Being Me

I can recall being in the military and serving in the hot Middle East.

We were stood on parade with our starched uniforms soon degrading with our perspiration. The flies buzzed around us and landed on our nose and face. We could not move as we awaited the very late non-caring attendance of a so-called very prominent VIP officer.

As I stood there, a thought came to my mind.

Just one move from my own individual self.,

I could break all regulations.

Go into a dance., march correctly out of place �" anything just to be myself again.

Yet, I dare not. The thought so tempted me, I had to quickly wipe it from my mind.

I have had the same since.,

Stand over a high bridge over deep water.

Just one move from my own decision.,

And I would be over the side.

But I dared not and soon had to wipe it from my mind.

Neither was rebellion or even suicide,

It was just me doing something on my own

That defies all other so conformity reason.

Living true is such a tough decision to make.

Especially if it goes against the grain.

Some, like I mentioned above, would be purposeless.

But others far more related.,

Just might be the best brave crazy move we could ever make!

Reviews

[Gee]

Hmmm,like this.It is much easier to be happy in your own skin ONCE all of the mistakes of growing up have been made.No care to pleasing others for pleasing sake,as long as your family and friend's love you,and love you warts and all then sod everybody else.Poem or not....who cares !!

[Christine Peters]

Right on! All the best to you.

[JayG]

Interesting thought. I've been there. But (and there always is one, isn't there?) It's not a poem. It's an essay broken into one line sentences.

Poetry is made to be read aloud, and to give pleasure from the wordplay, the cadence caused by the rhythm of the language chosen, and the thoughts being expressed—a synergy that is more then the sum of its parts.

For an interesting introduction to what you can do with language, without the reader noticing, take a look at the excerpt for Stephen Fry's, The Ode Less Traveled, on your favorite bookseller site.

He's talking primarily about structured poetry, which you're not writing. But the things he has to say about the flow of words and the effect on the reader is well worth a look.

[Christine Peters]

JayG.,

I totally agree with you.

It is not a poem.

If you look at my profile I like to write Truth and Humour and this is what it is. I enjoy observation and also relating back to my own experiences. I am long in the tooth now.

I have submitted many articles here that relate to that. I consider myself a writer but not or never a poet.

Yet as fraudulent as I have been, I only ticked the poet box because I have discovered it is most read here.

My real talent lies in short story writing with humour that is true to life, but with some exaggerated imagination.

You have found me out -

However, I am still a writer.

Regards,

Christine Peters

PS – this and all my latest works could still be read aloud – but more as stand-up real life humour.

[Christine Peters]

If I am honest, I don't understand poetry.

So much sublime that needs to be understood.

I much prefer to tell it as it is for all to understand.

So why this so much secrecy with poetry?

[Christine Peters]

Nobody really tells it as it is.

[Christine Peters]

When you write about true life.,

Is that not poetry alone?

Christine Peters