Willing and ready

Make yourself as a charioteer

Day 7 of 30 Days of Poetry, Autumn 2024

Today’s word is ready but
it isn’t a question.
There is no try, only do.
Make yourself, rather, a
as a charioteer, with 
control
confidence 
willpower:
You will emerge victorious.
Ignore the cavernous worries:
hold fast to focus,
determination 
the track of life.
Be full with its
winding turns 
and detours. 
To be ready, you need only
your audacity, 
discipline, tools, 
steering pursuit forward
in an orderly approach. 
Have an open heart but
don’t be dragged under by it.
A charioteer knows her
destination and the best
route to it. She trusts her 
horses, and the impulse
her body makes to 
lean, dodge, pass. 
When distraction muses 
lure you to the rocks, 
remember fear
wants you to fail:
courage knows you better.
Dive into the dusty river 
and flow. Ready makes
willing the hospitable
spirit,  carrying you 
through to clover.

---

Today’s poem comes from my friend Becky’s word “Ready!” Becky was my mentor at my job in the garden center this summer and no better word describes her than the word!

This prompt, however, came out of my Tuesday evening writing group (yes you can join), led by

Frances Story

. The prompt was to select a card from a tarot card deck. “If this card were a compass toward your future, would it be accurate or a totally off base?” This poem is a the result of my 10 minute writing time (with some editing) after I selected the card “the Chariot” (upright).

My writing life was on my mind as I started writing about this card’s qualities, but the response expanded to anything that requires focus and discipline.

Thanks the eternal support I get from my writing group friends, especially

Stephen Hill

who poked me this morning about posting. XO

Hugs to Becky and Go Packers!

Thanks again for stopping by!