Self Absorption

A sad Observation about many youth

Perched in his youthful canoe

Shoulders slumped in despair

Down the river without purpose

Fixed in violent youthful fantasy 

A graceful heron glides low and silent

Head swiveling to this misplaced mote

Smiling turtles, log-aligned, watching

Their shells dried and comforting warm

Filled with angry rebellion

The young man wears ear phones

Eyes distant and unfocused

Volume loud to jar his bones

Sun filters through the riparian wood

Like white and black piano keys

Stately trees dancing in the breeze

Friends for life, moving in unison

Visions of knives and skulls

Of evil laughing specters

Thoughts of sin in black of night

Of screaming girls filled with fear

Refreshed water slips between 

Fragrant earth, embraced by roots

Gurgling, joyful, rock-massaged

On way to distant exotic places

Isolated by self absorption

The young man eats his days

And spits them out with a grimace

Ignorant of their beauty

Reviews

[Philip Muls]

The narcissism of youth, the unawareness of the total picture, the self-absorption.

I am afraid it is very much a theme today with young people blindly following evil leaders in a fake crusade.

You capture this well. Could you review mine ? I'd appreciate your opinion.

[Don't just B, but B ama..]

Very descriptive, wonderful analogies, and well written. You my Sir are a true poet. Thanks for sharing, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

[Anne Martin]

Hey papaed, it's been a long time!

This is intense. You alternate the rough, selfish existence of youths, with the tranquil setting of the river. I think I would probably use stronger words than "the young man" in the third and last stanza. It just seems a little understated, especially as implies a maturity that the young man clearly doesn't possess. Otherwise, I think the imagery is consistent and powerful.

[icelandicblue]

We miss so much when we don't bother to look. The title is perfect and the imagery of what he is missing is exquisite. So wasteful because the clock is always set on a timer.

[Coxyloxy]

How many fleeting moments have escaped unseen, how many things passed us by, How many emotions allowed to go uncomforted, how many beautiful seconds have been turned into years because of our love affair with our electronic leashes which, while convenient and necessary, speed up our world and blind us to it's once-in-a-lifetime moments? Our oblivious selves miss so much due to our preoccupation with nothingness.

[Terpsichore]

Not that long ago I was paddling the same canoe.

T

[KAREN]

Well written, a lot of emotions flows in this fine piece of art! Great imagery!

[M.E.Lyle]

Ah, youth is wasted on the young, or so I hear. I like how you switch from a scene of peace to anger;

"shells dried and comforting warm,

Filled with angry rebellion."

[papaed]

Thank you. I have seen youth floating in a canoe down a pristine crystal clear river seeing none of it and imagined the river as the flow of life as we pass through it.

[TL Boehm]

WOW. that last stanza hit right between the eyes. this is truly how it is for so many of us - not just young 'uns but those of us who are on the circular wheel, nose down - treading the dirt and never looking up. Well penned Friend!

[papaed]

Always good to see you here Tammy. And thanks for commenting. I'm not posting much. Staying busy in my semi-retirement. Only one employee now. 21 months from paying off my house. Don't imagine ever just laying back. Peace and Love to you.

[TL Boehm]

to you as well my Dear Friend.

[Beccy]

Sad but unfortunately true. This seems a very angry world of late and there is a feral violence abroad that manifests itself in social unrest, a resentment of authority and virtually no respect for the rule of law. Much of this of course, is caused by a lack of self worth and a sense of helplessness amongst the young unemployed,of which worldwide there are far, far too many.

Things need to change otherwise generations will remain ignorant of beauty.

Beccy.

[papaed]

Thank you Beccy. I think there have always been angry youth. Maturity helps us learn to appreciate our days. Each is a blessing. Each has beauty to share with us. Peace.