Guideposts Poems | Examples

Kindness is the way

in a world of bitterness and hate
look for the signs of compassion
and make those your guideposts

Ode to a True Poet - Apr 6

O’ Pat Pattison, you, my brilliant teacher,
I would shower in praises, had you not
taught me better! for cliches void of thought
are as worthwhile as a couch surfin’ moocher!

O’ masterful and deepest sort of creature,
shocked then, in the thrall of churning wounds, distraught
I found your grace—and for my breaking clot
you gave me poetry, this soothing suture. 

Trochees and iambs, blank verse, Shakespear’s form—
you illuminated a path obscure
to my sight. The subtle rhythms and rhymes
you used as guideposts through a ruthless storm
are now the tools that fix me fast,—secure. 
I’d take your class again a million times.

WHEN I DREAM

I wander a vast desert
Emotions chasing like shadows
No sand, no cactus in sight
Only rivers climbing uphill.

I run, drawn by distant guideposts
Haunted by familiar voices, yet strange 
Their kindness masks something darker
A lullaby that feels monstrous, yet strangely safe.

Like a wild cow on the loose
I circle the same worn path
No matter how far I run
I end up right where I began.

When I finally wake
The dream fades, slipping away like salt in water 
Only the sweat on my palms remains
And the echoes of racing thoughts I can’t outrun.

Lock Step

Will is the executive … 
 intellect advisor
Choice as a marriage
the two must condone

Committed and daunting
with guideposts of knowledge
Marching in tandem
— pursuing the truth

(Dreamsleep: April, 2024)

Navigating Through Life

Your journey
        though life begins
            with your
                very first breath.

Exploring your world
        hand to mouth,
            you test
                boundaries.

Skirting
        obstacles
            encountered,
                you look for detours.

There are guideposts,
        but
            free will; chooses your path.

Parameters

Life . . . and of course, living it, requires
    Some freedom with few constraints.
As energy is bound by time and space,
    Along with the will of many saints.

From the macro to the micro, the 
    Guideposts are sought as we learn to behave.
While the tunnel between material and spiritual,
    Focuses visions that are often concave.

This reality is fed by observation,
    Yet imagination often adds to the mix.
Where our curiosity may be satisfied quickly,
    Building upon foundations with new bricks.

Even though the limits seem rarely accessible,
    Our nature looks for any loophole to find.
Since the only boundary that has escaped
    Beyond . . . is that of the human mind.

Lampstands

We in are in a time of darkness,
A season of sorrow and regret.
Like a great fish caught in a current 
Rife with unexpected, opposing tides.
All are tossed ever farther 
from lives all hoped to access. 

Striving against this typhoon of violence
Perhaps our hope is bereft?
As this devouring night surrounds, 
No egress to safely accessed.

Losing strength, all fight this unyielding tide.
Vainly seeking the shore.
Loss and grief are everywhere
With no light, they can find no haven.
They are lost within this black storm.


My Bride I have chosen you to be guideposts
Given a specific task to play.
In one hand hold high the gracious lamp
Filled with Holy Oil stored for this day.
Climb high upon the rocks
Light the wicks to combat war’s fray.

Now the Holy One commands the light stands to light!
Making the darkness fall away.
The path is narrow, the way is hard
“Bride of Christ, light your lamps 
Save all that you can on this – 
The End of Days!”

God’s promises are everlasting
Christ commanded us to not lose even one.
So, My Chosen, light the lanterns, 
the Bridegroom’s feast awaits.

Rejection Selection

If I have to receive rejections, you would think I could at least get the kind of rejection slips that I would like to get. Here are a few rejections that I haven't received. Yet.

"Unpalatable!" --Gourmet
"Try our Fiction Department." --True Story
"Too padded. Trim it down." --Weight Watcher
"No! No! No!--Positive Living Magazine
"Sorry!" --Good News Magazine
"Indigestible!" --Reader's Digest
"You've missed the mark!" --Guideposts
"Doesn't suit our needs." --Gentlemen's Quarterly
"Out of step." --Military Review
"Clean it up!" --Good Housekeeping
"Not relative." --Family Circle
"Not our style." --Glamour

Love Shines

Love Shines

Love shines in unclaimed shadows
Of tarnished souls like polished platinum,
Like burnished bronze in solid darkness –
A golden lantern of serene solitude –
With luster of the eternal living star
In the moment when time takes a blinded breath
Re-igniting fireflies of solar milestones,
Glowing guideposts,
Leads to gates of pure illuminated paradise
In unchained brilliance,
In exploding bits of fireworks
Like radiant celestial fireflies
To shine upon the shades of darkness battles
Exposing hidden hearts of cunning
In silver sterling healing –
Gift of the pale moon’s melody serenade 
Love shines.

4/16/21
Contest: Shine Prompt
Sponsor: Constance La France

The Elders

Stories - faces aglow,
the "old ones" sharing 
life's lessons.
Tales of the past,
guideposts in life,
before we all knew more
than those who came before
"our perfection".

With a Tremulous Sigh

The lad looked up at the sky with a tremulous sigh
   Why is man born and why must he die?

He gazed at the stars, dazzling guideposts of night
   With arms outstretched toward their flickering light

He looked out over the sea, its waters so blue and so deep
   Understanding that a promise once made is a promise to keep

Starry Sonnet

As guideposts in the sky to light the way
the heavens’ stars assist our human sight.
Big Dipper asterism holds its sway
in northern Ursa Major shining bright.
When sets the evening sun on earthly cares,
the darkest nights with stellar beams will glow,
regardless of terrestrial affairs,
in spectacle of grand celestial show.
But time will tell and truth be told at last
once all is reckoned from our mortal lives
what future we’ll create from troubled past
to be recorded in the vast archives.
   For constant stars above seem not to mind
   the vagaries below of humankind.


~ Harley White

Raging Fires

As chill winds blow 
through the town 
  The inhabitants trudge homeward
Through snow and ice 
   they trudge 
Their faces ruddy from the weather 
At the end of their journey 
    they will come home 
to a roaring fireplace 
    However ferocious the storm
The travelers know that 
   warmth waits at journey's end! 
Take heart! 
When life's storms buffer you 
Learn that love and kindness 
   are the guideposts 
which will lead you through 
life's storms 
However wicked such storms can be

Travels In Time

We travel through time like ghosts
Transparently moving through its guideposts

Vessels Journey

Born a soul into a vessel of life
Innocent and pure a spirit riding its ship
The maiden voyage launches without major strife
Where will it guide ones wondrous trip?

The path of night or path of day?
Traveling along every twist and turn
Is it the path where all its dreams lay?
For what end destiny does the heart yearn?

Guiding forces often push one down unintended trail
Heavy burdens carried on vessel’s back
Guideposts and lurking shadows do not avail
Waiting weather and hidden beasts do attack

Sherpas help keep vessels moving along
Opening canopy signals the right way
Guiding vessel toward the summit where it does belong
Vistas become available with the light of day

All senses absorb the astounding view
Site, sound and touch are at their peak
Framed portraits both old and new
While embracing the ultimate destination you seek

By: Richard J. Long 
December 2011
What has Nature to teach us in regards to the Soul?

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