Spirit

‘I died early,’ said the Spirit,

‘So I didn’t have the chance to learn,

And though I don’t exactly burn

With envy for your thirty years,

It’s such a pity dying young,

The pleasures of a youth, unsung…

For all I left behind of me

Were memories of my mother’s pain

In birth and death,

Though such a breath of time it took,

It’s hard to judge that I had been,

That any could remain.

But for my father’s constant hurt,

His burden through a lonely life

Was such to crush the living breath

Right out of him, but could I see,

And crush the death right out of me.’

 

‘I hunger then, for knowledge

Of the seven wonders of the world

And nature’s secrets, all unfurled

As life unfolds before a man;

Of seas and skies and mountains high,

The visions of an inner eye,

And colours I have ever longed for,

Colours I have never seen,

Though I have dreamed,

(Poor substitute it is for truth);

I need the miracle of sight,

The senses in-between,

Which add your touch and taste and smell

To that of thought, which now I am,

A lonely thought communicating in itself

Its loneliness,

Your knowledge is an untold wealth.’

 

‘I envy you,’ I then replied,

‘For ignorance of man’s affairs

Is rarely found,

And one who cares is better off

To never know.

But since you must insist to hear

The seven wonders are but fear

Of War, that selfish slaughter leaving

Millions dead and millions maimed,

And poverty, when countless numbers

Starve to death,

Diseases raging through a stricken land

To our undying shame

And apathy to suffering,

The depths of immorality,

And crime and violence in the streets

That holds a sway on everyone,

Commercial greed is God today.’

 

The Spirit sighed a troubled sigh;

‘An answer such as this unwanted

Tale of human misery and suffering

I’d not prepared for,

Makes me care for man no less, but

Takes me back and leaves me low.

A thousand years of meditation

On these things may mend my wound,

But now I cry, and go to find

A quiet place…

My innocence will not repair,

Not now or even soon.’

 

And so he sadly turned away,

In seconds then was lost to view,

I shouted that I meant to say

We still have hope…

But he was gone.

 

If we have time, I’ll never know!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Danielle Asher]

amazing piece! you write with depth and precision of your words. the ending was incredible.
kudos!!!! i am lost for words.
Thanks for joining my HOPE contest.

[Brenda Sue]

Very deep. A great write. Wonderfully penned and a great story.