.

With Goals in Tow

I’ve fewer days ahead of me
than those I have been blessed to see.
Though time moves on so rapidly,
my hopes sustain.

God still has plans for me, I know.
He’s guiding me as to and fro
I move through life with goals in tow
that never wane.

Have I implied that my mind teems
with brilliant thoughts and sky-high dreams,
that life is bursting at the seams
with nonstop gain?

Not so! My peace and happiness
come from relationships that bless
my life, all through the Lord’s largess.
I can’t complain.

.

.

There’s Much to Be Said for Swings

My porch swing is a special place
where past and present intersect.
While swaying at a peaceful pace,
on days of childhood I reflect.

Where past and present intersect,
with eyes closed I soon drift away.
On days of childhood I reflect.
I see three happy kids at play.

With eyes closed I soon drift away,
I think of yards with rope-held swings.
I see three happy kids at play
on carefree days the summer brings.

I think of yards with rope-held swings
while swaying at a peaceful pace.
On carefree days the summer brings,
my porch swing is a special place.

.

.

Making Adjustments

Goals never sleep; dreams never die.
Though youth may set their goals sky-high,
then find some vows are hard to keep,
dreams never die; goals never sleep.

Needs pass desires along the way,
with work to do and bills to pay.
Much perseverance life requires.
Along the way, needs pass desires.

The wise will make a compromise;
those lofty dreams, they will revise—
not bury, so their hearts won’t break.
A compromise, the wise will make.

.

.

Janice Canerdy is a retired high-school English teacher from Potts Camp, Mississippi. Her works have appeared in several publications, including Society of Classical Poets Journal (and online) Spirit Fire, Light, The Road Not Taken, Lyric, Parody, Bitterroot, Westward Quarterly, Lighten Up Online, Better Than Starbucks, Saturday Evening Post, Encore (journal of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies), The Mississippi Poetry Society Journal, Your Daily Poem, and LIVE (by Gospel Publishing House). Her first book, Expressions of Faith (Christian Faith Publishing), was published in December 2016.

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The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.


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12 Responses

  1. Monty

    I must tell you, Jan, how pleasantly astonished I was to discover the form you’ve used in your third piece. I’ve never before seen such clever and sophisticated play between the first and last lines of stanzas. Have you yourself previously encountered such play in poems you’ve read, or is it entirely of your own origination?

    Reply
    • Janice Canerdy

      THANK YOU for your kind words! This style is called a swap quatrain. I learned of it on Poetry Soup and just fell in love with it!

      Reply
  3. Paul A. Freeman

    Your poems are a privilege to read, Janice.

    Ditto, Monty’s comment on Making Adjustments.

    Reply
    • Janice Canerdy

      THANK YOU so much, Paul. This style is called a swap quatrain. I learned of it on Poetry Soup and just fell in love with it!

      Reply
  4. Yael

    All three of these poems are delightful, each in its own way. They convey an air of tranquility to me, especially the one about swings. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  5. Anna J Arredondo

    Janice,

    Echoing Monty and Paul, I also very much enjoyed the clever reversals in “Making Adjustments.” Not only the fact that you used them, or the uniqueness of the form, but also how precisely it ties in with the title and the insightful message of the poem.

    Reply
    • Janice Canerdy

      Anna, THANK YOU so much for your kind words. This style is called a swap quatrain. I learned of it on Poetry Soup and just fell in love with it!

      Reply
  6. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Janice, I adore pantoums and I love “There’s Much to Be Said for Swings”. A beautiful trio of melodic poetry. Well done!

    Reply

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