ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

A challenging set of prompts, Maureen! You're good at it!!

With the deadline fast approaching, I thought I'd try a philosophical approach ...

THE COURSE OF WISDOM
(c) Shelley Hansen 30/9/18

They say Dame Fortune smiles on those who choose the bravest course
or question rules society is eager to enforce.
To take the road less travelled is a matter of a choice
when most lurch in the wake of some authoritative voice.

To stand up and be counted on your own, when all the rest
by popular demand are going east, while you go west,
takes courage of conviction in the course you know is right
when pressure from your peers turns resolution into fight.

So many have been lost to poor decisions made in haste.
A spiral of addiction turns a teenage life to waste.
A lethal highway weapon, driven recklessly and fast
brings unrelenting anguish when the fatal die is cast.

We've all been young and careless, thinking we are ten feet tall -
invincible! We can't imagine we could ever fall.
But then with age comes wisdom, which we wish we could impart
to youths who walk behind us with adventure in their heart.

But each must choose a highway, navigate the roads of life,
and learn by raw experience the safest path through strife.
Your male charisma, female wiles may fade as years fly past -
but choose the course of wisdom, and your dignity will last.

Oh Wow! You nailed it with this one Shelley, the prompts may have been a bit difficult but what great use you have made of them here. Well done you. Most impressive and a good moral in the tale as well

I agree with Maureen

A very well thought out and presented poem.

It was only after reading yours and Maureen's that I realized I was using the wrong prompts, as mentioned to you in my reply to my own poem.

Terry

Thanks Maureen and Terry.

The poem was partly prompted by that recent sad event out your way, Maureen, resulting in a critically injured policeman and two young lives wrecked ... by poor choices and impulsive actions. Very sad, and regrets last a long time.

Cheers
Shelley

That they do - and now we have another young copper fighting for his life as we speak thanks to the actions of 2 numpties aged 15 and 16