This poem of mine has been published in the Australian online arts journal Communion:
Ever Onwards
African plains: and a gazelle foal running
flat-out through grassland and river.
Or swallows: recently fledged, soaring
over sea and mountain, contending with
tempest, hawk and marksman.
Townscape now and a man who will always get by:
straight from school to the pit on a boy’s wage;
on to the buildings when it closed; the mill;
then motor mechanic helping the boss
at night with those well-paid ‘specials’.
Now at the wheel of a truck he’s hungry, lost,
peering through rain on his first assignment,
staring into the dark and the dazzling
oncoming lights. But as he likes to say
there’s nothing that he can’t do; nothing.
© John Looker 2017
The latest issue of Communion may be read at:
https://walleahpress.com.au/communion-magazine-current.html
You will find it contains fiction, non-fiction, art, photography, music and (of course) poetry. There are nine other poets; all have been published here and there and several are prize winners or prize nominees. I’ve greatly enjoyed their poems – which are unpretentious but distinguished, and notable for their humanity.
‘Ever Onwards’ is one of a short group of new poems on the theme of looking at Life through people at work.
Poetry from John Looker 
Ah, John. I have known this young man. I have. I have only been to Australia once, but it was a memorable trip with the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium. I am excited to see you published in journals. If anyone deserves that you do. You are a great poet. I say that again.
This is more of a lyric than anything else. It has a biography that stands for a life in it, a narrative that tells a story, but the first stanza gives it a lyric quality that leads to the smile at the end. Your poetry is wonderful.
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By: Thomas Davis on 20 October, 2017
at 14:17
You are extremely kind Tom – thank you. I’m glad you feel you recognise this young man, as I felt him to be someone we may meet anywhere, anytime. I might have guessed your travels would have taken you to Australia!
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By: John Looker on 20 October, 2017
at 14:31
I’d say John this is one of your best– the analogies accumulate force and suddenly swerve into the sublime/tragic. The lineage expressive of deepening perception of a core vision. Tremendous!
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By: Tom D'Evelyn on 20 October, 2017
at 19:07
As usual Tom you seem to know what I’m aiming for with the structure. I’m very glad you feel it works – very many thanks.
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By: John Looker on 20 October, 2017
at 21:33
Hi John, I like this guy with his gutsy, uncomplaining, irrepressible spirit – the same life-force indeed that propels the racing gazelle and soaring swallow.
He reminds me of my wonderful Grandad Dawson, who died 42 years ago. He was very much a self-made man. Worked in a quarry as a 12 year-old boy, was decorated for bravery in the trenches during WWI, joined the police and rose to the rank of Chief Inspector. A gifted, self-taught violinist and natural storyteller too.
Lost at the wheel of a truck he may be, your character, but I reckon he’ll make out okay. Terrific poem – much enjoyed it.
My very best – have a good weekend,
Paul
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By: Paul Beech on 21 October, 2017
at 10:25
Many thanks Paul – not least for sharing these reminiscences, which somehow help to validate the poem for me. I had in mind a particular incident when I was a young hitchhiker and had a lift from exactly this truck driver, and in these circumstances. Yet the underlying subject of the poem, for me, was the ‘life-force’ of which you speak. You have a good weekend too. John
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By: John Looker on 21 October, 2017
at 13:17
I love this John, though it puts me at the limits of my expressive abilities to say why. The commentators above put it better perhaps… but for me it was the way it linked the dignity of labour with more expansive and wondrous feelings about the world…
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By: Andy Fleck on 21 October, 2017
at 14:07
Thank you Andy. I wasn’t sure that this one would resonate with anyone, but I’m delighted that it does. It might add that there were several more recent examples in my mind of people I’d known for whom these lines seem entirely appropriate.
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By: John Looker on 21 October, 2017
at 14:24
Congratulations on getting this poem published – it is fully worthy of the honor. I commend the poem’s progression from wild-life freedom to the “dazzling oncoming lights.” Congratulations! Whenever my husband and I go out of town we take a taxi to the airport and enjoy listening to the taxi driver’s life stories. Many are akin to this poem and all are interesting.
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By: Jane Stansfeld on 22 October, 2017
at 15:38
Thank you so much Jane. I think we all have a little bit of that truck driver in us, and perhaps we need it!
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By: John Looker on 22 October, 2017
at 16:40
I’m so very pleased that this wonderful poem was chosen for publication in Communion. Another richly deserved success that recognises the top-drawer quality of your poetry. I love how this one tells such an expansive tale (in more ways than one) in such an economical way. So much said – stories within stories – in so few words. 🙂
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By: Bennison Books on 31 October, 2017
at 19:17
Thank you Bennison Books – that is really most kind and most supportive. 😊
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By: John Looker on 31 October, 2017
at 22:20
The comment from Bennison Books above says just what I would want to say.
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By: Ben Naga on 23 November, 2017
at 14:09
Thank you Ben, very much.
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By: John Looker on 23 November, 2017
at 15:40