The Witness

A meditation on a mystery

Apparently, life chose

To come to this place.

Who will judge it wrong?

Evidently, life decided

The trouble was worth it.

Who will say it was a mistake?

Through aeons of pain it continues,

Despite endless fields of blood,

It persists,

And I in my small corner witness

The awesome process as it unfolds,

By turns admiring and appalled,

Ever aware the thing is beyond

My knowing,

But in my heart still saying,

Yes, Yes, Yes.

Author's Note

For now we see through a glass, darkly

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes, yes, yes. For we have no choice. Because we did not chose for humankind to emerge from the primordial soup. Nor did we choose our birth or fate. But just like someone with terminal cancer indeed we simply have to get on with living and say yes. You captured the question well in this flowing piece.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks. It is all right to be aware of life's shortcomings, but when you say it is evil, you are asking for trouble.

[HB Rita]

Something is not in our hand. We think something, many times happen something else. Who can we blame when life decides to stands against us?
I read your poem a few time to understand the actual message. I am don't think that I am that knowledgeable to judge your writing, Thank you for the brilliant writing.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks. I think you have grasped the poem's meaning.

[HB Rita]

I am glad. I tried. Thank you.

[kentuck14]

"I am . . . the life." Well written, John.
Tom

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Tom. We all can but witness this and be awestruck.

[Neville]

I think you have captured something if not very special, at the very least, something bigger than it might at first appear... certainly something important... and above all.. I like it very much indeed...

[John the Baptist]

Thanks. Often that which is most important has been in plain sight all along, but we were looking in the wrong direction.

[Neville]

pleasure and mine truly...

[Chris Shaw]

I don't like what I currently see, but there again when you look back in history, there is much there as well to despise. I am a fairly optimistic person, I remain hopeful for improvement. There are many areas where good deeds continue, sadly we don't hear about them because good news doesn't sell newspapers. A thoughtful write John.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Chris. Yes, the current picture can be quite dismal, but as you say, history has contained other bad times. The thing is not to become demoralized by passing things.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i am not sure i like where we are...in general...have lived to see many things...many good, but many would rather not see...and for me, more appalled these days at what the world has become...
but my heart is still longing, longing, longing...
I like this...and yes, who will say it was a mistake...i guess everything does happen for a reason...and hopefully things will turn again to what we can admire...
j.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, J. Indeed, there is much appalling in what we are seeing today. I just don't want to see people lapse into cynicism and lethargy because of it.