Pride's Funeral

Was there a shred of truth to the madness? Were the words spoken, though distorted in its portrayal of events, perhaps worthy of listening to on some oblique level? Am I the less than perfect person I have always feared myself to be?  

 

Action and reaction at its base level.  Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

 

Please, point out to me all that is wrong with me so that I may grow, so that I may become the person whom I admire most. But, do it in a civil and forthright manner. Not indirectly direct, or in a hurtful and demeaning way.

 

The problem with becoming the person I admire the most is, it’s difficult to admire anyone when you know that they too, are imperfect. 

  

So, now what? How can I mimic another, if no other is any more worthy than I? Of course, there are those who proclaim to be great. Those who are self appointed judges of character. Those who point fingers in haste, quickly forgetting where that finger has been.

 

Is this not a judgment in itself?  Where does it all begin and end?

  

I want you to tell me when you think that I have done you an injustice, but please, TELL me when that is what you think.  Do not broadcast to the world what “type” you believe me to be, especially when your facts are as clouded as your view.

 

Speculation is not fact by the way. 

 

At what point did we become so prideful?  At what point did we forget to check our own backyards before we started climbing fences? Certainly, this type of fence climbing should be discouraged and frowned upon.

 

At what point did we, mankind, forget how to love one another?  Or did we ever know how?  

 

I want to be the best person that I can be.  And I need you to be the best person that you can be.  Simultaneously.   

 

Pride's funeral. 

 

 

 

.

Author's Note

This is a draft. After reading it over, I've decided to work on it more, expand... I'm keeping the piece up. Suggestions (constructive) are welcomed. Thank you.

Reviews

[Dizzy-Izzy]

Hey Dani...
I will try to recreate what I said previously but I am sure it won't be exactly the same...

I am so uncomfortable most of the time with the person that I am... but, I wouldn't want to be anyone else... does that make sense?? It isn't that I feel better than... anyone... just that I am comfortable with the things that I believe... about life, about love, about others... Pride's funeral ... Where is it that pride trips me up?? I don't even know. I guess it means being able to give up so much of yourself... to accept everything about someone else...

I tried once to tell someone about an injustice that I felt they had inflicted upon me... Ohhh my, that did not go well at all... People are so less than... I don't know how to describe the feeling... it is so empty when you look at someone in the eye and see their contempt for you... when all you did was tell them the truth... It is my experience.. that no one wants to hear any truth but their own... time and time again... in every relationship... I guess the grace of life is in being able to accept the fact that most people will not ever really see who you really are... and be able to love everything about you... so true... that is what it means to relate... I guess you have to be willing to give up so much of yourself... I know people will vehemently disagree ... but I wonder if they are in a relationship??? If so, I wonder if the one they love has to give up so much of themselves as the purchase price of that love??? I talk too much... so unconstructively... I love your work Dani... Thank you..........

[An owl on the moon]

Your work inspires and calls forth that part of us that is good, kind, compassionate, and rooted in the communal humanity we share. If we can learn to live and love this way there will be peace in our homes, our communities, our nation. If not, I don't even want to imagine what will become of us... Thank you, Dani!!!

Craig

[Amanda]

Dani,

this piece is so deep and it is thought provoking....to think that we can be so prideful and mindless sometimes makes me think that maybe we shouldn't be allowed out of our homes. to interact with others, to be kind to one another, to be at peace...when did that all go out the window?

to be the best that we can be while someone else does it at the same time is a stretch, but we can only hope that it will happen. our capacity to love hasn't left us, some have just forgotten how and being hateful and spiteful is all they know.

as far as constructive suggestions, i wouldn't change a thing...it all rings true and if you want my opinion on something else, let me know and i'll give it some thought.

Always,

Amanda xox

[Blade & Blood (The ..]

Huh... very thought-provoking... It takes two, right? Some people refuse to love, others do nothing but love, and together it's a mess... sometimes... but I suppose it depends on the person. :P

Honestly, I couldn't tell you how to change it for the better. I think it's great as is, but it sounds like a monologue more than it does a poem. Ah well, thank you for sending the request. I'm very glad I read this. ^^

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

[Poets Soul]

I liked this piece. It is a conversation that everyone has had with themself one time or another. I believe that it is the imperfections that make us who we are. Perfection is overrated and lets face it, you can't get there from here. When ever we strive for someone's elses view of perfection we start losing our own idenity. And what if we mold ourself after a less perfect being, if our view of what is perfect is wrong. The poem itself flowed and pulled me all the through as I searched for the out come. Nice piece of writing.

[Creepy Swine Guy]

Okay, since Kristina with a K got to ramble, I'm using that as an excuse to do some rambling of my own. Pride is a confusing thing, which is why evil or misguided people can use pride to confuse others. Pride in self is rarely good in my humble opinion, nor is pride in ones children. I say this because we know that every action has an equal and oppositte reaction (so to speak), and shame stands in oposition to pride. We as humans have not learned to deal with shame. In some cultures, a person will kill himself because he's brought shame on his family. In our culture, I believe that we tend to avoid and deny shame, often choosing to lie instead of feeling and embracing shame. In Kristina's example, she speaks of people being unwilling to hear what you have to tell them. They become indignant because they have two choices. Feel shame and face it, or lash out and avoid the shame. So we have developed into a culture who believes that we are always right, we always look good and we never make any mistakes.

Now pride in our children is acceptable if and only if we can let go of that pride when we need to. If we can say "I'm sorry that little Johnny misbehaved and I will see to it that he never does that again." to his teacher instead of suing the school board because his teacher yelled at him and hurt his feelings. But sadly, all to frequently, we are more like the parents who were furious when their children were caught cheating. They were furious with the teacher and wanted their kids reinstated and the teacher fired.

It is my belief that pride should be reserved for the task at hand. If we only take pride in what we are doing, we run a much lower risk of our pride being the twisted, offensive pride that we all too often project.

But I digress. You have written a poem that has set my brain to wild thought. And that is a wonderful thing. You've opened our eyes to the various sides and appearances of pride as it manifests itself in a relationship between two people.

[Dr. S. D. Blankenship D..]

Hello,

Um, as of this moment I can not think of which to make this poem any better. Nevertheless I will and I'll send it by mail. But I did enjoy reading this. I believe everyone has that something of which to do better and I love the way you ask of the help of which you need. no one really can mimic, in my opinion, but everyone is different but we all live the same. Very nice write Dani. Thank you for posting.

Shawn

[~*666 Draven Von Tepes ..]

Hello love who the hell is messing with u ?

[Angel's Lady]

Am I the less than perfect person I always feared myself to be? -- Judge not, least you be judged.

You make quite a statement. Well done.

[TamiViolet]

Dani, I'm finding it difficult to find the right words to review this beautifully introspective piece as my perspective may or may not be that of others; therein, exists the vicious cycle...

Yes, perhaps that's it...Sometimes life becomes a vicious cycle...

action and reaction...

cause and effect...

Concentrating on those who nurture creativity and humanity will eliminate the death of pride. Love of fellow man is either there or it isn't, for it is a feeling that can't be forced. To me, what is truly significant is respect.

Hatred and chaos only lead to the death of self.

[Seriana]

For once, I'm left without much to say, as I think some of this took my thoughts from me. Draft or not, it's a brilliantly subtle piece. And I agree with Legion, probably a favorite of yours. I can't wait to see the completed version. :)