As I sit by the hearth <br />At the close of the day <br />And ponder my life, as it's been, <br />I slowly recall, in my misty minds-eye <br />All the things that I've done and have seen. <br /> <br />Newborn, I would gaze <br />With an innocent eye <br />On the world, then I started to yell, <br />My book, with it's pages all empty and white <br />Awaiting my story to tell. <br /> <br />And soon I'm a boy <br />Doing what all boys do, <br />And more, I'm embarrassed to say, <br />My parents, at times, would be at their wits end <br />If I said that I'm off out to play. <br /> <br />Now I'm in my teens <br />With the hormones in flux, <br />And not knowing how to proceed, <br />A dangerous time, and I made my mistakes, <br />I was foolish, it's true, I concede. <br /> <br />With school quickly over <br />And time to grow up <br />I'm obliged to be paying my way, <br />But it's hard to let go of your freedom, <br />And to slog in the mill every day. <br /> <br />Then soon love has caught me <br />In it's wonderful way, <br />I marry and settle right down, <br />But life has a way of destroying your dreams, <br />And painting you up as a clown. <br /> <br />It's over - so sad <br />But life carries on, <br />I still have my boys, and I'm sane, <br />Then from round the corner appears a new love, <br />I'm happy, and starting again. <br /> <br />Now it's been quite a while <br />Since I met her, <br />More than twenty odd years have rolled by, <br />She knows me so well - I adore her, and <br />Together we'll be 'til we die. <br /> <br />I just hope, as I slide towards heaven, <br />And I disappear into the glow, <br />When that monster called death <br />Comes to burgle my breath <br />I just hope I'll be ready to go. <br /> <br />(Written Oct 2013)<br /><br />John Carter Brown<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ready-to-go-6/
