Norberto Franco Cisneros Poet Didactic

Our Ship of Life

The unpredictable yaw of rolling seas,
as in life pummels us from side to side 
randomly dictating its capricious ways 
lacking logic the tossing grips us and seeks to take our lives    

Death, like the ghost of Christmas past,
comes and expresses a tale of coldness and desolation
under the guise of light the dues it extracts from the living
accumulate like wrinkles on our faces the years pile on 

The uncertainty of pandemics sends people into despair 
mental frenzy engulfs societies
people wring their hands with worry
what happens if I get sick and lose my income?

At night I hear the sound of eighteen wheeler trucks rumbling
On the blacktop toward companies that make copious profits 
past the foothills where coyotes cry nature's lament
exacerbating my approach to a precarious and worrisome future

Sometimes, I feel like a watermelon cut in half 
exposed to the desert heat slowly drying up
or a taco at Christmas time or a paraplegic in a footrace     
exposed in those places where I don’t belong 

Leisure time for the working stiff is so elusive 
yet now all I’ve got is time and plenty of it, 
but there’s no leisure in it only worry 
and does not give me needed rest

The yaws of life 
seldom deviate from its variant course
but like ships at sea rising and falling in a tempest
our minds proceed at an ambiguous yet dangerous speed 

With our hearts frozen in a delirium of past disappointments
they vanish the happy times into the ether of regrets 
still we cling to those cherished happy time memories
when Life was more accepting of our youthful indiscretions

Our Ship of Life moves predictably toward an unknown horizon
unsteadily shaking us from side to side, up and down
like loose apples bobbing in an ocean
with our paths uncertain unfolding as we hold on.

Copyright © norberto franco cisneros

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Sara Kendrick March 31, 2021 at 3:23 PM I am reading into this one that maybe you have become unemployed. I hope that it is just temporary and that you will be back in the work force soon. I don't know if it is the end result of the pandemic or something else but hang in there for help is on its way. Enjoyed reading your work. It is very expressive, creative and has good use of poetic techniques. Sara Norberto Franco Cisneros January 3, 2022 at 9:46 PM BTW, I am retired, Sarah. Norberto Franco Cisneros January 3, 2022 at 9:41 PM A belated thank you, Sara.

Michelle Faulkner March 30, 2021 at 4:22 PM I really like the stark images here, like 'accumulate like wrinkles' (how vivid) and 'coyotes cry nature's lament' - this past year has been a struggle for all of us, but there is a sliver of hope at the end, as we hold on although the path is uncertain - this is so expressive! Adding to my Faves~ Norberto Franco Cisneros January 3, 2022 at 9:42 PM Thank you very much Michelle.

Lunita Blanca March 22, 2021 at 9:02 AM Oh my goodness Norberto. Wonderful similes and metaphors that project our feelings. Norberto Franco Cisneros January 3, 2022 at 9:44 PM Thank you Lunita,very much appreciate your thoughts on my efforts.