Journey to Ixtlan

I awoke in the morning with the first two lines of the poem “My Mistakes” running through my head. I was thinking of a particularly pleasant experience from the prior night’s social dancing. By the time I finished the poem I realized that mistakes are opportunities for learning, and that “my youth” is as close as the last minute lived. I regret little from being with wonderful friends as they are my teachers today.


My Mistakes

I’m reminded of my youth
the one I lost while confused
in the doldrums of my making
uneducated to the beauty shown
I wonder where I got off track
lost in the weeds of mistakes
lessons placed at my feet
prompts for a life better lived

I knew not how to speak
this is assured misconceptions
trip of tongue, slip of mind
saying words with outside voice
it was enough to tempt quiet
silence held with mouth shut
I’ll instead mull the words
improve the utterance as I learn

my judgment was unhoned
blunders stretching on and on
ignorance bred mistake’s bounty
while stubbornness was fear’s ally
if I knew what I wanted
I would have reached to grab the ring
I’ll now seek what I may
knowing what to leave and what to seize

relationships were close at hand
the best I let slip away
I exaggerate some with those words
“not fully clasped” would be more fair
they come in so many forms
from romance to the best of friends
each one as precious as the rest
to find the mark is my quest

for those who have read this far
I’ll add the twist that blows the mind
the timing is the curve I’ll throw
when distant past was span assumed
instead I speak of the year last past
month or week or yesterday
even hours from this today
each has regrets and lessons I’ll embrace.

© 2017, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20170212.

Life gives us opportunities to overcome weakness and personal flaws. Sometimes it does so with a parade of people all issuing the same challenge. Why entertain this rotating door of duplicated struggles? A single person can provide a robust life lesson when the opportunity is taken.


Learned at Last

You ask why I seek this fate
temptation set with two involved
when retreat is the safer way
as charms seek to take my soul.
A bird in hand to test the will
don’t let it go until the beast is slain
into its lair it will slink
if fateful battle is not pursued.

Fruit so sweet is the lure
heaven sent is not the source
purgatory is the better guess
to stand your ground is the test.
Pleasure found is not accident
halfway met before the fall
humanity grasps for the joy
when sadness gathers all around.

The wheel turns round, this is true
if not conquered it will return
made strong by weakness now
seek the chance before it’s too late.
The lesson will come around again
whispers ask the stage to slide
abandonment has its bitter gift
as the soul dies in sad retreat.

Hug the angel and spurn the imp
find your wisdom as love demands
with weakness made strong again
with pleasure given rightful place.
A lesson may be learned at last
with honor given to two involved
as triumph is the just result
in sight of realms high and low.

© 2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20160811.