I write fiction about hopefulness and determination. About heroines who punch through extraordinary situations and obstacles, one step at a time.
Today I’m really pleased to turn my blog over to a friend of mine, Graeme Kneale. He writes fantasy and science fiction prose and biting poetry, this is his latest work.
Small Steps Forward
Trapped in a cyclone
A never ending storm
Of thoughts and imprisoning fears
My mental self feels torn
It’s just one step so
Why can’t I take it boldly
Why have all these cares
One foot in front of the other
Moving to a future almost coldly
Trying to hold against the stares
Okay so I make mistakes
A black belted master of epic fail
But sometimes it feels karma asks too much
Where once I was strong as rock now I feel just shale
I fear by moving forward sometimes
That I’m betraying things past
And what’s the point in seeing dreams in the light
When life rips them away so fast It’s like being shown the jackpot
When you only won the consolation prize
You know to see it brings more pain
And yet you can’t avert your eyes
Stuck with so many questions
Who, what, when, where or why
Imprisoned behind fears and indecisions
As time relentlessly passes by
It’s like the road in front is deathly darkest black
And I’m trying to drive while looking behind
Frightened by all the might be’s that may come to pass
But I know I can’t stay here much longer
Cause I start to feel like a shade
Passing through an existence neither alive nor dead
As the sun ticks by the days
So I guess I better do something
Cause I don’t want to fade
Put one foot in front of the other till I’m off the plank
And swallowed into the unknown waves
Stop looking behind myself and swim like hell for the shore
Cause it isn’t till we build a tomorrow
That we are safe from the pains that have come before
Sunrise by nigelhowe on Flickr (cc)
GAK 2013.
Thank you Graeme!
What do you think? Do you agree it’s too easy to trap ourselves in a mental cyclone. Too easy to let fears, doubts and regrets hold us in a place we don’t want to be. I know it doesn’t matter how big I dream, if I don’t take one small step after the other I won’t reach my goals.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments 🙂
Kim Cleary 
Hey Kimmie and Graeme,
I’m useless at poetry. I always get stuck even trying to read it (how It should be read). I liked this though. I understood it. I felt it. I, personally, am forever swimming like hell for the shore. Been doing it all my life! Great descriptions for how, I think, we all feel at various times in our tumultuous lives.
Thanks Jenny 🙂 Graeme writes great emotive poetry, I will pass on your comments.
Ok, what does it say about my personality and background that I summed this up with Dory in my head saying, “Just keep swimming…just keep swimming…”
Hi Rhenna 🙂 Who doesn’t love Dory!! I think “just keep swimming” equates to small steps, hopefully not in circles 😛
i need to find the courage to start living my dream, instead of chasing it. great poem kim
Thanks Troy 🙂 I’ll let Graeme know you stopped by 🙂
I used to feel unworthy of my dreams. Over the last two years or so, though, I have been claiming my right to them. And I have done it all with tiny little dancing steps.
I love the thought of tiny little dancing steps getting you to your dreams Shan 🙂 We are all worthy of our dreams 🙂