Voyage of the Optimists

This is probably one of my best poems from the particular transitional period between the first and second years of uni. I was glad that a poem about how I perceived the social lives and progress of those surrounding me compared to my own, which could so easily have turned out with quite a bitter tone, didn't.

The rhythm of the poem, as well as the theme of divergent voyages, owes a lot to Philip Larkin's The North Ship, which I remembered from college.

Oh, and for the record, of course I didn't mean to suggest that my friends had it easy. I wasn't stupid! It was all just my perspective.

VOYAGE OF THE OPTIMISTS

We dream of making our escape

Every day, it seems to me

Another situation calls

Another opportunity.

‘‘Live out your life, reach for the stars’’

This wisdom echoes in my ears

I’m not allowed to fear the time

The rapid passing of the years

‘‘Why worry? Over that far hill

Lies money, happiness, and hope’’

I know that, friends, but wait a while

At this pace I can barely cope.

‘‘But life moves on with growing speed

And we must not get left behind

Just one more river to be crossed

There’ll be a treasure we can find.’’

A while ago I stopped to think

About what life might have in store

When I looked up, my friends had gone

Far off upon a distant shore.

I cannot catch up now, because

They tread a path that’s far too steep

No further use in hurrying

At night I find the time to sleep.

I see their shadows now and then

Moving many miles away

A world so changed from years gone by

When as children we would play.

‘‘It won’t be long before we reach

The goal for which we’ve searched and strived

The journey’s end is getting close

And there we’ll rest with happy lives.’’

They’re right, of course, we all must find

The end of our exhausting roads

And when at last we stop to breathe

Eternal rest will lift our loads.

I dream of making my escape

Every day, from this journey

But time won’t wait – each fatal breath

Is my lost opportunity.

Thanks to: Coldplay for The Escapist, America for The Border, Philip Larkin for The North Ship, The Police for Synchronicity II, and Queen for Lost Opportunity.