The Challenge

"my response to reading Yvor Winter's The Realization"

Life. Nothing much to it. One breathes

the allotted cache of inhalations,

learns to accept the diagnosed disease

of decadence: shrinking limbs, cations

constant fluxing, a heart's arrhythmic

falling in and out of love, the ache

of waking in a bed bare of rhymes,

the ever dismembered lines.

But death, by God, there's a challenge!

Just try to evade your conscripted duty

to live, be free of the need to scavenge

a dram of pleasure from the brute tea

of existence. See how easy it is

to stopper the will, refuse the great quiz?

Ken e Bujold

2022

Reviews

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

What becomes of us in the fleeting moments we hold to in memory. These little things we cling to are they illusions of a good life? Are they meant only to tingle the senses in their brevity? Awaken something greater within ourselves that echo beyond this mortal coil? I remember the death of my father. I held his hand when he expired. I remember a very subtle warmth pass through my hand before it became ice cold. Was it his memory? The semblance of him and all the acquired knowledge he had in this life? Memory. I won't know unfortunately till I reach the same point. But I'll go...fearless. CLE

[Ken e Bujold]

I also was there when my father passed. It is a memory I shall never lose. I think you sense the point of this poem Carlos. While I am fond of Yvor Winter's work, this particular poem of his "The Realization" has always struck me as much to sweet for my liking

[softlyfall]

The alliteration is masterful. You have such a wonderful way of using the sound of the words in a sort of synesthetic way. It is so satisfying to read your poems because they never throw a log in the road. I can just go with the flow and enjoy it and let the meaning penetrate

[Ken e Bujold]

thank you for such kind words Soft. 40+ yrs of practice I would hope I have the cadence part down by now :)

[mattavelli]

Hello, Ken! :)
This was a fun read. The struggle makes life fun. It's the moods that get in the way. Haha

[Ken e Bujold]

I have always been fond of Winter's poetry, though "The Realization" has always struck as being just a tad too much of an moralist's fantasy. Reread it the other day, and this little poem became the result. If you are not familiar with him, he is worth a perusal

[mattavelli]

I've never heard of him, don't know much poetry, mostly just here for the chicks. What's your favorite poem or metaphor?

[Ken e Bujold]

poets are too numerous to say one. I was English lit major. but for sake of conversation I will say today, because I have just finished a poem about Hart Crane, "The Brooklyn Bridge". Metaphor again, too many, but give you one of my fav's of my own writing from my poem "The Seafarer" what land-favored man doubts his own lot's luck?

[mattavelli]

Cool, I'll check it out.