'The Conundrum Of Choice'

Life is about choices we all must make.

We careless dreamers, who never forsake

Our endless thoughts of romantic bliss.

Lest we lose it all, tossed to the abyss.

In every choice, there is a lesson found,

A sentence served, a body bound.

These are lessons we can never learn

Consequence rage hotter than Hell's fire burns

Emotion and feeling; constant pain.

When we find our joy is it ill-gotten gain?

We stumble and blunder through daily affair

Searching for purpose, not a burden to bear.

I make my choices, honorable or fouled

Then pray to my God with head low bowed

That each time I have chosen right and true

Conscience cleared so when I walk through

Those gates so bright with golden shine

Knowing that salvation will surely be mine.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. Thoughts? Comments?

Reviews

[Norman 223]

Your poem says much about the forces that govern our actions. Although wrestling with spiritual decisions when confronted with conflicts, I still believe that conscience provides a stabilising factor. Concience is an inherited quality, belief can be manipulated.

[James]

I agree completely, conscience is largely inherited and belief can be manipulated. However, I think that we don't consider the larger, far reaching consequences of our action and sometimes we need a little reminder.

Thanks for stopping by Norman it's good to hear from you again.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'The Conundrum O Choice'
James,t
Just being alive is a daily process of dark and light; stumbling in the dark and then seeing to place our next step- choices, choices, choices. I sometime think that it is amazing that we live at all considering how many different scenarios and experiences humanity is involved in on a day to day basis. You poem is a hope filled narrative of realization that somehow goodness comes from God and that we can look to him and find help in time of need and bright light to keep going and live well.
Blessings,
kathy

[...]

This is a beautifully rhythmic, standing strong in your faith, melodic testament. I, myself, am not religious, but I respect everyone's choice, and I enjoy the deliverance of your artistry, dear poet :)

[James]

Thank you, so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sometimes I forget that my choices have consequences far beyond the immediate and I needed a little reminder.

[Jacob Clifford]

Very gripping topic, and the title is appropriate and attention-grabbing. This poem is consistently interesting, with a good mix of elements to keep it from getting stale. Good work with this one.

[James]

Thanks. Glad you like it.

[Carolynn]

This is a wonderful uplifting poem full of the struggles to do what's right for the right reasons. Love your ending - what could possibly be better than knowing salvation can be yours (and mine) if we are careful to what God requests of us.

[James]

Absolutely. Sometimes we just need a little reminder though.

I am so glad you liked it.

[Lydia Shutter]

Your faith shines in this poem. The rhyming and rhythm are spot on! Yes, life is all about choices and those who own their choices are to be commended. No blaming the other guy....it is all about choices. I liked this a lot. Lydi**

[James]

Thank you, Lydia. Sometimes we just need a little reminder that our choices impact everything and everyone around us.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

should be "Hell's fire"

ah comments...yes, it is so much better to be humble...to understand one's own mortality, own fallibility ...we make mistakes, but it is harder to own up to them...the speaker here does just that. knowing we can make bad choices, but also realizing that...and understanding that the good things we accumulate should be gotten by honesty, and that way we can really enjoy what we have and sleep at night with a clear conscience.

yes, yes, yes.

[James]

Thanks for the correction. I will fix that right now.

[barleygirl]

I really love this poem. You've done a good job of showing us how choices have consequences, using a variety of scenarios, & also conveying a bit of tension with the whole decision-making process. We fallible humans are constantly tested with choices & I subscribe to the old adage: We must stand for something or we'll fall for anything. Once we incorporate our core values thru-out our lives, then the choices don't seem so agonizing, I believe. This seems in alignment with your closing statements. Perfect Sunday morning message & thanks for sharing.

[James]

Sometimes we need a little reminder to think before we act.

Thanks for reading, glad you liked it.