if I cannot see
the road I take; fate smiles at
fading destiny
I think every one of us, at one time or the other, and maybe even as we’re reading this post, feel caught in the finely woven net of time. Absorbed in our goals, we hardly notice it fly past us in our life’s journey. Time is our tormenter-in-chief when we relax a little and our favorite guide when it comes in our favor.
I remember at one point of time, twenty years before to be precise; I had an aversion to poetry. It didn’t make sense to me. Sure, it sounded nice with all that rhyme, but I didn’t understand it much. I think my journey to whoever I am as a writer today began at that time. They say a poet is a philosopher too, so maybe that’s why I had an instant attraction to the poem, Leisure by W. H. Davies. It was part of my fifth grade English text, and though it wasn’t part of the syllabus, I just understood that easily, and I was so taken by the truth and wisdom in that poem.
What use is our life if we spend it so chained by time that we can’t enjoy the little things in life? If we can’t breathe free for a while, how can we know if we’re breathing? Can we feel the difference? Can we know what an innocent laugh sounds like if we don’t even have the time to listen to a baby’s laughter? Or see his/her adorable tantrums? Can we really admire life if we can’t even stand a while and look at our garden, at the flowers blooming there without plucking them and the butterflies and bees that come to it? Being happy and involved with our goals is good, but not at the expense of losing the opportunity to see how we’re traveling. If we never have to come back through that road again, we’d have missed something priceless, invaluable.
The poem Leisure is my favorite poem for that very reason. And it’s written in my heart where I can remember it if I go too fast.
NithVarma had suggested my page, Inspire My Art, “You can try writing a tribute to the poet/poem who/which has inspired you a lot!”
- so, glad to say, “Art – inspired, and painted”.
For the inspirations given by Haiku Heights (#109.Fate) and Haiku My Heart.
(March 2nd, 2012)
Well, my Haiku My Heart post today says many of the same things in a different way. It’s that time between birth and death that we might miss if we don’t pay attention. I echo your sentiments.
Peace to you. Peace to all
Spadoman: Peace to you too, my friend. I’ll be coming by your circle today
And will leave a message too! Cheers and have a happy weekend!
This is almost a backward/forward poem: You look ahead, you look back, but here you are!
Cemetery Fence
Magical Mystical Teacher: Yes
so true, and weird in a way! Present is never opened as it is I feel. 
Thank you!
Wow! i think you had an a major ‘growth spurt’ ~ just concentrate on your breathing ~ this will always bring you back to ‘Now” ~ enjoy ~namaste, Carol (A Creative Harbor)
Carol: Breathing deep does get me back to the present, but in the end, most of us do look only ahead, me included! I hope the growth happens in its own pace, then it’ll be enjoyable
Thank you and namaste~!
Very thought provoking haiku. I’ll keep my eyes upon the road. Thanks for sharing.
Helen: Thanks, and glad you liked it, found it thought-provoking! Cheers and happy weekend!
i love your thoughtful musings and agree with your beautiful tribute to living life fully, moment by moment.
Rebecca: Yes, we should be, moment by moment! But not always caught up with what is in front that you are blind to what is around you too! Thank you for loving my poem and musings, and for your kind words!
Beautiful post…. and yes, an excellent poem…
Janhvi: Thanks for liking my post, and yes, that poem, Leisure is quite an excellent one indeed!
I am not familiar with the poem you mention but I will Google it. I love your haiku and can certainly identify with your musings about time.
Fran: I had missed the hyperlink, but I’ve done so now. Glad you liked the haiku! Thank you very much
This is beautifully said…fading destiny…a bit melancholic… I like reading you Leo..
Rameshji: Yes, it is sort of melancholic, but I find it to be true.if we dont see whats around us when we’re walking, we’ll end up where we don’t want to, than where we were meant to, right?
I like reading you too, and I was actually at your space itself when the notification came that you were here! 
Cheers & happy weekend!
Ah, destiny is a strange road, indeed. Nicely put.
Anthony sir: Yes, quite strange indeed, sir! Thank you
Nice one Leo.
Kris: Thanks!
I think we are in charge of our own destiny, and your haiku illustrates that well!
Karen: Thank you
You’ve brought up a lot of things I’ve been pondering lately. Lovely poem and powerful words.
Geraldine: Thanks
Glad you liked it!
Aah that poem was part of my syllabus when I was young too! I still remember that picture of a boy under the bough. At that time ‘stand and stare’ used to be such a common thing…who cared what we did! Now…of course everything.is different.
Going back to read the poem again this very minute.
Antara: “When I was young too”?
Yeesh, you sound like you aged ten years in a minute 
LOL! Glad you liked the post. The poem is in the link itself 
Oy
good to be one or act like one even when I am not 
ah well i don’t mind being called a kid though.
there you go I am reading it again now
Antara: Happy Reading
Very nice reflections…I have taken different roads in the last few years and some feels like my destiny is fading ~
Thanks for sharing this ~
Grace: Ah, maybe we can rewrite it when it fades too! Glad you liked my words! Cheers!
Delightful thoughts complementing this beautiful haiku! Destiny has a habit of fading beyond reach if all we do is live by suffocating schedules!
Gemma: Indeed so, for we don’t appreciate the path I think. Glad you liked the accompanying thoughts too! Cheers!
how does destiny fade?
senryu of lost soldiers
Zongrik: If you don’t look where you’re going, you end up where you dont want to, right?
Ahh, I wonder if we can ahead of destiny – what would we do different, if anything. Nice Haiku combined into a Haibun.
Becca: I wonder too, perhaps we can, perhaps not! Don’t think we’d do anything different, maybe just try to enjoy what we’re doing more!
Thanks for the praise!
Fading destiny…sometimes I think that is what is happening to me… nice work
Susie: I think that it happens to me a lot! Thanks!
I was reading your post- truly, we rush through life so bluntly sometimes, we miss the finer things- but that is also one thing a Poet/Artist will understand most i think.Many times, many do feel deeply about life- some such individuals who are very sensitive, go on to become Poets/Artists.I think that is the grandeur of Poetry.It cleanses the heart from within.
Yajnaa: A poet does look at the finer things I guess
Because that’s what brings us inspiration and like you said, cleanses the heart! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts! 
Welcome!
Wonderful post, and so true! Thanks for the reminder, we all need to be remind of this sometimes. I will remember today, look around, pause and enjoy!
Marit: Thanks, and do have a fantastic weekend
So true. I like the poem and your haiku.
Tigerbrite: Thanks!
glad you liked both!
Really enjoyed your haiku and your narrative afterwards too…thanks for sharing. I couldn’t live without time to stand and stare!
Bodhirose: Neither could I. I would need some time to relax, and see what’s around me, than just go blind
Glad you enjoyed the haiku and narrative! Thanks!
so true leo. Goals and aspirations are fine but if dont enjoy our JOURNEY towards them, it is wasted.
oh how i wish i could once again enjoy all those little things too… but fate can be cruel… by taking away the time that you love.
beautiful Haiku, beautiful post
PS: I love babies
and butterflies too 
and you already know i talk with trees in my garden 
Kirti: Yes, time goes away fast and we can’t help that
but we definitely should enjoy the journey.
PS: Say hi to Derek