For what passion?

For what passion, might one withstand
The horrors known in life, as man?
For what noble glory wrought
Might one, unknown, give them self to rot?
To search, through lengthening and weary days, for tones of truth echoing beyond the grave?
Such a thing, it seems to me,
Might truly, so foolish be:
To live life as in a dream-
Wake them not, they slumber in peace;
Their hearts entrenched, lest they know pain,
Their eyes seeing only what their minds ordain.

If only! I had such a thought
As to see pain and anguish not!
Alas, sorrowful are my days
Through which I stumble in a haze.
Could it be, I simply forgot?
That which blazes in my soul, so hot?
One would think that a burning brand
So placed would cause one to stand-
But I fall as if through sand;
Yearning only for a solid and simple land
In which I might rest
At truth and beauty's behest.
At one with a soul and purpose, once held
Out of reach of even a soulful leap.

I have not the bliss of ignorance to keep,
Sorrows banished to the realm of sleep;
And Alas, I wonder, I weep, I question:
What fate leads one to be so destined?
As to be, in flesh, so invested?
For what purposes might one willingly endure,
The lashes of life, many, swift and sure?
Surely, in gold it must be wrought,
A priceless treasure to be so sought.

If only I had but a peek- a glimpse- a gander,
Of that for which my soul meanders.
Some token, like that of a maiden fair,
For which I might ride into battle dreaming of her hair.
But alas I am set adrift
With nothing more than an ephemeral glimpse;
Hard won, with a mind weeping and torn,
I rise and fall in a tempestuous heart, forlorn.

On the sea of life I ride,
I cast for inspiration and, inside,
I find it, when I am so lucky
I pull words from the depths, so mucky.
At times my vision is so clear,
That through the gloom I can peer.
At others, the murkiness of my heart
Keeps me from practicing my art.

Long I have blamed an enemy, a shadow,
Corrupted of virtue, untamed sorrow.
But I've been fighting only myself
Thusly split, its so hard to delve
Inside to find the reasons why
It's so hard for me to be alive

a reply to: LucidWarrior

This is really, really good.

The last stanza speaks right to the theme I've been exploring since reading Steppenwolf and The Glass Menagerie back-to-back. You might want to check into those if you haven't read them already.

Thank you for sharing this great poem.

a reply to: zosimov

Hello, Zos, Thanks, and you're welcome!

I read The Glass Menagerie when I was in high school, I'll have to revisit it now though. Must say I've never read Steppenwolf, though lol. I'll look for both next time I'm at a library! Shouldn't be too long ^^

a reply to: LucidWarrior

Your poem is very powerful and haunting. This was like the first time that I read Homer's Iliad in that initially I resisted viewing a story as prose in a poem form, but once I accepted it and slowly digested each delicious phrase and ground it between my teeth, I loved it, and .......... as with Homer............ I finished with a metaphorical belch, wanting for more.

Absolutely wonderful !

If only I were a publisher, your stories and prose would be shared with the world. Your works are far too superb to be kept hidden away my friend. Like an addiction, I seek these out, always wanting more, more, more. Excellent!

a reply to: LucidWarrior


Bravo

a reply to: argentus

Wow. I'm not sure if I deserve being compared to the Iliad but I'm truly honored!


Nightstar- as always, thank you. You have told me similar things many times but my gratitude never diminishes. This is one addiction I'm happy to support, lemme tell ya!


*Gives a bow to KTemplar*

a reply to: LucidWarrior
I found this very enjoyable.
Thank you for sharing.

a reply to: LucidWarrior

This speaks to a troubled soul, tortured by his past, some unspoken trauma at the hands of another, at least that is how it reads to me, you know the answer to what troubles you, I think you need to confront it head on and let the walls come crumbling down.

Glad you liked it, and youre welcome, wholetone.

a reply to: spiritofsoul

Aye but the only time I'm capable of introspection, it feels like, is when I write... Write I have, it's been my primary pursuit for years now for just such a confrontation and yet... Words are, in this respect, not enough, but I know not how to navigate my own mind in such a manner xD