Raymond Leonard

Pearls Along the Path Raymond Leonard

We are born into an unequal world of wondrous dangers and opportunities. Where did we come from? To which destination might we one day depart? Why this particular bed at just this time? Male or female, poor or rich, talented or challenged? The list grows as our vision expands. Why this country, or even this planet? Why does life exist? What is the relationship of mortal man to an overwhelming Cosmos? Yet even with all our science, are the answers any nearer? The reply is a guarded yes regarding HOW. We now appreciate the realities of matter, the mechanisms of life, and the evolution of the Cosmos. But the question of WHY still remains tantalizingly resistant to analytic study. Most scientists concede that the Universe displays order, progression and intricate balance as it unfolds. But does it embody an overriding objective? An egg contains the complete blueprint for the individual. This forces seemingly mindless chemicals to combine and intertwine so that a new life can finally emerge, be it a man or a mouse. The Universe pursues its own blueprint, and one day......? But important as religion, science and philosophy may be, they are only aspects of life, not life itself. Life is for living. Humour, joy, comradeship, sadness and the challenge of adversity are the ingredients of all lives, but the proportions vary. A baby's smile, calm after the storm, the taste of a newly plucked apple, a kind act - these are the nectar of existence. And then the footlights again grow dim. This collection of poems therefore reflects the myriad thoughts, experiences and revelations that this particular traveller has encountered on the path. Are they simply poetry, one man's chronicles, anecdotal rambles, disguised preaching or a coherent theology - each individual must decide. Yet if they prove interesting and entertaining, the writer's task has been worthwhile. If they strike a chord, enjoy the resonance. And if the path is briefly illuminated, stride briskly on.