http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber
Today’s
poem first appeared on the blog in 2016, and has since been (slightly) revised.
Staying positive and trying to keep looking on
the bright side of life has never been harder for many of us than now as the
Covid-19 coronavirus continues to take its toll around the world. Essentially,
I am a positive thinking person; even so, life has a nasty habit of contriving
circumstances likely to make us think differently, circumstances which, for
whatever reason, spot a chink in our psychological armour and send us into free
fall ...
Many years ago, my lie took a turn for the worse
(not the first time) and I had a bad nervous breakdown; unable to see a way
through it, I attempted suicide. Fortunately, life forces I cannot begin to
describe kicked in, and I started to see something of the wood through its trees.
I recall telling a doctor, "I can't do this." His reply has stayed
with me ever since. "Yes, you can," he said, "... just tell
yourself over and over that you will get through it, and you will. Better
still, focus on all the positive things you want to do that giving up now will
never let you, and go with the damn flow, man, go with the flow."
So … I went with the damn flow, and survived to
tell the tale.
Good or bad, we make the world we live in and it is up to all of us to try and
make it a better one.
Humanity's rage to live for love and the greater good will always defeat its
enemies in the end.
Looking on the bright side of life may not always be easy, but human beings
have a natural capacity for love, in all its shapes and forms, and the more we
can focus on that the better.
(Did I say it would be easy...?)
This poem is a villanelle.
L-O-V-E, SURVIVORS
Though bigotry and hate thrive
among the world’s power brokers,
it’s love that will see us survive
Always, people willing to drive
forces for good to the aid of others,
though bigotry and hate thrive
While terrorist-led plots connive
to mock this world’s peacemakers,
it's love that will see us survive
Open heart and mind ever contrive
to expose the worst attention seekers,
though bigotry and hate thrive
If life giving forces as bees to hive,
(a warning sting for potential takers)
it’s love that will see us survive
As sure to keep freedom's name alive,
as frustrate its would-be code breakers;
though bigotry and hate thrive,
it’s love that will see us survive
Copyright R. N. Taber 2016, 2020
[Note: This post-poem also appears on my
gay-interest poetry blog today.]
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home