Journey to Understanding

By Christopher Stewart

I can't recall precisely when or why I started to
write poetry. What I remember though is a demanding
period in my life during which I would publish demos of
my compositions in various social networks on a
regular basis. Usually, I would share them in blog posts
using embedded players, and add a short presentation.
In the case of songs, I would also include the lyrics. For
instrumentals, it seemed appropriate to write at least a
few stanzas, typically inspired by the underlying theme
of the compositions, or sometimes by their titles only.

Eventually I also published poems on their own,
without music, whether inspired by the circumstances I
was in, or to illustrate specific ideas, or in an attempt to
convey specific messages, or to share wisdom gathered
along the way, or to leave footprints behind.

The process I was involved in at the time led to a
flash of understanding that still resonates in me to this
day. That epiphany yielded a particular piece, to which I
gave the title “Understanding.”

The poems gathered here, the milestones of that
journey, are presented in their original chronological
order of publication, and their original form.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christopher Stewart
• Release date: Mar 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463656075

Christopher Stewart

Christopher Stewart explores various artisticdisciplines and works freelance. He has penned thescience fiction novel 2206 : Window Onto A New World,the essays On the Meaning of Sin and Takers Economy :An Inquiry into Illegal File Sharing, and a number ofpoems, song lyrics, and various shortform creativepieces.Primarily interested in music, he has composedover 250 pieces, founded the currently hibernatingprogressive rock band Poligraf, worked as busker andemcee, and pursues his ideal of creating meaningfulmusic in the context of a rock ensemble.His one-of-a-kind trajectory has also led him towork in various fields including audio engineering,video production, graphic design, website development,blogging, online music store management, softwareengineering, systems architecture, social work, andcinema.He has practised Buddhism dead-seriously sincethe mid-nineties, until he finally awakened to the factthat it teaches living happiness.You're welcome to contact Christopher via hisonline headquarters at stewart-explorations.net.

Book preview

The Mechanics of Karma

how long have i hankered

for the right way to go

how far have i wandered

to know what i now know

laying under the moon

rising up with the crow

and the wail of the loon

in the rain or the glow

how many ups and downs

i had to lose the count

just as with forms and nouns

to keep climbing the mount

how many times i slipped

escaping restriction

expecting to be tripped

by disguised protection

to hell and back again

i journeyed so often

the tempter of his den

titled me denizen

and all the times i yelled

at the gates of heaven

why was freedom withheld

why were no signs given

through trials i learned the laws

governing ascension

and got rid of the flaws

hampering progression

never i thought i'd shed

this world that never was

yet where my path has led

suddenly there i was

trembling on highwire

goaded under duress

across straits so dire

that i had to witness

known doors becoming