Writing “life lessons” poems is one of the ways I connect with and learn from life. They help me move myself through the inevitable ups and downs with as much grace as possible. And what better way to find grace than in the words of a poem? Thank you for gracing me with your presence here, and don’t forget to send a request my way before using my life lessons poems. (Please include full copyright information on every copy. For internet use, a link back to the poem on this site is required.)
FINDING THE POEM YOU WANT: As you scroll through this section, read each snippet sample (usually the first four lines) to get a feel for the poem. When you find something you like, click “CONTINUE READING” to view the entire poem.
A new train chugging round the bend,
I wish I knew where it would end.
So much momentum, smoke and steel,
unstoppable from stack to wheel.
Don’t speak Dutch to an Englishman
to tell him how you feel.
Use words that he can understand
to show your love is real.
Every day is worth its weight.
The years pass on, and soon or late
your fields will grow up gold and tall
or fade away to naught at all.
Happy is as happy does.
The focus rests on you.
When things go south, you make or break
your chosen point of view.
Just when I think that I can see
all of the angles that are me,
another flashes into view
and makes me question what I knew.
In the mind or in the meadow,
we must find our starry night.
From the green hills or the ghetto,
we are moved to set things right.
Moths are drawn to light
and so am I,
wings awave against
the darkened sky.
Free to fly yet
bound by naked need,
anchored to a source
I won’t concede.
We make of Life an enemy or friend,
depending on our hospitality…
our choice to welcome Her or let Her be,
our right to denigrate or to defend.