Poems by Paul Hayward

Life is like a journey on the number 24 bus,
So welcome aboard, young one; come, sit here with the rest of us.
Let's hope you're going to be on here for more than just a while.
Look out of the window, young one, and enjoy every single mile.

Embrace each milestone, young one, each stop along the way.
Immerse yourself in childhood, each innocent, lovely day.
Think nothing of the future, of the long road up ahead.
Live each second, each minute, each turn of the wheel instead.

Don't pace the aisle, young one, yearning for miles to pass,
Until you reach the terminus when finally at last,
That day is here, the day for which you've really always strived,
The perfect day you've longed for when you've finally arrived.

Maybe the end of school days or the day of graduation,
That's when you'll be happy, when you arrive at that station,
So roll on the miles until that blessed day.
That's when life will come together; that's when you'll make hay.

Or maybe it's when you meet "the one," when you settle down.
Yes, that's the time to celebrate when you reach that town.
Or maybe life won't really start until a family comes along,
Or is to pray for retirement so really, very wrong?

The journey will be sad at times, for stops will come along,
When those we love will get off; at times we must stay strong,
As we carry on without them, as they pass the baton on,
But they are there outside the bus; they're never really gone.

So gazing out the windscreen up front at the road as it bends,
Don't think about tomorrow, wondering where the journey ends.
Instead, look for today's colors, those shades of greenery,
Of all the hues along life's road, the breathtaking scenery.

Don't miss them, young one, planning for the destination.
This bus will not reverse again once it reaches the final station.

A Walk Through Life

Join me on my walk won't you?
For the sun is breaking through,
The day's begun like life itself,
All fresh and green and new.

"Yes today I'll walk along with you,
But my mind is set ahead,
By 10am we should be here,
A mark on the map in red.

And then by lunch the little church,
And shortly after two,
We'll stop at an inn, "The Golden Hart"
I'll buy a pint for you.

The walk gets hard before the copse,
We should be there by four,
Then down the hill and on firm ground,
From there it's not much more.

And then our destination
Will be something to behold
To sit and rest and contemplate
And our day can be retold"

Relax won't you, enjoy the walk,
There's joy in the here and there,
Don't spend this day with onward thoughts,
But stop.. and stand.. and stare.

Delight in each turn on the wooded lane,
See the light dappled road up ahead,
Be engulfed by the oak's ancient story,
May your eyes by the swallow be led

Be complete in the moment about you,
Be a part of the natural chain,
Be carried along on the summer breeze,
And await its return once again

Like life it's nice to have a plan,
But you might have to deviate,
If a path takes us somewhere off our course,
Relax and adapt and be late!

For we should see what's up ahead,
If that's what fate dictates,
Be bold, enquire, investigate,
For a lesson in life awaits.

And of course we must be prepared
Along our walk today,
For clouds to hide the sunshine,
For rain to blight the day.

For just like life, a challenge,
When things just don't go right,
Our day may turn to darkness,
Our life may turn to night.

So approach the stiles with caution,
Life's obstacles the same,
Clear them and regain your poise,
Let's enjoy the walk again.

Come on the day is calling,
Let's wait no more to see,
The glory of the morning,
The stream and willow tree,
The vista 'neath the blue sky,
To behold time and again,
The sun kissed meadow flowers,
The house at the end of the lane,
The squirrel's busy dealings,
The bluebells in the wood,
Be thankful for this beauty,
And know that life is good.

Yes we'll stop for a drink at some point,
But with the sounds and the sights so rife,
Let's remember this moment always,
This wonderful day in your life.