Awakening II: The Poetry of Gunnar Våken

Poem: Pathways

Running in circles
Thinking in bursts
I'm often a spectator
Unless I get there first

Ventured down a lot
Of dead end roads
Made a lot of disgusted
U-turns
Before or after getting
Burned

"Life is all f*ed up"
Luckily this is
Only partially true
Interestingly enough
A lot is
Up to you

Con artists are everywhere
In the mall, the school
The church, the street
You vote both with
Hands at the ballot box
And also with your feet

When you sniff a con
Either call them out
Or steer clear
Warn others if you can
And when they offer it
Never sip their beer

And fear...
Oh that great delayer
Or motivator
Depending on what
And whom, why and when
Some things merit fear
And other feared people
Situations or objects
Need to be destroyed
By fists and a dose of Zen
Or neutralised by
Wits sharpened
By trips to the lions' den

Sometimes we sleep
And wake up early
Other times we
Can barely get
Rolling in the morning
At times our brains
Are sharp as a tack
And others are in fog
With horns sounding out
Marine warnings

Walk the path
Sail the seas
Not necessarily of
Least resistance
Poverty and discouragements
May block your way
If you can, grab some hands
Meet resistance with
Assistance

Then you can go
The distance
And get results
Better than
A mere pittance
Thus adding
A little meaning
To your existence

~ Gunnar Våken