RICHARD DOIRON

 

With Inherent Knowing

They stare at the stars

inclined to dreaming and,

even if far removed from that

upon which their gazing,

they yet dare to imagine.

Have you gone with them

on their star-lit walk?

Have you seen the sparkle

and the shine?

Have you heard how sound

travels in those late hours?

An "imaginary" friend in tow

the small child dares to be alive.

Have you heard the chatter?

Have you seen the eyes?

What does that child know

that we have forgotten?

Think.

Unwisely they would curb

the banter who would traipse

but in the noonday sun, afraid

of the dark, while the child,

yet on all fours, left to his wiles,

would dare to explore

a world of possibilities.

Life is for the living

and time is of the essence.

Imbued with inherent knowing

the child creeps and crawls

through those varied hours

assigned to dreaming, oftentimes

to sleep in that noonday sun.

So what for things that go

bump in the night?

We Never Know

We never know what someone's going through,

if now and then conclusions will be drawn -

assessments made, to think we wear that shoe

when, truth be told, it's not the road we're on.

We never know the battle being fought

from day to day, that someone out of sight,

so rare it is, we're giving second thought

to hurdles cleared in fighting such a fight.

We never know the courage that it takes

for some to rise and carry on, at length,

with life alone that's privy to such aches

as will afflict demanding so much strength.

RICHARD DOIRON

RICHARD DOIRON, known as Canada’s peace poet, has had his literary work in print for over 60 years, appearing in hundreds of anthologies, periodicals, and personal books. He is a versatile author, having written novels, biographical works, essays, and lyrics. Doiron holds a degree in journalism and is a Certified Lifeskills Coach. His contributions to poetry have earned him numerous accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from World Poetry and another in 2017 from Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry. In 2019, he was named World Poet Laureate by the Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry group. That same year, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Epitacio Tongohan of the Philippines.