A FAILURE TO YOUR COMPASS
You imagine me a failure to your compass
For I am nowhere near where I should be
In weeds I find a rogue devotion to ill defined ground
I struggle and toil forward in slow singular steps
I, like weeds overgrown, am in full effort to hold steady ground
Unsure of direction so my step is quaint and my tread small
Making my way to stay clear of well traveled ground
I am not a failure to your compass
Though I am nowhere near where I should be
Here the grandeur of sunset and rise meet shadows
These black shadows the mere outline of sunlight’s repose
Draped over earthen outcrop, river carved canyons, and all majesty
Even the mountains of human built church, temple and tower
Sunlight’s dewy sweat dripping from nature’s new growth and me
I was not lost by the measure of your compass
But grew boundless by all aspect and measure
Soon I met the crushing rock-weight of darkness before me
Fell into the grunt and grime of deserted hollows below me
Met the screaming whip of the wind, the harsh wash of the rain
All these conspired to keep things muddled and uneasy
In my vigil I gathered, to rekindle and consort, to fight free of confusion
I was not lost by the measure of your compass
But grew humble by these sacrificial exposures
Life’s allotted dreams, given to one and to all
In calculated measure a nectar or poison
To one disposed or denied to greater glory
Walking along a path with weeds overgrown
Or onto fertile fields with a pocket full of seed
I am not a failure to your compass!
Though, papa, you once thought I might be
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Comments: 29
..."These black shadows the mere outline of sunlight's repose
Draped over earthen outcrop, river carved canyons, and all majesty
Even the mountains of human built church, temple and tower" says so much about cultural icons that have a negative effect on society. Great poem worth more than 10
JFW's gave me the chills and yours, dear Richard, made me cry!
Like Gerry, I was thinking a lover and so the poem's end in an instant morphed
into a completely different and deeply felt experience/recognition/reaction.
I love the re-phrasing that emphasizes the theme.
I love the dark weedy off the smooth path natural imagery and contrasts.
I love the confidence and self awareness.
Here is the agony and redemption:
Soon I met the crushing rock-weight of darkness before me
Fell into the grunt and grime of deserted hollows below me
Met the screaming whip of the wind, the harsh wash of the rain
All these conspired to keep things muddled and uneasy
In my vigil I gathered, to rekindle and consort, to fight free of confusion
And here is the ecstasy and transcendence:
Life's allotted dreams, given to one and to all
In calculated measure a nectar or poison
To one disposed or denied to greater glory
Walking along a path with weeds overgrown
Or onto fertile fields with a pocket full of seed
I am not a failure to your compass!
Though, papa, you once thought I might be
Your knapsack packs a wallop with this amazing poetry.
Richard, your verse is so full of that feeling of standing our ground, though it goes not in the direction our parents envision for us. The pain of failing their dreams, the guilt, the redeeming confidence of doing our own thing and succeeding at it too!! Yes, you say it all!
I look forward to reading more of your word.
I think you leaped across a chasm when you penned this poem.
It is a magnificient response to human nature.
that apart, lovely poem RIchard
Interesting, that until it came upon it's end I thought it addressed to a woman.
When I read the word papa, I realized I too knew this song.
It is an awful melody.
Wonderfully visual as usual, and I loved all your references to the earthly things that are slowing your progress. (weeds, unstable ground, rain, etc). This has a feel of one of those "running in place" dreams.