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Be Amazed

It’s about the beating of a human heart and the roaring power of the sea,

The towering mountains where granite rises,

And massive sequoia trees.

 

It’s the urge to continue on in life,

When everything has failed.

 

The sunrise at the break of dawn,

Or the breaching of a whale.

 

It’s the explosive roar of a northern storm,

That forms out on the cape.

 

And the rumble heard deep within,

As the ground begins to shake.

 

It’s the mighty winds of a hurricane,

Before it’s come ashore.

 

The one last chance you may have squandered,

As love walks out the door.

 

It’s the fear in our life as worries mount,

And the game takes a different path.

The not knowing when the clocks running out,

In the days that you have left.

 

It’s times when you were wrong,

And you wished that you were right,

As reality finally awakens you and your chance to change has taken flight.

 

It’s the howl of a hungry wolf,

In a dark winter night,

The early rise of mallards as they break the morning ice.

 

It’s the moonlit night when the stars so bright lie just beyond your touch,

And the first steps that a child does take once he brushes off life’s dust.

 

It’s the last words spoken by one you loved and the rattle in their chest,

The tears that travel down your face when you lay them down to rest.

 

It’s the morning call of a chanticleer in a barnyard way down south,

Or fresh ice cream being churned and a rusty old farm plow.

 

These things of which I speak to you,

May never ring a bell,

But once you venture through this life,

You’ll be amazed as well.

Johnny Johnston
Johnny Johnstonhttp://www.blufengr-art.com/
An artist/writer as well as graduate of the University of South Carolina with degrees in journalism/20th Century American Literature, and retired senior executive of several international hotel/resort corporations, Johnny is the product of the south having been raised in the ever-changing transient lifestyle of a Carolina coastal resort. A point where he discovered, within his 300-year-old heritage and the world's dramatic social/cultural shifts during the late '60s to early 80’s an ambitious hunger and overwhelming curiosity to touch, see and become a participant in the virtually unlimited possibilities offered to those who wish for and seek life experiences. A journey which when hearing its details initially makes one a bit skeptical, questioning its validity as it is hard to imagine that incidents such as these may have crossed one man’s lifetime. This is the fodder required to step into zones exposing one's personal inner self, which many of his paintings and the words he writes do, openly. An ability to see and hear the tragic, beautiful, accomplished, exciting journey in a life free of inhibitions allowing others the opportunity to live vicariously and become, through his works, a part of its future. His larger works which have been featured in several Colorado and Fredericksburg Texas galleries and resorts have produced a number of collectors and fans. However, over the years, his paintings are mostly viewed by friends, enthusiastic new artist encountered on the streets or a small number of acquaintances he meets when dining in local cafés with his wife.

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26 CONVERSATIONS

    • Never understanding what love means to another is one of the most important components in a relationship as man/woman seems to believe that what they hunger for in their love is all inclusive and that everyone perceives love in the same way. Tragically this isn’t the case as he/she watches, due to ignorance, love walk out the door never understanding the simple solution is not a matter of self but of how ones partner perceives love. There is a great, very short book written by a Dr.Moody called I believe “The Five Love Languages” that explains it all. A simple solution to one of life’s greatest puzzles!

      • Hello Johnny! For some reason I thought of this poem tonigh and came back to read it.. it really is “amazing” When words do this to someone. I just wanted to let you know as I found great comfort in them. I had to tell you! I was also thinking about the song “Amazing Grace”… then I thought of Elvis Presley singing it… and then of bagpipes playing the tune…and usually in times of farewell at funerals. I’ve just been speculating on the actual amazing word itself…and how we use it to describe so many sensational and fundamental moments in our lives…. this all came about as I was just thinking of a post for linkedin tomorrow to simply tell people they are amazing.. so this little Thought journey lead me here! Thank you again for these beautiful words! All the best. Paula!

        • Paula, sorry for just getting back to you. I’m so glad my words touched your spirit the way they have! So often I wonder whether readers simply read a work without looking deeper into it’s meaning. Hearing that you found comfort in this piece lifts my heart and encourages me to keep writing…….

      • Hanging in there. Hazel is in physical therapy and is getting her movement back in the shoulder she broke. Getting more independent because she can now help herself more. All good news. Hopefully, I can start writing again soon.

        • I love your work and look forward to seeing some new piece once she has mended. Give her my best. Broken bones can be very painful. I have 20 screws and 2 plates in my right leg from a skiing accident back in 06. Was on crutches for a year.

          • Ouch! I hesitated giving your remark a thumbs up because that seems inappropriate for such a bad accident. Glad you are better now.

            That’s what complicates Hazel’s recovery. She broke both elbows at different times in the past so she only has 60% of her movement in her left arm and 90% in her right arm. And of course, she broke the right shoulder. But time and the good Lord heal so we are grateful she is doing as well as she is.

            Take care, my friend.

  1. “It’s the urge to continue on in life,
    When everything has failed.”

    This truly is an amazing life!
    What you have written Johnny is a great piece to remind us how amazing life really is.

    Thank you for this! It resonates with me too
    Inspired…

    The hope I lost and then I found
    When in life I hit the ground
    Sent from my soul to my heart
    A mighty kick and jumpstart
    Now I know and do confess
    Life inside of this address
    Is fundamental and divine
    Knowing now, this love is mine
    PaulaG

  2. “But once you venture through this life,
    You’ll be amazed as well.”

    I have been and hope to continue being amazed at this thing called life, Johnny! Looking back through the many decades, I can see how I got here, but still … it’s amazing.

    And you got my tears … my dad and mother died three years and one day apart … March 17 and March 18. So March is a tough month for me.

    Thanks for your words here.

    • Thank you Susan for your kind words about my work. I am sorry for your sadness and understand completely. I two have experienced death far to much as those are some of my earliest memories. The line your speaking of I wrestled with adding as it is referring to my young wife who died in my arms on her 24th birthday of cancer in 1987. But felt that it as well as the many other amazing things I have experienced in my life needed to be included as it remains one of my most powerful and mysterious occurrences in my life.

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