For Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, we were asked to choose one of many quotes and write a poem to it. The moment I saw Marley in the mix, I was SO THERE. First the Bob Marley quote; then, the poem. (Also at my poetic hitching post, Poets United!) Peace, Amy
“Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up And Live!” – Bob Marley
DRIVING LESSON
You learned it all to get your license.
Stop.
Yield.
The colors are:
Red, Gold, and Green.
You’re behind the wheel
all by yourself now, babe.
Take good care.
Mind the signs.
But signs don’t tell it all.
There are potholes:
Anything from a bad grade
to a ruined romance
can throw you for a moment,
head you into a ditch.
Get back on the road,
open all the windows,
crank the radio,
and sing a song.
Cuz around the bend,
something sweet is waiting.
It never fails, never.
Careful on the back roads,
off the beaten path.
You’ll find temptation
is tantalizing.
You may succumb,
but not for long.
You’re not dumb.
And when you’re lost,
no signs to guide you,
that’s the moment of truth.
That’s when you’ll divine
which exit to take.
That’s when you’ll define
who you are, what you’re made of.
Let’s review the lesson:
Stop when you need to.
Yield to NO ONE when you
know your cause is right.
Red. Gold. Green.
Marley’s colors can be
your colors, too.
Your turn at the wheel, darlin.
Make it a sweet ride.
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you, Bob Marley, for your legacy of love in music and in spirit, promoting peace.
Sharp Little Pencil 
vivinfrance
Yes, life is like that. Is our road already mapped out for us?
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, I don’t believe in predestination, but that’s just me. I think it’s all about free will and the choices we make. Thanks! Amy
Polly Robinson
A metaphorical dream 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Polly, wow, thanks so much for a great comment! Peace, Amy
Mary Mansfield
Love the extended metaphor you’ve built here! Sometimes when we’re lost, divining which direction to travel takes just a touch of the divine, I think. Beautifully written!
Sharp Little Pencil
Ah, “divine” the verb vs. “Divine” as in the Creator. In this case, it was the former; as I said to Viv, don’t believe the road is mapped out for us in advance. We were given hearts, minds, and consciences to do the right thing… if we choose! Amy
Kerry O'Connor
I love your interpretation of this quote, and your extended metaphor works so well in describing the journey of life. Thank you for participating in the Real Toads Wednesday Challenge.
Sharp Little Pencil
Kerry, thanks to YOU for a wonderful prompt. I read this to my daughter in CA and Riley and I both cried, because I wrote it for her… again, thanks, and peace, Amy
Carver
I liked this post a lot.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Carver. I think the pic of Marley made it pop, too! Amy
k~
This one gave me the chills Amy. The metaphors were fantastic.
This part could be a bumper sticker all on its own:
“Stop when you need to.
Yield to NO ONE when you
know your cause is right.”
Sharp Little Pencil
This wrote itself as I went along. Didn’t intend on revisiting those rules until I realized there were parallels with life. Your favorites are mine, too, especially the one about not yielding – that’s kind of my motto!! (wink) Amy
Patti
Wonderful. This is such great advice, Amy. There’s a commercial on TV now showing a Dad sending his teenage daughter (obviously a new driver) off on her own with the car, probably for the first time. Your poem are the perfect words for that moment, and wise words even for those of us who have been braving this road for more years than we care to count.
Sharp Little Pencil
Patti, I know the commercial – I cried the first time I saw it! And yes, the “rules of the road” do coincide with basic rules of life, especially a life lived with integrity, including speaking your truth to power. Thanks a LOT! Amy
Helen
Memories of teaching my kids to drive came rushing back as I read this .. my grandson is learning now! Your poem is a great lesson for living .. I’m going to read it to my Charlie Boy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Helen, that’s about the nicest thing anyone could say to me. I myself read it to my girl Riley in California. She’s 24 and knows a lot of these rules. She said I taught her the maneuvers well! WOW! That was, like, my Mother’s Day present. Peace, Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Beautiful, Amy. Am thinking of Jeff right now, who is in hospital , hoping he will take the road that says Carry On, as he contemplates the other direction. Your poem really speaks to me today.
Sharp Little Pencil
Sherry, I hope it gives you strength. Will email you some others as well; maybe they will help him. You are in my prayers and meditations. Love you, girl. Amy
kaykuala
Profound thoughts Amy! This is a lesson on Life. How subtle! You learn the rules when young, then you are on your own driving your life’s directions. Beware of pitfalls. Get back in line if you make mistakes, otherwise it’s a smooth experience. .Great write Ma’am!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Hank, thanks so much. You know I’ve seen my share of potholes in the dead of night, flat tires in the “jungle,” etc. So I have always tried to teach Riley how to avoid them. If they are unavoidable, how to deal with them. If they’re too hard to deal with, how to whip herself into shape to at least TRY. Amy
Teresa
Wonderful advice here!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Teresa. I wish someone would have told me when I was young! Amy
brian miller
nice…love your wrap up there in the end…never yield your cause, i am with you…ha…and nice wrap aroun d to the freedom that comes with driving…it makes a great metaphor for this…
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Brian. “Metaphor” is the word of the day on this one. Marley’s words were so inspiring; I actually found myself spinning off his to create my own “road trip” advice. Amy
whimsygizmo
This is awesome, Amy. Reading it as a poet, and a parent, as you know. 🙂
Sweet rides always, de.
Sharp Little Pencil
De, I get ya! So imagine WRITING it as a poet and a parent, ha ha ha. Riley knows the ropes, but I read it to her on the phone (she’s in SoCal) and we both cried… Love, Amy
Hannah Gosselin
AMY! I love Marley…I love this! This especially got me:
“And when you’re lost,
no signs to guide you,
that’s the moment of truth.
That’s when you’ll divine
which exit to take.
That’s when you’ll define
who you are, what you’re made of.”
Your choice of “divine,” rather than the expected “decide,” made me SO happy!
Great message and poem, Amy! Smiles to you!
I just finished writing to this same prompt:
http://wordrustling.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/to-roll-or-not-to-roll-thats-the-reflection/
Sharp Little Pencil
Hannah, if there was any poet who would get off on that define/divine rhyme, I knew it would be you. And thanks for sending me a direct URL; I love Pamela SC doing this, and a few others. We are ping-ponging and having fun! Love to a wonderful mom, Amy
margaretbednar
That’s when you’ll define
who you are,
I have two (almost three) that have/will have a driver’s permit… I will have to remember to throw in a few “life” lessons at the same time while I’m giving driving hints! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Margaret, you can use any and all of my advice. Believe me when I say I have seen a lot, perhaps too much, in 55 years… especially in my 20s. Gives me the unique perspective of giving good advice, because I know the consequences, first-hand and ugly!! Peace to you as you embark on a real challenge… the learner’s permit, the road test… it may cost you a bumper or a headlight, but it’s all worth it. Thanks for stopping by! Peace, Amy
Renee Espriu
Applicable to life and the path one chooses. I like this alot, my friend.
Sharp Little Pencil
Renee, you grasped the main purpose: To teach a young person how to make good choices – when to laugh in the face of bad times and when to dig in and take a stand against injustice. Since my child is a girl, I feel it especially important in these times to show her how to speak truth to power. Peace, Amy
Shawna
He he. Nice ending: “Your turn at the wheel, darlin.
Make it a sweet ride.”
Sharp Little Pencil
That was the final line I wrote, as an addendum. So glad it came to mind and came together like that! Thanks, Shawna, and peace, Amy
El Guapo
YES!
Rock on, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Ha! The Handsome One strikes again… yes, I know what Guapo means. I saw enough of them while playing piano bar in San Juan! Paz,Amy
Pamela Smyk Cleary
Love this one, Amy! It shines on so many levels – poetic, philosophical, metaphorical – and contains such simple, sane, logical advice. Sweet! I particularly like the optimism shining through in:
“Get back on the road,
open all the windows,
crank the radio,
and sing a song.
Cuz around the bend,
something sweet is waiting.
It never fails, never.”
… and I really love the ending:
“Your turn at the wheel, darlin.
Make it a sweet ride.”
Hmmm… now, I’ll have to see what I can come up with to return the volley. :-))
Sharp Little Pencil
I wrote those lines from bittersweet experience. First the bitter, when you think nothing good is coming your way EVER again because THAT was the person you were going to spend the rest of you life with ya da ya da… and, after a brief clearing of the mind, something cool happens! Thanks, Pamela! Amy
Pamela Smyk Cleary
OK. I’m back! (Are ya sick of me yet?) Afraid I don’t have any lovely, upbeat, philosophical advice poems to ping-pong back at you for this one. Best I could do was this old poem that references driving… and it’s pretty sad. 😐 Sorry! http://wanponpopix.blogspot.com/2012/05/bittersweet-farewell.html
Sharp Little Pencil
Never fear, Pamela. Mine will probably be an even bigger bummer, because I have lots of those…. A.
Let's CUT the Crap!
The rythmn of the poem made me hear tires on pavement. Not loud. Just there. Very NICE.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much for visiting. I LOVE the name of your blog. It’s up there with Old Dog New Tits and My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog as favorites. So glad you found something within this poem that pleased you, hon. Peace, Amy
lakisha123
I have been looking the World Wide Web for this information about driving lessons buryand I want to thank you for this post. It’s not easy to find such perfectly written information on this topic. Great Work