The Future Beckons (Poetry)

We’re sailing off into the night
by crescent moon and lantern light
the fish are shoaling keen to dine
they search the waters for a sign
small crumbs of hope kind hands have cast
suggest poor charity holds fast

Our boat is frail, the ocean’s calm
the present darkness veiling harm
oars dipping deep into each wave
our compass true, hearts beating brave
despite there is no guarantee
the promised land’s beyond this sea

Our destination is unknown
we go wherever we are blown
the winds of change pick up at will
the currents tug and worry still
we pray we’ll miss the deadly reef
and thus be spared the pangs of grief

Each dawn we stare into the blue
and wonder how the old seems new
that life behind us falls away
we sail across another day
the future beckons bold and bright
all past horizons dulled tonight ...

One has faith while one has doubt
and there are times these cancel out
we hang on to our childlike dreams
have no real clues to what life means
so build our boat and climb right in
we’ll either float, or sink, or swim