My Ink-Life's Wall

contemplation of a writers relative value and the price he pays to attain it

who can divine the lot of man

cast into this tomb to wither

his vessel sail upon fate's sea  

in a lifetime create what matters

unheard, unknown, to be never seen 

and vanish in perpetuity

or to leave his mark- be known, stand proud 

elevated above the crowd

who am i to judge whats best

so many strive to pass the test

do i not strive on my own quest

find harmony among the rest?

some are driven to raise their name

rise from the shadows of obscurity, dark

leave a message, invoke their claim

then boldly leave their mark

the work of an artisan a century may last 

or when dawns a new age it may pass

or glow with the classics timeless sheen, 

to forever last it seems

the vibrant bloom  at a boys command flares with the arch of hand

the artful flick of the artists wrist from the can of expressions mist

some will try with cold restraint, waste another coat of paint

oppress the message of this life to struggle above its strife

will he carve a mark to last, preserve

the annals, preen with fame

or  sigh with whispering wind to pass 

a stranger to acclaim 

the mark of kindness is future seen 

realize generosity's dream

reap the benefits of compassions mark

in contrast to cruelty, stark

the mark left by haters is ugly sure

and stays ugly until the end

who can say in the final count

if it will stain them even then

Great men of humanity often leave 

a message for all mankind

some talk of beauty, some more lasting themes,

what message will you leave behind?

Rikkevi Rue copyright 2013

Author's Note

all reviews encouraged and welcome

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

"the mark left by haters is ugly sure
and stays ugly until the end
who can say in the final count
if it will stain them even then"
A very interesting poem. Five days ago I found out about a woman "Irene Sendler". She saved 2500 kids and was imprisoned for her act and sentence to die. I wish we learn about the heroes of war. Not the murderer. I believe responsibility of a writer to shout out with words and voice the good actions of great people. I read Dryden and he taught me of his time and the great and the bad people of his age. Writers have great responsibility. We must write the truth. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry. The goal of the writer. Make the reader think. You did.
Coyote

[Matching Socks]

Yeah, liked this one.
What message will I leave behind? Good question.
What will be my legacy? I hope it's not "s**t b***h".
Thought provoking this one. 2/2, so far so good.

[Rikkevi Rue]

glad u like. yeah, was supposed to thought provoke...though frankly i thought is was a little stiff and formulaic! But then I can criticize my own work!

[Tate Morgan]

We strive to put out mark upon the land in strive.Thinking it will be round for a century or so .But haw can that compare to the accolades of the many fellows with whom we share our art?100/100

[Rikkevi Rue]

Amen my friend! Like the old song says, "Sha-la -la-la-la-la live for today!" It is true. Besides in 100 years most of us won't even remember that we were the one who wrote it when we read it! haha! I wrote a whole poem about this point titled "Un-iconic Model." Check it out sometime, but then I believe in life-after-death and that we die to live again so it could be possible that we encounter our own works later on. But will we remember them...? :-) Food for thought!

[Tate Morgan]

i wrote one similar called soul mates about drifting life to life meeting our soulmates over and over in the wrong circumstances

[Sue Ellen Walker-Koenig]

We live now, affect our world now, yet later, will we not meet each other and ourselves again? What future will we forge by writing, by being, by existence, of some shred of a better thing.

[Sue Ellen Walker-Koenig]

Say!!! Ye, but don`t. Let us leave, lying in a chamber or bed...I found my Earth desire and she found me. There is too much going on here in this place, just to abandone, but LORD, I want too. Not you Rek
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0LEV1QsDWJTHhYALGVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0Yjkwb3VoBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDM3MF8x?_adv_prop=image&fr=moz35&va=abandoned

[Sue Ellen Walker-Koenig]

This is a great message. I was thinking this very thing the other day. Mankind left a footprint on the moon, I was wondering what imprint I would leave and so I was emboldened to continue my initial quest for humanity which I began several years ago. Upon completion of my degrees, hopefully before completion I am vigorously pursuing to be part of The Clinton Global Initiative, which for my part is to help bring clean water, adequate food, and shelter to the poor here in America, but also in under-developed countries, as well as, open dialogue between us and other cultures. If nothing else I wish to leave a footprint of peace and love for fellow human-beings. I dig your writing, I get what you are saying and where you are coming from in what you write, continue on.
INTUITUS

[Rikkevi Rue]

Well met, brother-man! We share similar purposes. You "grok" me to use an old Heinlein term (book Stranger in a Strange Land) I feel that there are those of us placed here on earth who are teachers of perhaps leaders of a sort, and feel an innate responsibility to do something more than "the usual" to help out our fellow man. My tendency is more along the lines of enlightening others...

[Sue Ellen Walker-Koenig]

Excellent choice of words and I agree 100%. I think you`re writing is very enlightening, but then I can read what it is really saying for the most part. I hope to, as you, to enlighten others with my words or teachings of a sort. I want to let my head clear a little after this past, very long semester. Keep on keepin` on weaver of subconscious cosmic truth.
INTUITUS

[Rikkevi Rue]

word to the mother!