by Christopher Luke

Created on: November 24, 2011

Life is full of surprises,
One never knows what lurks around the corner,
Each day brings with it unexpected events
And chance meetings with those one did not expect to meet or see.

Life is full of manoeuvrings,
Some taking one sideways either to the left or to the right,
Others pulling one back to arguably happier times in one’s past,
And others still dragging one reluctantly out of the safety zone of the present

Into the future of a life as yet unlived and unknown.

One never knows what lies beyond the horizon,
Save that the two things certain in life are death and taxes,
Both of which one feels bound to pay
Not unlike a debt imposed by some form of eternal creditor
As one’s price for experiencing the here and now
And hopefully, in time, securing access to a better world to come.

Every day, although unique in its own way,
Appears to have a similar beginning and ending  to the last,
In having a time one rises from one’s pit
And a time when one returns to one’s bed or hole,
To sleep for however long or short it may be
Before one wakes again to greet the challenges of a new day.

Life is full of surprises,
Some pleasant, others less appealing to the eye
Or restful to the vexed soul,
Which accompany one like a piece of unwanted baggage
Each passing hour of the day,
And is left unclaimed by others
Not unlike a can of beans past its sell-by date on a supermarket shelf.

Often as I walk into work alone at night
I wonder if there is an alternative route on life’s journey to that which I’m taking
But, though I may pass many side roads on my way,
I lack the courage to take them and explore them,
Fearful that something worse may supplement or supersede
The all-too-familiar and oft-unfulfilling present,
Masked only by the shadows of things unseen under the moonlight
Which become more visible and unattractive
Under the light of the midday sun.

Learn more about this author, Christopher Luke.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.