Part 1.
In the face of untold devastation from poverty and war
Of pain and suffering and death
How do we keep going?
We keep going by believing that light dispels darkness
And the tiniest spark of a flickering flame
Can transform the world of shadows
For we are the voice of the living and the free
And even when we cannot change the world
We can bear witness to its tragic tales
And when the sorrow threatens to overwhelm us
We stop: to grieve and rage
We pause: to retreat and recover
We rest: until we are ready
To take one more breath of hope
We keep going by trusting that the spirit is strong
Even when the body aches and the heart bleeds
And the mind is bruised and numb
For we are the hands of the willing and the wise
And even the smallest acts of kindness and love
Can make a world of difference to someone
We keep going by seeing that the future is never fixed
And the human bonds we forge and cherish
Are a testament to the miracle of life
Part 2.
In the face of wanton destruction of the living earth
Of poison and pollution and plunder
How do we carry on?
We carry on by knowing that the alternative is collapse
And it is in our coding to protect and create
More than to exploit and destroy
For we are the guardians of the green and the wild
And nature is resilient and endlessly forgiving
If we give her time and space to heal
And when the anxiety threatens to paralyse us
We stop: to breathe and calm down
We pause: to reflect and reset
We rest: until we are ready
To take one more step of faith
We carry on by seeing we have brilliant solutions
Ready to displace the legacy of satanic mills
And the wilful inertia of incumbents
For we are the tenders of the garden of Eden
Believing that as we nourish and nurture its web
The living world can flourish once more
We carry on by trusting that we shape the future
And our children and grandchildren give us courage
To never give up on the miracle of life
Wayne Visser © 2025
Book
Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems
This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.
