STAGGERING AHEAD UPHILL
Squeaky, squashy, mishy, mashy, we go
grabbing that one, pushing this one
Sometimes whiney, sometimes finey, Bro;
Do we take this here crookelly road
appearing to wander all shadey to the right?
Or do we take leftelly path bumpy like Toad?
Then old benty shepherd raised his Crookeye
wavering and weavering overhead
Then and there stilling in glare therebye.
Ol’ Crookeye doth set mind straight ahead
Finding more light just over ridge up yonder
Telling we needs stumbly bumbly up to bed.
We seeking light needs stagger uphill
We seeking light needs crawl straight ahead
We seeking right no turns for thrill.
So pushing, leaning, clutching, keening
all friends in critterly, unfolkly quest
turn not to right or left only up for meaning
For guiding Crookeye doth a glint, a spark
peekeling out from rock and twig and thorn
high on the crest to draw all folk out of dark
Note:Β For learning of Crookeye, refer to December Posts during the time of advent
granbee 
Feb 01, 2012 @ 02:56:48
I think I know Crookeye. Matter of fact, we’re so much alike, I think I’ve found my twin, as we stagger up the hill wavering and weavering up the hill to sit down and rest. Shoot, I’m out of breath. π
Feb 01, 2012 @ 03:02:04
Tots, leave it to you to jump right into the middle of these critters on their quest. Not even a tinsy bit shy, are you? Welcome and march on with us!
Feb 01, 2012 @ 03:39:34
And march, we shall. Just long as these critters know I have to stop every 10 minutes or so to pamper my feet. These dogs are primarily made for getting to the fridge and back to the den to prop in front of my tele set. π
Feb 01, 2012 @ 03:50:44
Tots, if that is all you do with your feet, then what’s the business about looking sexy when you are sick? Do you wear stilletos to go from fridge to couch? If so, you will just have to march in those, my girl!
Feb 01, 2012 @ 05:06:11
I recline in the lazy boy and look like a damsel in slight distress, with the stilettos and hot red lipstick. Wearing a bit of lace helps out too. Also, stilettos are made for primping, not walking. π
Feb 01, 2012 @ 06:12:15
But we ARE walking on our journey, not pushing ANYONE up that hill in that recliner!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 14:39:31
Oh Lordy, Granbee. Why not? LoL!!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 23:45:51
Oh, alright already!!Geesh! But you have to provide the wheels!
Feb 04, 2012 @ 06:52:19
I shall ride the wagon and hold my own parasol. π
Feb 04, 2012 @ 23:20:34
And make sure to bring a lacy fan and smelling salts, okay?
Feb 01, 2012 @ 05:58:01
love your use of onomatopoeia here..it’s all about finding and going the right path…isn’t it..? not always so easy though…enjoyed your poem..
Feb 01, 2012 @ 06:14:24
onomatopoeia–a most useful word to describe the explicit and implicitg uses of the words “right” and “left” on this day of the Florida primaries, right? No? Oh, I see, you were talking about the squishng and squashing in both physical movements on their roadway AND the similar emotions they were experiencing. Aha! (you guys are so much fun to play word volleyball with!)
Feb 01, 2012 @ 06:21:20
Straight ahead, by the Good Shepherds light.
Not to the left, nor to the right…straight up it is we go.
Great post granbee! π
Feb 02, 2012 @ 01:46:55
Thank you so much for your encouragement, writinggomer! Real Christian online family support it is! Straight into His Light we march!
Feb 01, 2012 @ 06:25:29
I will learn from the best! Today, when my kids go to bed, I want to come back and read it again. I am so happy I decided to stop by your blog when I first did.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 01:48:02
M. you do me such honor, saying you will learn from me! I yearn to help and encourage younger writers, especially young mothers, to be able to continue writing and feel good doing it!
Feb 01, 2012 @ 10:36:28
Granbee, your poems never fail to delight me, and this one is no exception! How wonderful! ~ Julie π
Feb 02, 2012 @ 01:48:45
JulieCath, so pleased you are delighted. How wonderful to know maybe my words provided you some joy! Bless you!
Feb 01, 2012 @ 17:20:52
Why would I want to be anywhere but with these unfolkly critters? The truth is so simple for them unlike this vale of tears we blindly stumble through! Lead on old Crookeye you know the way! Wonderful granbee as ever thank you. xx
Feb 02, 2012 @ 01:50:18
Actually, willowdot, this journey is really not so simple. Didn’t you notice the whining and the struggling and certain indecision at times. However, these critters ARE simpler types of being, praise be, and show us how simpler is better, okay? So pleased to have you with us on this journey.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 00:52:51
Oh, my God, Granbee, this poem is BEAUTIFUL! I’m so excited! I came to my computer with no worries in my head and with my dictionary on hand so that this non-native English speaker could understand the wise message of your beautiful poem! Love it!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 01:51:37
M. wow–you really did come back! Hooray! This tells me you will succeed in your writing goals. Of course, you do realize a lot of my “critter” language is not really in any dictionary. But you can get a close approximation most of the time! Enjoy!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 03:19:50
Onwards and Upwards and straight ahead Granbee… over the bumps! and around the corners.. but always marching forward.. Step by step, and when we fall we are carried.. always…….
Wishing you a Good evening . Love and Blessings.. ~Sue
Feb 02, 2012 @ 03:28:04
So wonderful to know you are on this journey with me and these critterlyfolk! You are truly “with” us, I can see! Love and blessings to you,also,Sue!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 08:54:33
Whew … I am all out of breath … but I will take a little breather before I continue with the next step or crawl forward … inch by inch if necessary!!!
Up and onward we go ~~ π
Feb 02, 2012 @ 23:47:11
Becca my girl, you just lean over from the waist, breathe deeply, peek around to catch that light beam again, and on you go! So glad to have you with us like this.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 12:55:55
“We seeking light needs crawl straight ahead” – YES!!!!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 23:48:03
Hooray for you, dear Betty! I can always count on you to seek the light, no matter what! More than excited to have you aboard.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 12:56:45
Rose! This parade continues and always seems fresh. Unless of course you make the mistake of walking along side one particular float, then the view never changes. This was a fun walk with lots of colors and characters.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 23:49:29
Peter, nobody gets to hang onto just one “float” in this “parade”. What with all the scrambling and pushing and pulling and falling down and helping each other up, the “floats” change constantly. Lead us on with your magic trumpet, Peter!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 15:33:10
With such vivid colors you spread your words across the palette and make a marvelous image of life and humanity. Magical, granbee! Well done!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 23:51:26
VW, I am SO gratified that you see these journeying critterlyfolk as images of life and humanity. This is so critical to the message that seeking peace and light is more than possible for absolutely anyone. Pleased to have you join us with your magic wand!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 18:17:51
I love how your words always refuse to conform to my expectations…and that is truly thought-provoking art. Another winner!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 23:53:54
Plana, I am intrigued that my words βalways refuse to conform to [your] expectations.β I just realized this is exactly what I aspire to do with every reader, because I want to pound the point home that our pre-conceived notions must all be scraped and shredded away if we are the achieve the purpose of our quests for peace and enlightenment.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 01:53:03
Granbee I love the word ‘crookelly’…we are all crookelly on our paths together…and you shine a lovely light from your ‘place’…this is a lovely poem…may you never conform – Love Jane xx
Feb 03, 2012 @ 01:57:16
Jane, thank you so very kindly, dear heart! Actually, it is impossible for me to “conform”, which I finally made peace with when I started writing every day again in late September. So glad it suits you! I am honored! Yes, I also enjoyed that world “crookelly” to express a path not just crooked, not just wrong, but somehow still trying to tempt and attract with diverting charm our friends to turn aside from their babe-given quest.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 17:01:54
magical words π
Feb 04, 2012 @ 00:14:07
Coming from you, this is a high compliment indeed. Thank you! I am really enjoying your site, which is pure magic for me!
Feb 04, 2012 @ 01:35:02
awwwwwww…….. thax dear……… π hugs*
Feb 04, 2012 @ 01:39:31
Hugs right back at your, dear girl!
Feb 06, 2012 @ 10:22:50
Granbee, this tells me to keep focused on the light. Stay away from the darkness that awaits. No matter the thrill. Not to go left or right when we can continue straight ahead. Sometimes we tend to get ourselves in trouble by choosing our own path. Well, Granbee this was my vision of Staggering Uphill…After all that struggling uphill, I choose the smooth path. Love you Granbee…Hugs
Feb 06, 2012 @ 23:24:01
Shenine, you seem to have joined us going uphill, straight ahead into the Light quite successfully. So pleased to have you join us here on this part of our journey! Thank you so much for your most thoughtful feedback. I will just caution you that smooth paths are sometimes deceiving. Sometimes, we must go a little way over some rocky paths and just skip over the rough places with the joy of the Holy Spirit in our hearts!
Feb 06, 2012 @ 19:46:38
Crookeye speaks volumes… love that name. π
Feb 06, 2012 @ 23:26:16
If you go back to the Advent period in 2011 when this series was near its beginning on my blog, you will see that the Crookeye is the all-seeing eye mounted on top of the blind Old Sheperd’s shepherding crook. Of course, at this point on out journey, Crookeye is also able to see around corners, about barriers, and help all the “friends (none of whom can see very well just yet) ever onward to the Light.
Feb 07, 2012 @ 02:26:32
‘…a glint, a spark
peekeling out from rock and twig and thorn
high on the crest to draw all folk out of dark.’
Follow that shepherd…he knows the way!
Feb 07, 2012 @ 02:52:05
Yes, follow the βeyeβ that sees the Light. Thanks so much, bardess! Bless you for your insights always!
Feb 07, 2012 @ 03:24:52
I really like how imaginative and playful you are with language. From “crookelly” and “leftelly” to “mishy mashy” you really have a way of choosing and creating words that have great sound and meaning.
Feb 07, 2012 @ 03:27:58
Unbelievably gracious you are to visit my blog so soon after my request at WriteItSideways! I very much appreciate your encouragement to continue with my language inventions. You are quite correct in seeing my intentions for special nuances of meaning by utilizing these invented terms.
Feb 13, 2012 @ 07:23:56
This is delightful! Gotta love that shepherd!
Feb 13, 2012 @ 23:54:33
So pleased to hear of your delight. Yes, this shepherd really “rocks”, doesn’t he?
Feb 15, 2012 @ 22:24:45
I remember Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken π Amazingly, the Crookeye made all the difference π and most of the times we come to this kind of dilemma, thanks to our Master Guide above π
Feb 16, 2012 @ 02:28:54
Joyce, sorry you missed the beginnings of the sage, way back in late November! This Crookeye is the only one of these traveling friends who can actually see! They all totally depend upon each other to keep on going! Bless you for remembering Robert Frost. I know you join me in thanking God for some of the roads neither of us took, right? We must always walk into the light, helping each other along.