High on Life
The running children think him a drunkard
as he sits
feet swinging over the edge of the world
Sewing - a
silver needle sparkles as he mends his troubles
Binds his
free floating worries into flower blossoms
The running children think him a drunkard
Purple
circles like grape thumbprints under his sleepy eyes
He does not
startle when the sky cracks with sudden thunder
The running children, born into a different age, think him a drunkard
As the smiling
Prophet sits in his silver ever-so-slightly- thread-bare robe, rocking ever so
gently - his sleepy
lullaby peace – eyes drinking in it all
swinging
his well traveled rested-to-velvet-feet
Over the
edge of the world
As the others
rush about in random rancor – still
Waiting for
the smiling Prophet
They play to
pass time- slap their cards of life recklessly
As he
modestly trumps, again and again in loose-limbed
Complete acceptance
The running children think him a drunkard
Yet, his
eyes on the horizon and all between are clear
It is
the sweet wine of life he swallows,
licking each drop of errant nectar from his lips between frequent sips
His cup
brims
The Prophet
laughs soft breezes
Over seas, shore, plain, bush, white capped mountains
All - Rippling - Moving - Lush
The Prophet smiles
High on
Life
The littlest toddling child and the oldest among them
See
and wave
happily
happily
 |
| 20131012-181115.jpg _ The Sunday Whirl |
I like that only the very young and old see the truth. That says so much.
ReplyDeleteReally a fascinating write, Pearl. I am not sure what to make of this prophet, being thought to be a drunkard, yet having such a positive essence as well.
ReplyDeleteso true...between youth and old age our vision gets blurry.. great poem...
ReplyDeleteI like your poem a lot, Pearl. There is wisdom in it. The joy of the young and the wisdom of the old. And the knowingness of the very young.
ReplyDeleteThe children think him a drunkard....thank you.....
ReplyDeleteProphets are rarely recognized for who they are, until it is too late sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThe truth of a person and the perceptions of others... well presented in your verses. Thoughtful writing.. And a very interesting character sketch. :-)
ReplyDelete-HA
I love the images of the running children and the old man watching..almost a vision of what was and what will be..i guess that is what wisdom is..and well worn slippers..
ReplyDeletePearl, this, in particular, is SO gorgeous:
ReplyDelete"a silver needle sparkles as he mends his troubles
Binds his free floating worries into flower blossoms"
That visual of him swinging his feet over the edge of the world will stick with me. So well done.
Oh, that's beautiful! A wonderful portrait. I can see him!
ReplyDeletea beautiful mingling of these words and the wisdom that grows as we age, and take the time to sit, see, taste, touch the miracles we recognized as babies... then forgot.
ReplyDeleteLove the repetition and also the fact that only the young and old are able to wave!
ReplyDeleteIntriguing portrait, Pearl. Makes me remember a bearded man sitting in from of McDonald's that my son was convinced "looked seriously like God"......and maybe he was. I, too, love that the youngest and oldest saw this being for what he was. That is often the way of it, with prophets.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful circle of life you have painted here. The old and the young see the same things albeit differently but others can barely see at all.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great graphic - showing both the chaos and the order of one person's world.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this one. We get so busy living we lose sight sometimes.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has wisdom at their core. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHow we see ourselves and how others see us, and where the truth lies - beautifully expressed. I love the circle of the very old and the very young seeing something closer to the truth. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous, Pearl. The repetition creates a back and forth flow to the piece. I love the happy waving at the end.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness - about to get ready for a little family trip to Florida tomorrow and checked in to this incredible tide of positivity ... Your comments mean so very very much to me and are deeply appreciated. I will return and respond to everyone individually - please forgive my blanket appreciation and know that I have read and hold each of your individual comments in my heart - I am already flying before even leaving for the airport. THANK YOU ...:)
ReplyDeletegreat flow of thoughts woven superbly
ReplyDelete