New Classic Poems – Contemporary Verse That Rhymes

New Classic Poems
Then and Now
The Voyage
Bob Stampe
When I was young I knew a man. He'd spent his life at sea.
Retired to dream of glories past, one day he said to me,
"I see you as a thoughtful lad. It's soon you'll be a man.
Will you be ready when you're called to be the best you can
"Some say life's but a voyage, and we each a sailing ship;
that fate controls our rudder as we cast off on our trip.
They say our destination is prescribed on life's passport,
and that our course is programmed in before we leave home port.
"They're wrong my boy, what's more they're fools, if that's their strategy.
We must stay in control of craft, or lose our ship at sea.
Why do our vessels have a wheel, if not to demonstrate
that we must guide it to that place where destiny awaits
"We know not what awaits us as we clear the harbor wall.
If we are keen and vigilant, the worst we can forestall.
Although our mast is tall and strong; our rigging stretched and tight,
we must be steady at the helm, our vision kept in sight.
"There will be little warning when the storm surrounds your ship;
the tumult that we all must face at some point on our trip.
You'll waver, doubt, and question, as the tempest takes control,
your ship careening wildly to the rocks of nearing shoal.
"It's then you must look deep within to lessons you've been taught.
If you're to stay on kismet's path, to falter you cannot.
With skill and strength of heart you must take hold of spinning wheel,
and take command to bring your vessel back on even keel.
"If you are going to make it to your destiny's home port,
you need to be determined to provide your ship support.
With God to guide you, you must be the rudder of your fate,
And if you're strong and steady, you'll arrive at fortune's gate."
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