When I look back at the many years of my life when almost every moment of every day was full of appointments, deadlines, and similar obligations, I am amazed that I survived those times and remained relatively sane. So many people, children included, have such micro-managed lives, I wonder if the concept of “free time” still exists.
It concerns me when I hear someone, whether adult or child, say “I’m bored.” That comment tells me that the person saying it has lost (or perhaps never developed) the ability to use their imagination, to entertain themselves, or to simply enjoy doing nothing. Some of my favorite times are those which are unscheduled - times to reminisce or daydream or marvel at the athleticism of squirrels or watch snow fall or simply do nothing. Today’s poem is a bit about that.
GOING NOWHERE
”Where are you going?”
”I don’t know.”
”When will you be back?”
”When I’m done.”
”When will that be?”
”I don’t know.”
I take special pleasure in going nowhere,
in meandering without purpose.
What compels people to ask these questions?
I’m a grown-ass adult not a teenager
with an under-developed frontal lobe unaware of danger.
I find that going on a purposeful walk
in search of something unique
becomes a walk of futility —
almost a job, as I scan my surroundings
in search of special
and see only the mundane —
rocks and waves and wispy clouds —
all nice, but the things of my every day.
I just want to wander and have unexpected things
find me:
~ a dandelion pushing through a crack in the sidewalk
~ diamond-like ice drops atop a dried leaf
~ a lone picnic table snow-frosted like a cake.
Going nowhere I discover things.
Things I’d never find if I was looking for them.
Things that make me say,
”Ah, what have we here?”
Oh, a poem to my heart! Love the writing, but certainly also the message. Aimlessly wandering and finding beauty in the mundane.
Thank you for writing this, Suzanne!
Finding the unexpected when not looking for anything is better than a treasure hunt. Thanks for you kind comment, Arjan.