Predestined

Am I a whale?

Migrating, drifting, each day searching anew,

Instinct erasing all meaning from my actions…

Driven by coded DNA compulsion,

Beached, beyond the tidal swells,

While sharks feed on my impulse?

 

Am I a dog?

Rewarded for loyal behavior,

Wagging the tail of preconditioned responses…

Digging holes to bury treasured rotting bones,

Eating grasses’ bladed cure,

Vomiting past the dry nose of my soul.

 

 I am a man!

Building on ancestral foundations,

Intellect and reason placing each stone…

Passions cementing construct,

Walls of cause and effect rise and fall,

Predestined to choose my own destiny.

Reviews

[Belle]

Some people are believers of circumstances, that a man who meets calamity as a result of his action should not blame the fate or others for the belief that each man only receives just results of his own action. This is absolute truth specially in the minds of existentialists, but for some others points of view, man since birth has a destination because there are many factors, predeterminers that shape and/or control man's life. One of them is the man's law, though this kind of predeterminer can still be broken by those who have courage enough to go on transgression, but still the norms set by society can absolutely define man's existence. Another one is the DNA ( as you have mentioned in this poem), once a man is genetically coded to have sickle cell disease then he'll live for the rest of his life suffering from the disorder ( well, probably not if science can find faster way to alter this kind of disorder since according to gnome experts if patience will undergo stem cell treatment it will still take years to see the result). What I am trying to say is that, we may have all the freedom, the capacity, the capability to define our own existence but there are these factors, predeterminers that we can never get ourselves off, and we have no choice but to be passive...So to say, I have already accepted that my protein is giving me curly hair and I am doomed to live with curly hair ;)

David, I am so glad you are back. You stirred my mind and soul once again. :)

[David Scott]

Dear dear Belle...
I am honored you felt my words stir your mind tonight.
You show intellect and wisdom in your response.
My intention was to present this philosophical concept in simple terms with simple examples...
I guess I could have avoided the last line, but it does speak my undestanding of the ultimate freedom to choose my eternal destiny.
You are 100% correct in stating we do not control the environment of our human existence, but we have 100% control and accountability concerning our spiritual destiny.
I love your depth of discussion. Thank you for your gifted response Belle.

[Belle]

No, the last line is powerful paradox. It is for me a good ending that reader can have in mind to think of. And it is also best that you included the DNA, the two makes the poem complex which opens up readers to another truth...

[Tate Morgan]

It sure made a better man if me

[Priscilla Sayers]

I Love this piece! The strength lies within your Conviction My Friend...
Will Rises with a voice of booming Thunder, screaming into the storm a steady tone of vibrations striking down the Lightning of Enlightenment!

[David Scott]

Thank you again my dear ChKD.
I'm not always sure how my thoughts will translate.
Your review was encouraging because you tell me you understood well my intentions.

[Priscilla Sayers]

As ever, I do:)
Yes... Yoda voice belongs there. LOL

[David Scott]

Strong in this one, the force is... ;)

[Priscilla Sayers]

lol
you rock.

[David Scott]

And oh how you roll! ;)

[Tate Morgan]

I am a father who appreciates these things through the eyes of an aging life and times .

[David Scott]

Thank you for reading Tate.
Yes, being a father changes your mindset.

[Opeyemi Jide-Ojo]

nice piece Dave.. we live in the reality of our choices

[David Scott]

Thank you Opey. You seem to get the point.

[J. J. Nightingale]

I'll lay no blame on any grave .. for it was me that chose my ways ...

A fine piece of poetry ..

I did enjoy ... Jasmine

[David Scott]

I love your comment! Wow!
You should publish the first line of your review.
Thank you for the read and for your thoughts.

[J. J. Nightingale]

Ha ! ... Thanks for saying so .... and.. You are most welcome .. :)

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

Great thoughts penned..There is a great deal that man and woman receive from inheritance but one can always rise above what is programed and do more with their life..Enjoyed reading your creative and expressive work.Sara

[David Scott]

Thank you Sara.
I tend to wax philosophical... Ha.
I'm glad you could relate well to the write.

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

It was a blessing to be able to read and comment and you are quite welcome..

Sara

[Rita L. Sev]

Great metaphors of self-discovery - while man may drift, and show loyalty... that power to choose is unique - a blessing, and sometimes a puzzle... good pondering piece here, David.

[David Scott]

Thank you Rita.
I can take life way too seriously from time to time.
I do believe we have free will and few actually use it...

[Kelly Scheppers]

After reading this with all its conviction, I believe you to be a poet!

[David Scott]

Thank you Kelly.
Ah... To be believed... I feel this is one of the greatest gifts a person could wish for.

[s y e]

This is great work David, I love the metaphors in this one. The final stanza practically sums up the whole write perfectly, it is a lovely write.

So glad to see your account is open again! Woohoo!

[David Scott]

Just floatin along eatin plankton. Wishin like the dickens for some noodle soup. :( Ha.
Thank you for the read and review. You are dear to my heart.

[s y e]

Ha, I'll send some of my (in)famous Noodle soup your way. ;-P
You are very welcome. You are dear to mine, too.

[Distantview123]

Excellent, thought-provoking metaphors at play here! As you rightly say, in the final stanza, we humans are indeed predestined to choose our own destiny, even if our reasoning is often flawed! A fine write. ~ Robert.

[David Scott]

Thank you for your comments "viewfinder" Robert. ;)
I take it as a compliment and a fine endorsement of my thoughts to see your contemplative words today. Maybe the reasoning will become less and less flawed over time... maybe not. Ha.
Fare well today and always,
David Scott.