Taking Aim

It starts as a thought,
a troubling notion far out 
on the extremes of distance 
making room for a lifetime 
to occupy the intervening space.

Seasons come and go - 
wildflowers ripple colour 
across wide open plains
and inland rivers exhaust 
into a shimmering heat haze
beneath an outback sun.
Fruits ripen and vines rush
to swell their sweet bounty
before the savagery of frost.

Love blossoms, grows, matures
into a silence, gathering all
that has been spoken
into an offering to transcendence.
Candles are lit in the crevices
of the soul.

It comes finally,
swallowing distance -
a whole lifetime - 
and you stand paralysed
within your own sense of being,
powerless in the cross-hairs 
of its sure aim.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

Poem

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Rhymes Avatar
September 11, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Paul, Just wanted to compliment you on your poetry and insights into life and living. Thank you. Thomas Lee Rhymes
Rodrigues Avatar
August 19, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Congrats on POTD! Well done!
Willason Avatar
August 31, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Hi Kim, A bit late in my reply..apologies...many thanks for yr comment. Paul
La France Avatar
August 15, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Paul, wonderfully penned and congratulations on receiving the POTD honor ⭐
Willason Avatar
August 31, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Sorry Constance for the delayed reply...thankyou for your kind words. Paul
Alex Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Your poem captures the slow profound realization or life events. The "troubling notion" introduced at the start takes a literal "lifetime" to cross the distance, making its arrival feel destined and monumental. A very grand writing. Congratulations!
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Hi Christuraj....very much appreciate your meditations on the poem....thankyou for taking the time and for your thoughtful comments. Take care, Paul
Nicole Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 7:32 PM
' Seasons come and go. ' They sure do, my dear friend. This is beautiful and tender, all at the same time. Congratulations Paul, on Poem of the Day. My best to you. Hugs, Brandy
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Thoughtful words my dear Brandy...thankyou for your kindness, always a lovely guest. Blessings Paul
Gifford Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Hello Paul, congratulations on your beautiful poem being featured as POTD. An excellent piece and an enjoyable read. Wishing you a wonderful day.
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Hi Zyrool ...many thanks for giving the poem your time and a kind ear. Very much appreciated. Cheers, Paul
M  Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Im not surprised my friend….its a real beauty this one…so worthy and deserving of the accolade of POTD! Congratulations so happy your incredible mind and way with words is being recognised today Paul! Debx
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Another visit from a lovely soul...thankyou dear Deb. Good to know I can still put a line or two together sometimes. Paul
Toney Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Brilliant, Paul. Congratulations on the Poem of the Day!
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Thanks Mark...good to hear from you. Appreciate yr note, Cheers, Paul
Anaya Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 8:27 AM
A pensive poet , my friend, hello Paul, he shares his profound insights on life, yours being so. Yes it comes finally, yet there's more... For now we are inseparable from the universe. Beautiful, soulful, reflections, deeply taken. Congratulations sir on a most deserving POTD! Cheers! 🍾, 🌹
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Thoughtful and sensitive comments dear Anaya...thankyou so much for your kindness. Take care, Paul
Alhemaidy Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 7:29 AM
Hello Paul Willason :-) Congratulations on your beautiful POTD! Have a nice day with best regards ~ AA
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Hi Abdullah, thankyou for taking time to read the poem and for your comments. Indeed valued. Take care, Paul
Gibbons Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 6:13 AM
Hi Paul congratulations on your well deserved POTD ✨🕊️ so enjoyed reading your masterpiece hugzzz friend
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Thanks Dorothy...good to hear from you. Appreciate the visit. Take care, Paul
Seeker Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 4:41 AM
“Candles are lit in the crevices of the soul” ~ deep reflections, a delightful read, warmest congratulations on POTD, Paul.
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Hi US, pleased to hear that the poem whispered...sincere thanks for your lovely comments. So kind. Take care, Paul
Etgen-Baker Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 4:30 AM
wonderful craftsmanship, Paul. I truly enjoy your poetic style and the soft melancholy in this poem about aging...it deeply resonated with me. congrats on your POTD designation--well deserved!
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Thankyou Sara for your lovely comments...pleased to learn that the poem landed softly and was a gentle companion....very much appreciate the feedback on the mood and manner of my poetry. Valued. Take care, Paul
Lawless Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 4:19 AM
after turning 81 and reading this I must steal a quote "Please sir, may I have some more"....not sure if it was the "Artful dodger". beautifully written Paul.
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Here we are in the 80's club and we still write poetry...something is going on. I am sure poetry is a kind of virus that takes hold of the mind and excretes words. Once infected, that's it. Many thanks old friend....keep the faith and feed the virus.
Empress Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Dear Paul, This is such a profound poem, your way with phrasing thoughts is so very concise , and has a maturity to it, which shows you know exactly the right words… I especially loved “ Seasons come and go - wildflowers ripple colour across wide open plains” how deep, philosophical and soulful. Pleasure reading you today… Sending you light always Congratulations on potd
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Hi Ink, moved by your comments...thankyou so much for your supportive observations. Savouring. Such gives an old poet a moment of quiet celebration, that a poem can reach out and make contact in a meaningful way. Honoured to receive your gift of light, your soul has an abundance which shines through. Sincerely valued. Take care... Paul
Rodgers Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 3:27 AM
Hello Paul, I am back to stand and applaud and congratulate you on getting POTD! Blessings, Daniel
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Thanks Daniel
Kavanagh  Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Order has returned to the universe today the sun is back after the eclipse, and you are back with a powerful POTD, I’m also back with big congratulations on the well deserved accolade, cheers David
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Thanks David
Kitchin Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Paul, so beautifully penned. A great journey in your lines from seasonal changes over the years to the end of life that we cannot escape. Congratulations on POTD.
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Hi Tania, sincere thanks for your kind and supportive words. Valued. Take care, Paul
Andresen Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 1:39 AM
- Congratulations on your p.o.t.d., Paul -
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Thankyou Anne-Lise...Good to hear from you. Always a generous soul. Cheers, Paul
bard Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Good day Paul I very much relate to the landscape you describe and I knew before I checked you are an Aussie. I have just travel from Mareeb nth Qld to Adelaide by car . Six thousand kilometres all told . Four days of travel for a five day stay. There is certainly lots of intervening space with feral goats kangaroos feral pigs emus rabbits sheep and cattle 😀. Great poem blessings Douglas
bard Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Hi Douglas. The Australian landscape becomes a part of the soul....has a sense of mystery about it. Your journey sounds epic, The great challenges of distance, endless horizons and flat, open spaces. Many thanks for reading the poem and for your comments. Stay clear of the roos on the road, can make a mess of your car. Cheers mate. Paul
Edmonds  Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Congratulations Paul on having received the honour of Poem of the day for your wonderful write… Beryl
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Thanks Beryl for your congratulatory note...very much appreciated. Good to hearcfrom you. Cheers, Paul
Jones Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 1:04 AM
“ Candles are lit in the crevices of the soul.” I adore this line! Congratulations on your potd honor! Enjoy 🥰
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Hi Karen, pleased to.hear the poem had something to say....very much appreciate your kind words. Take care, Paul
G  Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Hurray! I'm back again to celebrate your poetry gracing POTD with such beauty and talent 🥰 it's wonderful to read your words 😊
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Thanks again LG....so kind.
Kavanagh  Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 1:24 PM
I have just been observing a solar eclipse, 95% totality, and I cannot help but draw analogies with your beautiful existential poem esp the last stanza, I totally get the perspective within your words Paul, and also sense that impending, inexorable, (sure aim), all I do know is life can only be experienced by being alive, so perhaps we’re always alive by our own perception, you will know what I mean by that; it was a pleasure reading you again, and hope you are doing okay, A fave from me too, cheers David!
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Witnessing such a spectacle renews our sense of wonder, connects us to the cyclic rhythms of the cosmos. Envy the opportunity you had to see the show. Many thanks David for your comments...you have a gift for recognising what is playing out just below the words. Always an honoured guest at my table. Take Paul Paul
Rodgers Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Hello Paul, what a rich, luminous world we get to live before the mark is seen. You certainly capture the paradoxical paralysis of watching what was once far off finally take its sure aim. Such sobering work. Blessings, Daniel
Willason Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Hi Daniel, thankyou for your comments. As always, carried with insight and thoughtfulness. Very much value your visits my friend. Cheers Paul
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