Exploration, a Poem

Photo by Andrew Davies

Let’s go on an adventure 

With our suitcases half-packed, 

Leaving just enough room for keepsakes

And the shiny baubles that catch our eyes.

Let’s consume creamy carbonara spaghetti,

Decadent tastes that leave us at the pinnacle of pleasure,

And then stay up into the early morning 

To manifest our dreams.

In Capernaum, we would worship 

With history so deep it seeps into our bones. 

The urge to plunge into unfamiliarity so unnerving 

That we discover our expanding boundaries. 

In all the freshness and novelty,

I can’t help but feel the pressure 

To take the perfect photo,

To chase golden hour for proper lighting,

To candidly smile at the click of the shutter.

But what if we found the greatest pleasure

In soaking in the present

By filling our lungs with sweet oxygen

And rejoicing with gratitude?

Not from the photos 

That permanently freeze time to a single moment,

But from the residual laugh wrinkles on our faces, 

The phone numbers that overflow our contact list, 

The memories that replay in your mind, 

The lifelong friendships we have forged. 

Where in the world would you like to travel to? How do you envision the trip?