The Resting Rock

Early in my senior year, I began to worry about the future and what I would do with the rest of my life. I had no idea what I would do with my degree.

As an English major immersed in literature and poetry studies, I found easy inspiration to write short stories, essays and poetry.

I had been writing alot – not just for the curriculum, but also in my spare time. For one of my classes I had to turn in a journal entry every day, so that kept my writing sharp. The professor encouraged us to experiment with our entries: use them as starting points for upcoming essays, write a few paragraphs of an undeveloped story or theme; write a reflection.

Along with the journal entries, I wrote poetry. This poem “Star-Thoughts” is about the worries, expectations and dreams of the future. I conceived the first line one late night (when and where I don’t recall) looking up at the stars. It’s about what you think about when looking up at the infinite moonless sky and ponder the beauty of it all.

I’m using this as my first blog entry because two of my kids graduated this May. Although my own kids are settled in what they want to do, there were hundreds of graduates in the procession at my son’s graduation. As they walked by me in their caps and gowns, I wondered how many felt as lost as I did at their age.

Here’s how I felt as a 21-year-old. I hope you enjoy it.

Star-Thoughts

Under the black blanket of night, 
spotted with the lint-like stars, 
I sit, listening to the clicking of the crickets, 
not alone, 
but in the company of contemplative thoughts, 
thinking of things which enlighten, frighten, mystify me.

Memories of the past, 
Moments of the present, 
and Possibilities of the future twinkle in my mind
and set my soul upon a quest
to work the world as it's not.

As numerous as the stars are my dreams and hopes; 
the cold ground holds reality
to which the crickets call me back and tell me
here is now, and there are things to be.
Life is living reality.

Time trickles through my fingers
as the sand gets colder, harsher to sit on.
In the East dawns a delicate day of 
expectations realized and crushed, 
opportunities seized and missed. 
Star-thoughts fade and forgot, the day embraced and kissed. 


(c) John Fisher

Photo credit: Greg Rakozy on Unsplash