Assignment: write about an adventure you dream of. I realise that, at 85, I have already lived all the adventures I ever yearned for.
Most of them involved travel. And of course I dreamed of — and found — the adventure of love. I feel no lack, no longing. I am replete.
Then I realise that the lack of any hankering is because I’m still in the best adventure. I’ve reached an understanding: Life itself is the greatest, the grandest, the most exciting adventure! It’s a quieter adventure by now … but also deeper. It’s beautiful.
sunset
along the horizon —
I’m blessed
I wish I could share my understandings. Having lived to be old, I have — as we are told to expect — acquired some wisdom. There are things I have learned, things I now know. How much easier would it be for younger friends if I could pass these things on? But they don’t want to listen. They argue against the pearls I drop, they swear it’s different for them. They won’t even try my way.
Perhaps they’re right. We are all different. Temperaments and circumstances vary. Also, what is appropriate at one age might be all wrong at a different stage of life.
nearing the end
I see that my story
is mine alone
I realise, reluctantly, that I must allow those I care for to make their own mistakes; that is the way they will learn whatever lessons they need. The only way to learn the great truths is to live them … live into them.
unheard —
wisely, I resign myself
to silence
Written for Friday Writings #156 at Poets and Storytellers United: Let's Go Adventuring!
What a wonderful state of self-actualisation to be in or still striving for..words are the best adventure I find too - but I am glad you have also lived and loved and are here to share your wisdom with us - Jae
ReplyDeleteOh yes, words are a great adventure! Bless you, Jae.
DeleteWhat a great haibun sequence...I hope I gather a fraction of that wisdom and what Jae called state of self-actualization...the second haiku blew me away...as for the last one...hey, I'm listening, so please keep sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThank you — however, I think you are much wiser than me!
DeleteIt's a blessing indeed to look back on life with satisfaction. Youth is wasted on the young, my mom would sometimes say when trying to reason with children often as blind as many of us once were to the gifts of time and vitality.
ReplyDeleteAh well, the young do need their mistakes, I believe — while hoping they are not too drastic.
DeleteAt least your readers are absorbing your wisdom in an indirect general way, sorting out what we think might or might not work for us without the personal relationships that produce emotional friction. I greatly appreciated your comment on a poem that really left room for misreading last spring, e.g.
ReplyDeletePK
Oh, thank you for this thoughtful comment! I'm so pleased to know that something I said was helpful.
Delete"They argue against the pearls I drop,"
ReplyDeleteI love this line, Rosemary. We all learn in our own time.
I’m delighted you appreciated that tongue-in-cheek line. — Rosemary (temporaril anonymous, being temporarily without my computer).
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