What We Haven't Done

For a long time I didn't see how beautiful the world we live in is, and as a result I couldn't find happiness either.

I’ve heard the wolves cry to the dim light of the moon

More then I’ve listened to the birds sing

As their music sends me dancing in my dreams.

 

I’ve watched the sun set

More often then I’ve seen it rise

Restlessly raining red.

 

I’ve seen the world dead;           

I’ve watched it die

More times then I’ve looked at a sky and felt alive.

 

I’ve never seen a bird fly,

But I’ve watched autumn leaves fall

Down halls of wind, disappearing into dimmed light.

 

My heart has never beat with passion,

But I’ve felt detachment from the Earth,

Like my feet didn’t belong on the dirt.

 

I’ve been part of a herd, a cow licking blades

Of grass in balding pastures as I saw horses

Glide out in the open, while I cowardly crouched

And hid beneath the fences of that field.

 

I was a warrior, drenched in strife as nature rained upon me

Meeting my strikes with light and beauty.

The dusk became me, shadows were my soul,

I was afraid to embrace what I had not been told.

Then, in the battle my shield broke

And the world spoke the words I had always longed to hear

But had always ignorantly feared.

 

“Embrace the grace of the grass,

play with the petals that have settled into the soil

because they toiled against storms and suns

to glimmer against natures light that grows dimmer

with each passing hour,

devouring the divine, shortening its time.

It won’t always be here for you to hold dear

So cling to the flame of the exquisite without shame.”

 

Suddenly my mind was not blind,

Time was ticking quickly

The trees were fleeing right before me.

I wanted to hold onto the world forever

And never forget the tints that glinted

Like the sun against pale snow in a soothing, soft glow.

Reviews

[Truman S. Booth]

This is one of the most gorgeous poems I've ever read. I wonder how long it took you to write it. It is masterfully crafted, especially the second to last stanza, the words from the world. The poetic devices seamlessly linked every line, and my mind slithered ethereally through its radiant beauty. A wonderful message, superbly constructed. Fantastic write.

[Sunflower 20]

this poem brings nature to life. the imagery is wonderful, i felt like i was right there with you, watching the sun set and autumn leaves fall.

Wonderful ^_^

[JanieB]

Really beautiful. Superb write!
You have truly captured what some take for granted, and it's so important to take a step back sometimes, and enjoy the world and all its beauty.

[Zoe Jay]

This is, as always, a richly layered and sophisticated write. This is very descriptive, beautifully detailed, and really fully engages with the subject matter. Absolutely top class writing. Very highly developed use of language, lovely rhythm and flow, and the descriptives are complex and detailed without being over-bearing or over-done. It also has a lot of hidden power and impact... "in the battle my shield broke" is absolutely iconic. Cannot over-rate this poem!!

[Poetic Beauty]

this is a poem about self discovery. this poem is strong and profound. the details are done in such a stunning way that allows the mind to picture each scene.

Beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful.
Let us not forget that it has a wonderful message and its' inspirational words.
Imagery = even more beautiful.
Fantastic job.

[.]

the veil has been lifted and the world beneath the world comes into focus for the first time, a breath taking thought..this flows gently through the emotional journey..I think in the first two stanza's you may have meant than as then is not in tense..lovely piece of writing..

[Desert Dreamer]

You have touched on what I think is the main reason for wars and unhappiness in the world today, the detachment from nature...to see the beauty in the world is to find the beauty in ourselves. This poem is meaningful and also full of wonderful phrases such as "devouring the divine" and "restlessly raining red". Such a wonderful creation of words!

[Kate Hunter]

very true words. Love the writing. Well done.

[goltinfron_nh]

Phenomenal. Like someone waking from a dream to find the world is what they really needed. I enjoyed the flow and the and the cadence. Exceptionally written.

[Shelly Braen]

This is a true victory for the world of writting. Your balance of words and flow are spectacular and pleasing to the eye, but your metaphores and images are so very marvelous to the mid. This piece sparkles so brilliantly. It is like looking to a colour strip, you know the ones that go from the darkest shade to the lightest of a certain pigment? This is brilliant! Wonderfully, wonderfully crafted!