What Is The Meaning Of This?

Are meaningful

the things we do?

Like when I read

or sing to you?

The dog that barks

or cat that meows

what of their importance?

Do trees

or grass

or coral reefs

even make a change?

 

Day 

by day

I realize

we're A minor grain of sand.

In literature

we’ll not be written--

or in history.

So why this poem

do I write?

A never answered

mystery.

 

Reviews

[Nightfeather]

You have succeeded in delivering a message that made me wonder how small we humans actually are. We are just one tiny existence in comparison to our universe. It's something that must be reminded in the future of the human race. I wonder where the future will lead us to.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Reading Coyote's review and your reply. It brought to mind Percy Shelley's Ozymandias. It's true, even suns nova and burst, consuming themselves in a final wail of energy. But what a way to go eh? I want to be like autumn leaves; bursting in spectacular colors and flames, even as I perish. Jack London said he'd much rather be a meteor than some sleepy planet...every inch of him alive and burning...this is how great wtriters and great poets think. We do not write to leave a memorial. We write to BE...to show the world our SOUL, our HEART...our every bursting atom in a blaze of beauty that makes them tremble with desire or shiver as they are moved to tears or overwhelming joy. I would be like Dylan Thomas and "not go quietly into that dark night". But for those who write...we have no real choice. We write because it is our natural proclivity to do so. We write because to us, to write is to BE. Is it meaningful? It is the question Loren Eiseley's "Star Thrower" was asked...A fellow walking along a beach saw a man throwing starfish back into the sea...there were millions washing upon the shore. So he said to the other man...you can't possibly hope to make a difference; the sea is so vast; the beach is so great and long and the starfish are dying by the millions! You can't really believe that what you are doing "matters". The star thrower bent gingerly and grasped another starfish and gently tossed it into the tide. It matters, he replied, to THAT ONE.

[guy drori]

Hey Fabian...really appreciate that you read and took the time to comment, thanks. What you wrote here really gave me something to think about. I've never heard the saying of Jack London that "he'd much rather be a meteor than a sleepy planet." So thanks for sharing it. Many people act in certain ways just so that it will allow them to be remembered afterwards, yet isn't it much better to be fully ALIVE and ON FIRE in the moment? Jack London's quote and what you added to it reminded me of the novel "The Fault In Our Stars" by John Green (which I advise you to read if you haven't.) In the novel, Gus says that he fears oblivion. Then Hazel (the main character) tells him that it's useless to fear oblivion because everyone, even Van Gogh and Cliopatra will one day be forgotten, let alone ordinary people. Even our planet earth, when it will die, whether it be tomorrow or in five billion years will be forgotten. Therefore, it is best not to act for the reason of being remembered, but for the reason of simply DOING! And I have read the story of the starfish and really enjoyed it. And it's true... perhaps things we do doesn't changed the world, but it did change HIS or HER world, which is more than enough.

[Coyote Poetry]

A interesting poem.
"we are
A minor grain
of sand,
and will
one day
be forgotten."
Great writers last through time. Never know if your words will test the system and be remembered. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[guy drori]

The sentence you quoted actually meant a lot to me to, for it is something many people dwell upon: the fact that most of us will one day be forgotten. Unfortunately even great people will one day be forgotten. Glad you liked it :)

[Coyote Poetry]

I did and you are welcome.