Notes About The Poem



Instructions for Walking Away

Daniel Henry Rodgers

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“Not all paths are chosen—some are remembered the moment we reach for what was never offered.” - Poet

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Instructions For Walking Away

feet tracing ruts
softened by the weight of others

the path was worn
    polished
not by insight
but by generations
unquestioning the same direction

a weed split the sidewalk
where my foot hesitated

they handed us maps
already marked, folded
creased at the routes
they wanted us to traverse

walls hung with heirlooms
no one claimed
shadows
longer than the rooms

classrooms’ chalkboards of certainty
offices pressed flat with protocol
we learned the art
of veiling the eye behind the eye

we drank from vessels
lips like waiting mouths
etched with forgotten crests
believing the shape of the cup
taught us thirst

air rehearsed its return
like a tethered animal pacing
the same invisible circle

inscribed with grace
shaped like a cage
narrowing the limit
of knowledge
of wisdom

altars made from repetition
shaped our days
to fit the mold
filed down the splinters of doubt
until only smooth compliance remained

tell me—
what is awakening
if not the moment
your hand reaches
for a handle
no one told you was there

and the quiet moment after waking

my heart
uncertain
unshod
hesitates…
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Baker Avatar
August 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
This brought to my mind, the Walt Whitman quote, "Re-Examine all you have been told. Dismiss what insults your soul." When sitting though meaningless discussions at planning meeting / business meetings, I used to think to myself, what are they thinking? ... no new ideas, just regurgitation of the past. My answer, they aren't thinking at all. No wonder there's no solution to the problems we face. Facing the aha moment and deciding to reach out without knowing the outcome is living life. Bill
George Avatar
August 17, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Dear Daniel, your poem encourages us to look for paths new, instead of walking through the much trodden path. We stick to conformity to tradition and what have been taught to us by our forefathers without enquiring into the real heart and truth of things. Much rot must be lying at the bottom. It needs occasional cleansing.We need to weed out the unwanted and include the more salient. This is needed not only in the material level, but in the spiritual level too. 'Reach out to a handle no one told was there', instead of 'veiling the eye behind the eye.' So powerful a poem encouraging the spirit of enquiry. Great image too.
Rodgers Avatar
August 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Dear Valsa, I do hope that you are having a fantastic summer filled with many blessings. I am very thankful for your friendship, comments, and insights. I have always been very grateful for all of it. Blessings, My Dear Valsa, Daniel
Dietrich Avatar
August 16, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Wow. Profound and excellent writing love all the clever symbolism. Love this
Rodgers Avatar
August 19, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Dear Andrea, I am always thankful for your friendship and comments. Blessings, My Dear Andrea, Daniel
Hind Avatar
August 7, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Powerful work. "shadows longer than the rooms' what an image, "believing the shape of the cup taught us thirst" those lines stand out, great work, just amazing -
Rodgers Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Dear Paige, thank you for gracing my presence with your comments. I always love your visits. Blessings, My Dear Paige, Daneil
Manassian Avatar
August 7, 2025 at 6:13 AM
We all need an awakening. You've expressed this search for truth so well in these lines. So many different analogies... all the same search. Conforming without understanding kills the soul. Thank you for sharing and for your visit to my poem.
Rodgers Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 5:23 AM
O My Dear Eileen, You saw the message clearly and I was so appreciative to see your note. Yes, conforming without understanding does kill the soul. I have always taught my daughter to have blind faith but ask questions explore, seek evidence, and also build new ideas in creativity. Blessings, Dear Eileen, Daniel.
Buhagiar Avatar
August 7, 2025 at 5:22 AM
I have never hesitated on my faith which is governed by what Jesus told us and what we learned from the letters of the New Testament. My belief is steadfast and not governed by some do it yourself menu, where belief is governed by what suits us. No offence to anyone one though. In the end, Jesus is just and compassionate.
Rodgers Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Dear Victor, like you I never hesitated on my faith is our Lord Jesus Christ. I do believe that we are also to explore through creative outlets new avenues of writing, painting, and creating within healthy boundaries. After all, look at all the poets and writers of the Bible who were inspired to write about the coming of our savior. Blessings, Dear Victor, Daniel
Winter Avatar
August 5, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Dearest Daniel, your poem is a powerful exploration of self-discovery, and the search for authenticity. The imagery is exquisite,with lines like 'the path...unquestioning' and'shadows longer..rooms'that beautifully capture the tension between tradition and individuality. The language is rich and vivid, and the themes are deeply resonant. Your words have a way of lingering in the mind, prompting reflection and introspection. Love this! A thought-provoking piece! With love and respect always, Anne
Rodgers Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Dearest Anne, thank you for coming and looking into the depths of the poem. I believe that creativity is staggered by family, society, culture, and religion. We as artists must reach for that unknown handle to find creative avenues that have not been explored. I am so grateful for you. Blessings, My dear Anne, Daniel
Etgen-Baker Avatar
August 4, 2025 at 4:35 PM
you've captured our tendency to traverse the ruts we were given through heritage and the ones we create early in our lives. I often hesitate (as did the narrator) when 'the familiar handle' isn't there. A very relatable poem. Well done, sir. Wishing you a blessed evening, Sara
Rodgers Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Dear Sara, I am grateful for your comments and yes having the faith that there is even a handle to reach for that leads to greater creative thoughts. Blessings, My Dear Sara, Daniel
De Beaulieu Avatar
August 4, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Hello Daniel Henry Rodgers, i want to know why this person hesitated to go inside. Your friend, /Darlene/
De Beaulieu Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Hello Daniel, oh thank you for explaining this poem to me. Now I understand it better. My dear friend. Enjoy your day. /Darlene/
Rodgers Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Dear Darlene, Thanks for your note. This is more about creativity and finding new paths to new ideas, and the hesitancy is whether a person can break free of family, society, culture, and religion to find new, creative thoughts and unworn paths. I guess a person needs to have faith that there is a better more creative world out there if only we were to seek. Blessings, my Dear Darlene, Daniel
Anaya Avatar
August 4, 2025 at 10:17 AM
One door closes, the other opens I think if we forgive ourselves, walk forwards, splinters may dig deep as reminders that the road is tough--understanding that the path clears ultimately. Take heart, for these are important lessons learned. A leap of faith leads to grace! A joy to read today, Daniel! August, blessings__Anaya
Rodgers Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Dear Anaya, Yes, a leap of faith opens that door to new ideas and creativity. Unfortunately, many people are unaware that they are settling for the status quo and failing to reach their full potential. There is a hidden handle that allows us to find those new levels, but we have to have the faith that the handle exists. Blessings, My Dear Anaya, Daniel
Lane Avatar
August 4, 2025 at 9:16 AM
There’s thinking about walking away. There’s reaching for the door handle, and then there’s actually opening it. All moments when a heart is uncertain and hesitates. Only by walking over the threshold, closing it behind us and not looking back can we be free. Excellent verses, Daniel.
Rodgers Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Dear Lin, Thank you for your visit and sorry to be running late getting back to you. Vacation! I really wanted to bring out the aspects that our lives are driven by society, family, culture, religion and multiple other aspects. I guess to semi quote Albert Whitehead that "All Philosophy is just a footnote to Plato. I believe that creativity has to find the hidden door handle and open it so new creativity can enter the mind. I guess you could say my haunting deep thoughts is always trying to be more creative. Blessings, my Dear Lin, Daniel
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