- go give it a read, and perhaps... heed the call of the open spaces of your mind where poetry creates a whole new world of possibility within you!

Go on. You know you want to. Give it a go at One Shot Poetry.

14 comments:

Maureen said...

I like how you turn the poem in the last stanza so that "I catapult into nothing" takes us to the unexpected conclusion.

Glynn said...

The yellow warning line - do not pass. And yet we all want to catapault to that far horizon. Good one, Louise.

Reflections said...

Beautiful longings for the open road, discoveries beyond that next bend.

dustus said...

"ignoring the warning / I catapult into nothing / but the pure desire to experience..." Sometimes throwing caution to the wind is needed to grow from experience or taking known risks. Your poem expresses the uncertainty and feelings associated with moving forward in life. Also, like how you refer to the yellow line as a siren's call. Great challenge post! cheers

Gigi Ann said...

I love the poem, 'danger, sugar coated promises, joy riding, danger, and pure desire to experience' I loved every word, of life on the road ahead.

Louise Gallagher said...

Thanks everyone. I love how these One Shot Prompts encourage me to open up to the wide view of writing poetry.

They truly are an inspiration -- and your comments and support lift me up!

thank you.

Alegria Imperial said...

I like how the seeming simplicity of the ride "catapults into nothing". Great read! Nice poem!

Anita Magdalena said...

It's good to live on the edge sometimes and who can resist catapulting themselves into breathlessness. Great poem.

Anita.

Louise Gallagher said...

Thanks Alegria and Anita.

I sure do appreciate your driving on over to visit!

Claudia said...

i love the sugar coated promises and the yellow line in your poem - and yeah - sometimes we just have to speed up and risk to be catapulted i guess..

my one shoot is up as well - hope you're having a great sunday

Hope said...

love it! 'life on the road ahead!
catapult into nothing only to experience the freedom and peace.

great poem!

hedgewitch said...

Nice use of the shorter words mixed into the sentences, even the flow and form, to hook and propel the reader through the thoughts behind. Strong finish, nice one shoot.

Helena Malheur said...

a great ride and fantastic finish too-- plunging forth with "pure desire for experience" -- I like that!

Anonymous said...

fantastic poem.

trisha
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