Russell's Workshop

Sailing

I sail against the wind
Upon this ship that I must steer
And though the wind blows cold
It cannot fill my heart with fear

I will not turn and let it take me
Where it wants to go
It seeks a darker place
That I indeed already know

Yet still the wind grows stronger
And suggests that I must fail
But I’ve learned to tack against the wind
And let us both prevail

Delta Blue

Reflections

As I begin the final chapter,
Near the page that says ’the end’
The only sadness left
Is leaving those that I call friend

Some have made their peace with life,
And found the harmony
But I know it’s my passing
That will only set me free

Inside me lives a conflict
With no resolution found
And I have grown so weary
Living in its battleground

As my steps begin to falter,
With my sight no longer strong
My only promise kept
Was that I learned to sing His song

Delta Blue

Dark Side

I know I live inside a world

That you don't understand

I really can't explain it

And it wasn't what I'd planned

But life can put you in those days

That you do not desire

Where you must learn those lessons

Only taught inside the fire

I've never let you know me,

I've never let you near

You see I don't give access

To my world of dark and fear

For both our sakes that’s policy

And how it has to be

For you don't want to know what lives

And burns inside of me

Delta Blue

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Comments:

Dan Neumann (Editor): Sailing has such great imagery in it. You pull off the metaphor superbly. The message, to me, seems to be allowing the bad to roll off your back. Perhaps an allusion to forgetting? Or is it forgiving? (Or a bit of both).

Reflections is a solid poem--very familiar to your typical style. I am not sure whether or not the religious statement fits well, though. If the entire poem pointed in that direction, it would be relevant--but I do not see it the way I am reading it right now.

Dark Side is the best out of the three. At first, the poem's meaning has a shotgun effect, covering a few ideas: hardship, regrets, acceptance, wisdom, acting. Then you bring it all together in the last stanza, simply stating, "You wouldn't want to understand such a confusing thing."

I am enjoying your submissions.

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Sigh

Sacrificial servants slain

Monuments to mans disdain

By our silence we sustain

All this sorrow, all this pain

In a world we should deplore

So much need we still ignore

What generation will explore

The road that leads, to no more war

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Comments:

Dan Neumann (Editor): This poem certainly has a rhythmic tone that deems appropriate, considering the topic of the repetition of war. Anyone can appreciate the message here; I certainly wish my generation will end war. The only "Con" I can find here is that you should add an apostrophe after "man" and perhaps omitting the coma after "leads." Amazing poem, as always.

Delta Blue—The Silence

Bad Vision

I have come to grips with all

That I will never be

But I cannot resolve those things

That I will never see

I will never see a world

That learns to love, not hate

And I will never see this world

Consider such a fate

I will never see a world

That hears the people’s plead

Or live to see the day

When no more soldiers have to bleed

Still as I am passing

There’s a hope that lives in me

That someday you will find that world

That I will never see

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Comments:

Dan Neumann (Editor): This piece certainly hits home. It has a deep message to it. No errors I can detect. I hope the same thing, my friend. Though, I doubt it will ever happen in my generation. Still, humanity cannot last much longer like this. After all, who will be the first to shatter the age old paradox, "the only thing we ever learn from history, is that we never learn from history."