A Reminder of Many Other Things

This poem is about how asking simple questions can bring one to realize much more complex things.

Such sadness it brings to look upon that with brings sadness,
And happy are the days when one is with that which makes him happy.

What value is it to say such things, but as a reminder of many other things?

Such other things, that which are often much less obvious than one might realize.

That one may choose between happy or sad, for if one may choose to look upon the sad,

He too may choose not to. And if one chooses not to look upon the sad,

May he then begin to look for that which makes him happy? Surely it is so.

But too is it true, that once such happiness is found, one may then choose to abandon it,

Only to look back at that which brings sadness. And thus it is so, no matter the power of it's grip,

Neither happiness nor sadness is a fate. Rather, it is a choice, one that is obvious once made apparent.

So we are born, so too do we die. From the ground do we gather for feasts,

From the rivers do we gather for drinks, from the sky do we gather for breaths.

What value is it to say such things, but as a reminder of many other things?

Such other things, that which are often much less obvious than one might realize.

Such knowledge we bear. From minds great and small, we understand our place.

Connected we are, to all things, both living and not. We take only to give it back.

From the ground we came, for from the ground came life. Surely it is so.

For we eat, drink, and breathe that which gives us life, both to ourselves, and our children,

Only to, upon death, give our lives back to the very same fields, rivers, and skies that gave it to us.

What then is our very existence if not for Mother Nature herself? Should we not praise her for her works?

Never does one live without her graces, so should we not return these graces in thanks?

As far as we have come, as much as we have built and learned, lived and sung,

Do we no longer need her? Then I say in the least, we learn that we put her before ourselves,

lest we run dry the teat of our own mother and starve.

The mind is no different than the body. Neglect it, and it shall be but a lamb, weak and malleable.

But, if one were to train their mind, one could make it to be as a lion, strong and resilient.

What value is it to say such things, but as a reminder of many other things?

Such other things, that which are often much less obvious than one might realize.

Now more than ever, do we live in an age where the pen truly is mightier than the sword.

Much are we dependent on the machinations of man, both the systems and devices we create.

Such creations come from the minds that are of lions, mighty and majestic,

But used by the minds that are of lambs, defenseless and gullible. What then can one do,

When a lion chooses to feast upon the lambs, the shepherds unable to protect the flock?

So then are the lambs but by natural consequence at the mercy of the lion. Surely it is so.

While the lambs frolic in the fields, unaware of the dangers of the world,

The lions fight, aware of the dangers of the world, to ensure their survival.

While the lambs must trust in their shepherd, at the mercy of his will,

The lions are free to think and act as they may, knowing and acting that their actions determine their fate.

It is ignorance that is the food from which the lambs eat,

While it is knowledge that is the food from which the lions eat.

Only from eating the food known as knowledge may lambs know that of lions.

It is faith that is the water of which the lambs drink,

While it is reason that is the water of which the lions drink.

Only from drinking the water known as reason may lambs think that of lions.

The lamb may not know of the chaos around it, but that does not mean the chaos isn't real.

The lion knows of the chaos around it, and it fights accordingly.

The lamb may follow the shepherd, but the shepherd may lead the lamb astray.

The lion follows none, trusting in himself to protect himself.

The lamb does nothing to combat the chaos surrounding both the lion and the lamb,

Yet the lion fights the chaos, well aware of the consequences it brings not to.

It is through knowing this that one realizes that despite the lamb,

The lion is the one who protects the lamb. Who is the real shepherd?

Who is the real lion?

Reviews

[lua]

a wisdom lies behind these words, so beautifully written and challenges the reader to stop and question themselves

[Michael Iam Bone]

Thank you, I often try to engage my readers into asking themselves questions they normally wouldn't ask themselves.