Off the Beaten Path (with Reading)

One can never find a true self identity if they follow the herd...climb the mountains, raft the dangerous rivers, unclothe your inhibitions and run wild and free...when staring in the face of danger we have two choices, turn and run or face it head on...you are the latter... refreshing piece k...I'll have to listen when I get out of here in 10 mins ;)

That is definitely well put, you can never reach your potential without taking chances. I love climbing mountains, rafting the dangerous rivers, and going off the beaten path. I started my journey early when we moved out of  the country when I was young. From there I went through many trials and experienced a combination of very bad and great things but I did get to travel. And everything made me who I am today for better or worse. Thank you so much for reading (and listening when you have a chance)  and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

Limits bind with velvet chains, lulling our spirits to sleep. We see the nightmare, not in our dreams, but on our waking to unless drudgery. A few, far too few, do not shake in fear and hide of this our nightmare but, like legends of the gods, pull the curtain of chaos aside revealing the potential of humanity. This, your most gentle poem, cuts the deepest of all your prose, for all our weaknesses have been exposed in razor sharp relief. Worshiping your feet for this poem. An eternity of foot massages are on me.

Ah, your comment is poetry in and of itself. In that chaos and facing our fears we can truly unlock human potential in ourselves and others. We must expose the weaknesses in order to move past them although the razor can definitely hurt sometimes; oh how many cuts and burns shape us. Wow, an eternity of foot massages; I LOVE that! sounds absolutely divine. Thank you so much for reading, or listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

Sometimes we need to follow our own path.  Keep on writing.

That is so true Francisco. We must follow or make our path to really get to where we want to go. Thank you so much for reading, or listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

Your voice--it's southern!
Wow...
Nice recording.
Whenever I try to record my voice, it sounds like Tommy Lee Jones with a head cold, but recorded on the same wax cylinder TS Eliot used to record himself reading the Wasteland in 1917...
Oh well.
There's a powerful dis-connect between hearing your voice, and the voice I hear on the page of your poems.
I don't mean that in a good way, or a bad way.
This poem, read in your voice, reminds me a bit of Cavafy's wonderful poem, Ithika, which was read at Jackie O's memorial service.
Apparently, JFK's favorite poem was "I Have a Rendez-vous with Death"--Jackie had better taste in poetry.
Stubborn-ness is best applied to hope!
No sharp edges or unpredictable turns--how unlike the type-face & fonts of your poems;
the seams and wrinkles on the surface of the page, like linguistic inflection points on the page.
Enjoyed!

Hey Mark! You noticed that did you? :p I always love getting a Wow.. Thank you so much, I am so happy you liked it. That's quite the description lol - now I want to hear that. Actually I looked up Elliot reading Wasteland and what's wrong with that? I will have to look up those poems as well. I like that saying about stubbornness. I am definitely stubborn sometimes (I say sometimes lol). Yes my formatting has all kinds of sharp edges and unpredictable turns. :p I always say it's impatient but that's true so I always stubbornly hope that it works. I love if it lines up in a way as to outline linguistic inflection points. I need to go back and listen with that in mind. Thank you so much for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

I love the tranquility of this, peacefulness of nature… yes, but also a realization of inner peace and the risks to achieve it. Many roads, many decisions. The audio accompaniment was also beautiful.
Quite awesome!

Ah yes, inner peace can definitely be a tall order especially these days so I am so happy you found tranquility and peacefulness in this one. So many possible roads, or paths and they all take us somewhere - hopefully for the better but many times learning some very hard lessons or taking a detour through hell even. I really love that you think it's awesome; that really means a lot to me. Thank you so much for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

You have a forceful voice when delivering these readings.
I'm always impressed by your determination and self assessment to go outside of the of what is standard  for most.  Your travel and moving to Europe at an early age set markers for you to want more adventures and risk  taking opportunities.  
This is a powerful message and you performed a public service for those who need a little push to achieve their goals

Well done Kristina

BIG LIKE

RL AWARD

Ah, the bossy demanding voice. lol Thank you that means a lot to me. I am very determined and always trying to push forward and accomplish my goals which are never static. That is definitely true, moving was very hard and I went through a lot but it definitely set markers like you said for more adventures, risk taking, a strong desire to travel, and to experience new things. I am glad you see it as powerful message, I love doing a service. ;) Thank you so much for the BIG LIKE and RL. And thank you for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

I love the flow of this. Like being gently but purposely led forward.  Indeed, you've written a path for the readers to follow.  Very nicely done.

Hey Styxian, it's great to see you in my comments. :) I am really happy you liked the flow; I like how you described being purposely led forward and giving a path for the reader to follow. That fits so well with the direction and meaning in this one.  Thank you so much for reading, or listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

Hey BP! That's like me, I want to go everywhere! :) Is there somewhere in particular you always wanted to go? You are welcome, thank you so much for reading, or listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

The music and picture are in harmony with the reading.
Great write!! Totally different then the other stuff I have read.
This road you are on is quite lovely!!
Til the next!!!

Thank you for giving me feedback on the music and picture. It's always hard to know what works and even if the volume is right so that helps me a lot. I am really happy you think it's a great write too. I do love to change things up - keeps it interesting. And I think you are really lovely! :)

Thank you so much for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

Love hearing your voice... the added dimension propelled me through...I enjoyed being propelled...L

Hey BC! Thank you for the beautiful compliment. That really means a lot to me. I am so happy I could add some dimension and propel you through in an enjoyable way. :) Thank you so much for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

Dear K,

Sadly, I’d probably trod the beaten path wishing I had the strength and courage to try something new and unexplored. But my back. My knees…🙄
What I loved about this was the fantasy that I COULD explore the unexplored via the imagery you provided in this magnificent poem. And you read it out loud, and you know how much I love that! You were very thoughtful to think of me and do that 😉
Hehe just kiddin’ ya! But seriously, thank you for that. I adore your go for broke approach to life. It’s truly inspirational and really encouraging for those like me who just feel worn out and tired. It was a gorgeous read and listen and guided imagery poem. A true trifecta! H🌷

No excuses, I know you want to try something new and unexplored. ;) I am really happy if the imagery helped transport you somewhere new and unexplored in the interim. There are so many amazing places to see and experience, and new cultures are always so interesting. I was definitely thinking of you and hoping you would see this one. :) I know travel helps me to feel renewed and brings back the excitement so perhaps it is the remedy for feeling worn out and tired. Thank you so much for the absolutely wonderful compliment. And thank you for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

Loved the last line, but the sensual voice was beyond A++... can imagine candlelight listening. Hugs and peace. Oral

I can imagine all of your travels Oral. I definitely want to know what were the most amazing places you have been. :) Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment. I adore beyond A++. Sitting with candlelight talking about all the amazing places traveled or to be traveled to sounds awesome. Thank you for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

Absolutely awesome for me personally my favourite place was 25 meters underwater looking at thr fish and corals of the Red Sea
The path changed every dive
Great write beautiful accent
Love and light
Ron x

Oh yes! That sounds absolutely amazing. I know the Red Sea is one of the top diving destinations in the world. It must have been so peaceful and serene down there with all the colorful fish and other life. I can imagine the infinite number of paths. I know it is astoundingly beautiful. Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment Ron. Love and light back at ya. And thank you for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

I absolutely adored this spill, and the Read as well. Great job as always.

Hey Wh1skey! It's great to see you... where have you been? I am so happy you adored it! Thank you for the wonderful compliment. And Thank you thank you for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️
Now where is my chainsaw...

Chainsaw?

You know where to find it 🖤

Based on this poem, the X in KX must be connected to the X-games.  A modern dare-succubus you are.

Continue on, trail blazer.

“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.” – Frank Herbert

Oh, and you got a pretty good voice!  😘

I do love the extreme DaVinci. You might not survive the KX games. ;) Wow - a modern dare-succubus; why do I love that so much. I could say a lot about that but... have to keep things clean. lol

Blazing like any good succubus must.

That is a great quote. So true.

Thank you so much for the compliment. And thank you for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

"path" just the word spelled out on a blank page,
cast the imagine of turns and hills, ups and downs.
accomplishments and not. was it right or was it wrong.
the way one should choose.
to feel the race, to feel the heart skip that beat, once or two to feel.

for me, sitting like a homing pigeon back in the safe.
not in vain, i do mumble time to time,
but a gentle regret that i did not strive for more rapid heart beats.

the path spilled upon the page, the beauty of the ink stain, as a finger does trace.
angelic the voice, my mind always reiterates.

Definitely, so many choices and so many paths that all lead to somewhere. Passion and lust, pain and suffering, comfort and familiarity, and so many other places. Accomplishments and failures; always striving to get there but so often not. I love the feeling of a rapid heart beat. I love the paths that lead to new experiences. :)

Thank you for the wonderful comment mystic. You made me so happy with your beautiful compliment on this read. And thank you for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

Your reading grants dimensions to the writing. I'm glad I read it first in silence and then followed along and listened. I love the pace, details and imagery. Beautifully proportional.

I am so happy you feel it adds dimensions to the writing; that means it is was worthwhile. I think that is a great idea to read first and then listen as that can definitely give a different feel to the writing. Thank you for the compliment, I am glad that all of those elements came together to make something beautifully proportional. :) And thank you so much for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

Can I get an AMEN❣❣
Wow! This is such a wise piece. First off,  hearing your voice is always a particular thrill. When I read your introduction,
"The well-trodden paths are beautiful, without flaws    
And their trampled cover is smooth ,"
I was hoping you were going to go exactly where you went with this. As a too risk averse bloke I needed this sermon.

The imagery in this stanza is so poignant and impactful,

"What boredom! With the crowd, losing their will    
From point A to drag to point B...    
And the wings are tied so tightly behind the back    
And it's cramped, stuffy, fresh in the crowd!"

I need to remember that wings are not clipped just tied and get out them scissors or bolt cutters if need be.

This passage abrought some deeply satisfying tingles of anticipation and a whole lot of what if's came to mind,

"But there is scope, there is will, there is freedom!    
And my heart beats so loudly in my chest"

Not what-if-I-had-done's but what-if-I-do's.

As you have on so many happy occasions, you have lifted my spirits and infused some hope in me who is prone, as dear Hamlet says, "To grunt and sweat under a weary life," Bravissima my dear Goddess friend 💖🌹

Of course you can! ;)
I love getting a Wow! I am so glad I did not disappoint with the direction of the piece. We are all risk averse to a point, sometimes that is very important but it can also be limiting and keep us from achieving our true potential. Being uprooted at an early age and moved to another country combined with some very difficult things in my history made me much more keen to take risks. It can become an addiction...  

Indeed you can always free the wings and fly. I know you have beautiful wings...  Get out those scissors or bolt cutters and see where they take you. :)

What would life be without the tingles of anticipation. The excitement of life and possibilities is wonderful. Never lose that... :)

Most importantly I am ecstatic to have lifted your spirits and inspired. And to think I have on many occasions is just the most wonderful thought. You are awesome!  

Thank you so much for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

I love the sincerity in your voice, really reaching out to your audience and connecting, registering at an emotional level.
"The limit is not visible to the eye of those roads..." I really liked the profoundness in this and that stanza.

Amazing work.

I love connecting with the audience and registering at an emotional level, that is the reason for being here. :) And that I can connect with you and you with me is such a joy. Your feedback and comments really do mean a lot to me and help keep me motivated to continue. :) Thank you!

And thank you so much for reading, listening, and giving me your thoughts... xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️

I feel like wisdom largely comes from suffering and I have been through a lot of stuff. I am so happy you loved listening and I really love that you felt I was saying it to you. That's a really great compliment because that's what I want. Thank you so much for listening and letting me know your thoughts. I really appreciate it a lot. xo 🧳🧭✈️🗺️