and nothing remains?

What is life and why is it so hard

                     and nothing remains?

 

 

 

I have stood on aging avenues

watching walls crumble

while destiny’s debris

collects

at my feet

 

pieces of the past?

 

I have heard the laughter of babies

and the wail of the homeless,

opposites in a

straight line of

what is

and what might be

 

voices of the future?

 

I have stared into the portals of

left over meanings,

methodically

laid out to rest

on long tables

of bad intents

 

visions cast of shadows?

 

I have knelt before a dream,

clutching my chest

with indecision,

the pain

a reminder of my

fragile heart-

opened

 

memories of lost love?

 

I have cried

without a witness,

empty streams of

dense forgiveness,

requested of no one

and answered by the same

 

and nothing remains?

 

 

 

Author's Note

Thank you for reading

Reviews

[Rita L. Sev]

Intense piece of free verse.

I have heard the laughter of babies
and the wail of the homeless,
opposites in a
straight line of
what is
and what might be

This verse makes me sad - wondering why there has to be such polarity...
Not your usual style, Jack, but your usual talent... Love this.

[Jack...]

I always appreciate you Rita, Thank you

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A very sad and poignant poem Jack written in one of your flowing linking styles.

[Jack...]

Thanks John. I appreciate it.

[Pryde Foltz]

Quite like this one. The words are simple and yet full of meaning and love the format.

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much Pryde. Your kind words make me smile.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

This was so amazingly well written. I love the way that you stepped completely out of the box and just opened your heart to the reader with lines that spoke in images and vivid complexities. "And nothing remains"...and that is pretty much all that I can say in reading this, because you have said everything else; there is no more to be said. A favorite of mine...

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Sarah. This was one of my first attempts at free-verse...maybe the one that set me on an alternate path. Notice the stand alone lines??? Learned that from you.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

haha I enjoyed every bit of this...such impact.

[shallimarRose]

"I have stared into the portals of
left over meanings,
methodically
laid out to rest
on long tables
of bad intents"

"I have cried
without a witness,
empty streams of
dense forgiveness,"

Well my dear Jack.. It would seem you are as good at free verse as you are with Rhyme... Loving every word and the power of thought here..... Rose

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Rose. You have no idea how happy it makes me to se you on my page. I always appreciate your uplifting and kind words.

[shallimarRose]

I cannot seem to send you rr now but would like you to read clandestine when you have time.. ? shallimarHuggs!!!

[SyberRose]

Nicely penned free verse...i listened to the show tonight....you were all great....:)i enjoyed it.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Rose

[Tate Morgan]

Well life is meant to be hard i suppose those are the thing that carve our character. Love being the one we use to sooth those pains

[Jack...]

You are correct. Thank you so much

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i love the fifth stanza...what imagery...i like the poem within the poem here...

the juxtaposition of the positives and negatives i have seen.

really good stuff, jack.

"and nothing remains" but something does with this poem...the recollection that stays with us.

[Jack...]

Thank you so much sir. I appreciate you stopping by today.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

You are truly gifted at writing substantial pieces which touch my heart...
Your experiences and heartache is penned to perfection... This is strong in it's execution, the last stanza and last line tore at my heart...Superb write!

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much Robbie. I only hope my poetry has as profound affect on you as yours does on me.

[Frieda P]

Another engaging write from your pen Jack, this gets down to the nitty gritty of what is fragile in our lives and how our expectations have been batted around. That last verse is killer...I think you're really getting into this free verse, you do it with so much style and grace, it's impressive and grand.

[Jack...]

Thanks to you my friend.