Wonder and Ponder

This poem looks deep into a young man's heart and externalizes many questions troubling his soul.

Wonder and Ponder by Malik Amandla
 

Is education the key to a happy life
Or is it the pursuit of money or a wife
How do I deal with the inevitable daily stress
Do I ask for help or fly solo and do my best
 

What is my purpose on this God created land
Can I focus on myself, would I still be a righteous man
Who will help me beat the odds and persevere
Should I ask my peers, would they even care
 

Will most people really burn for all eternity in hell
Or will they rejoice in heaven with a joyful yell
Should I ostentatiously take pride in everything I do
Or is better to remain humble and socially invisible
 

Why am I criticized so much for being honest and blunt
If the truth sets me free, why am I the prey during the hunt
Should I try to love everyone despite some of their ways
Do I open my arms to people who'll cut me apart like fillets
 

Does everyone face unfavorable odds without exceptions
How do you succeed when there are so many directions
Will I really be strengthened by the troubles I survive
Why is their chaos in my heart like a disturbed hive
 

If I pray and read the bible will God really speak
Where can I find the answers I tenaciously seek
 

Author's Note

I love any and all criticism and compliments. I embrace them to help me become a better writer. Please be direct and honest with me. Thank you.

Reviews

[Blade & Blood (The ..]

Wow, nice pondering. The narrator is such a curious fellow-- in a healthy way, thank God. Excellent poem! It really does reflect the wondering of such adolescence and young adults. Oh! And I totally agree with Margaret; Following your own heart does a life well. ;)

Thank you for such a well-thoughtout poem. ^^

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

[Kgosi]

honestly i cannot comment on the pice bcoz, on its own its good.... what you've menifested in is a body of confusion- " i think"- but it aint that bad...look at it this way, ignorance is bliss, which ever way you look at it, so while your pondering and wondering obout the enevitable made possible without your site... remember that you might be ignoring the real rfeason why you posed the question or just not seeing the straight foward answer. the piece was great thou.-- i dont critisiz, nor judge, but speak the truth that i feel fits. cho

[Jrizme]

Good Poem bro...You find very few writings that entail the struggles men face in dealing with the multidimensional emotional issues we face. Good read! :)

[SIL_glasshalffull]

All I can do is sit here and agree with the wonderful things everyone has said. Simply applaud you for your gracious way of writing. You do posess the ability to find the truth, and be blunt with it. I hope it has indeed set you free thus far.
Ponder magnificently as you already have and you will find the answers you seek. Most likely in youself.

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Malik,

A wonderful and deep write. You touch on many of the major questions in life with your poem. But your questions themselves, and the way you pose them, tells me that you know most of the answers already. The questions you pose are in the forms of the absolutes taught in most of western culture. But I think you already see that these absolutes do not really apply. There is no secret formula to life. Your seeking for the answers is the admirable part of this poem. The journey is all. The final destination is subject to the whims of the unverse and where you will ultimately land is only partially under your control. So ultimately it is you that will need to answer these questions with your truths.

A wonderful poem.

Kindest regards,

Rick

[[untitled]]

I think you are well on your way to becoming a great writer. You touched every issue we all face in life. Your poem was a great read. Well done.

[Loribeth215]

Very good.
These are the questions that we all keep coming back to in life.

[Little Amy Lee]

I love this
and i love the words you use in this.

[A LaDy NaMeD D]

Curiousity is such a beautiful thing lol. I like this it's a creative look at inner thoughts and the questions i'm pretty sure every young person ponders *dag i sound old when i say that lol*. Do you, follow your instincs and you should be good.

Danni J

[Celtic Cat]

Wow, this is righteous! I love it. No critiques from me. I like the whole concept and your delivery was spot on. It's interesting to hear these words coming from someone else. How often have I pondered directions and this crazy world myself? Too many. You've gone ahead and made an excellent poem of the anguish... now THAT's alchemy right there.

ps-God will speak through anyone, anything, anytime, anywhere. Be sure of at least that!!
Much love~~

[Suzanne Deakins]

You have some nice ideas here... 2 things... give youself some stanzas in this poem, it is a bit heavy and the reader needs breathing room, second... dont try to rhyme, you have a great poetic vocabulary and rhyming distracts imho, from the energy of your ideas... keep at it ! SD