Nature Of The Beast

I've done my job

running the rat-race

shunning the sun

perpetual clock-watching

nightmares of screaming alarms

Shortened sleep disturbed by tomorrows

of half-shadow mornings

ageing the skin and ringing the eyes

of a time-stamped existence

scheduled-in and filing-out

Impaled to a desk

or chained to hard labour

shackled by the norm

shepherded by the masses

gathering with the swarm

of busy bees buzzing

their hive of timidity

with its guidelines and rules

for the pen-pushers, pay-loaders

and the cloth-cutting bankers

Its merits and rewards

are special green leaves

that should grow on trees.

The percentage is against you

and a bigger slice of pie

is taken than given

You have the carcass

that the vultures have left

Then it's back home for tea

to eat what you buy

then collapse in a chair

in front of a screen.

Three-quarters of existence

to earn your rest

and in most of what's left

you must sleep to recover

or blow-out your health

in brief moments of pleasure

desperate excitement of slackened-off valves

a steam-release for your mettle fatigue

and a taste of what freedom is like.

For this is "real life" and you must concentrate

You cannot be tired and you cannot be late

or you might lose your place

in the long queue for money

You're nothing without it

no status or possessions

no fun or vacations

for it all has a price-tag

How precious and priceless is life.

And now it's all over

I'm excused of the tread-mill

That was the pay-off for giving my life

Twilight years they gave me in trust

turning to dust as I tick through old-age

along with the clock that sits on the mantle

but I cannot get used to this empty space

of meaningless time and too much to waste

I wake up at dawn

with the same old purpose

It's hard to do nothing

It's tiring to be aimless

I've forgotten the things I planned me to do

The fire has been spent in its making

The dreams I once had have been left on the shelf

and its function is creaking and aching

as I fill-up my days with the things I'd have loved

Should the chance have been there in my youth

I used to imagine the fields and the trees

the nature of Man and the beast

Of living for living and no greener grass

Of contentment and smallness

of one of God's creatures

hunting and frolicking and feeding its young

by Elms, Oaks, and Beeches

survival it teaches

as fulfilment of life

in itself is the meaning

No race to be won

No others to better, no future to fetter

no tomorrow, no then

just now, the beginning, and end.

So I spend my time walking

and seeking those feelings

that once I had known

before I was grown

Just half a sensation

of hopeful inspiration

a realisation of what I have lost

to my dreary acceptance

and dull resignation

that everything's owned and everything costs

though I look at the trees

leaves free in the breeze

sheep graze the shade

on someone's land, of someone's brand

then grace someone's plate or clothe someone's hand

and I look up to see, in the claws of a tree

the skull of a beast, out of place

a symbol of death, I see my face.

Reviews

[MattVoscinar]

This poem made me laugh in some parts and angry in others. Not become some parts were better than others, but because of the truth that it holds. Perhaps we are simply slaves to our stagnant 9-5 lifestyle that we have so sadly adopted and have grown content with. Perhaps we really can only escape when we are able to retire, grow older, and die, sacrificing the post beautiful things in life in the process. This poem is the very epitome of a capitalist society. Wonderfully done sir. Wonderfully done.

[Gomer LePoet]

Great piece Devons. It is so true we spend way too much time working for the future, and when the future finally arrives, we are expended. We lost energy, interest, focus, physically unable to do some of the things we dreamt of as a child, mentally unable to do others. Being born into wealth has its rewards. too bad I wasn't.

[An owl on the moon]

In the midst of the pain and darkness of life and death you weave in passages that give such hope: "How precious and priceless is life." This is a wondrous expression filled with depth.

[EverEmma]

In the first stanza I feel as you are afraid to fall asleep because you won't want to wake up. Powerful stuff here. Much beauty and passion is put into your work. I love how raw it feels. You aren't skimping on quality for length. This is amazing, you are a brilliant writer. In a nutshell you are awesome. :)


Emma

[mope]

A diatribe of a dire trade, a tirade of rage, a war waged and unwaged, worn, waylaid, then disengaged, an age displayed, dismayed

[Alicante lullaby]

bummerrrrrrrrrrsssss...
wow,i'm speechless...you so,so beautifully described the rotten hecticness of life...itmakes one feel,you just unclothed us all...crotchless...seriouslyand the flow was like bomb shells...
reminds me of something of Neruda,i learnt from a friend...
''I love running as much as I hate racing''....
now,i'm gonna punch you if you ever,ever try writing nice.

[Fran Marie]

and I look up to see, in the claws of a tree
the skull of a beast, out of place
a symbol of death, I see my face.

Nothing short of brilliant my friend

a most profound piece with intense emotions

giving creedence to the content, a perfect image write!!

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

Had this poem not won i was going to raise cane lol
Congratulations!

[Crowley]

Oh hell...as I sit here at my desk at work I feel like putting a gun in my mouth. Nice job Devons...all s****y and resentful...full of Monday morning SUNSHINE! LOL...this was awesome, I find the retirement of some people so sad and empty, with others, that keep themselves busy, it seems OK if they have some purpose. I don't expect to live that long, so no big deal. I keep my desk a mess...I get up as often as I can and get out to see my people...and drink heavily once I get off work. Exactly as you say, I am in my rightful place as a responsible citizen awaiting my turn at what will become the unthinkable, one way or another.

[Mari Sloan]

Beautiful. I count the hours--and they count me.

[Ruth]

All emotions entwined!
Devons, this is excellent work!
Brilliant poem!
Makes the reader think on the harshness of life! It sucks at times and then what? Who knows?
The ending is amazing!
I have fallen in love with this! lol
Hugs xx