The second half of my life will be black
to the white rind of the old and fading moon.
The second half of my life will be water
over the cracked floor of these desert years.
I will land on my feet this time,
knowing at least two languages and who
my friends are. I will dress for the
occasion, and my hair shall be
whatever color I please.
Everyone will go on celebrating the old
birthday, counting the years as usual,
but I will count myself new from this
inception, this imprint of my own desire.
The second half of my life will be swift,
past leaning fenceposts, a gravel shoulder,
asphalt tickets, the beckon of open road.
The second half of my life will be wide-eyed,
fingers shifting through fine sands,
arms loose at my sides, wandering feet.
There will be new dreams every night,
and the drapes will never be closed.
I will toss my string of keys into a deep
well and old letters into the grate.
The second half of my life will be ice
breaking up on the river,
rain soaking the fields,
a hand held out,
a fire,
and smoke going upward,
always up.
– Joyce Sutphen, “Crossroads” from Straight Out of View
Notes: a) Poem Source: Poem Hunter. b) Image Source: Audrey Nizen. c) Inspired by: Your Eyes Blaze Out
Beautiful words!
They really are…
I think I may have just found my new anthem…lovely….
So agree…
WLS….
tell stupid me what WLS means
“What Lori Said”
Lori’s comment is above under pseudonym “Donna and Diablo”
thank you
What Lori said… 😉
I am learning all the time…………..
Yes….
whoa ..amazing
made my Sunday
Beautiful poem. Agree. Found it yesterday. Couldn’t wait to share…
Wouldn’t it be great if simply reading this made it so? ….That all those around you would be sprinkled with pixie-dust and not hold you to the history and committments from the first half of your life? Yea, great would be an understatement.
Smiling. You speak Truth.
This says it all.
She does!
i love this so much.
me too…
Yes!
All YOU!
These words lift my heart, David. Thank you.
Thanks Marion. They did the same for me too…
perfection!
Reblogged this on On the Homefront and commented:
Read the comments on this blog too……..
Thanks for sharing LouAnn.
Just beautiful. Words to imprint upon my soul. Thank you!
I agree. Captured all of me too…
My kind of woman, and every word true:-)
Beautiful , thank you for today’s wonderful posts Dave.
It is Olga. Thank you.
I love this poem. Thank you for sharing it here. Hope you’ll be okay with me using it as a beautiful thing on my blog sometime soon . 🙂
Loved it too. Enjoy and share away…
This. Yes! A wistful thought as I review my insane, jam- packed week… Is it too late at 69 to start the second half of my life? When, I wonder, when will I allow this enchantment to begin?
It’s never too late! Start on Saturday! 🙂
Yes!
Reblogged this on Makere's Blog and commented:
A wistful question to myself…are you ready to let the second half of your life begin?
Beautiful… 🙂
Reblogged this on ScribbleDartsfromtheHeart and commented:
David Kanigan posted this a number of days ago. It really resonated with me and I cannot stop thinking about it so I thought I would share it so others could be left mulling over these awesome thoughts, too 🙂