You Cannot Change a Shark

you cannot change a shark
we are all exactly what we are
but how do you live without guilt,
when what's inside you is razor sharp?

when what drives you is purely vicious?

 
   you give away what you get
   you stay angry but never down
   you share everything awful
   and all that makes you frown
   with a smile and some hope

   as an avenue for problem drownings 

as even the most natural monster

full of pure unadulterated anger
can yet provide good reason and noble motivation

with a method that isn't simply based on smashing 

nor breaking
nor calling someone else a stupid name

when we understand our basic anger
we understand

that in it of itself it is not the devil

with the proper motivation 

pure unadulterated anger. . .

   she becomes a cousin to curiosity
   he becomes a brother to problem solving

   it becomes the progenitor of righteous change 

it can truly be the lifeblood of a better world 

how we improve the shittiest of situations

for no tangible material reasons

but solely for the betterment of what's around us

and from all of us, from every single one of us
that pure anger can be a privilege
that thing that was always missing

(with an honest focus)

hunting the worthwhile adversaries 

making right the worst of situations

just because it pisses you off

just because it makes you angry

so maybe we cannot be something we are not

. . . so if you're angry, but not a monster

if you're a shark, but not a killer

  never fight that which cannot hit you back

  always fight for a difference beyond yourself

if we would just change our goals

but stay the same

we just might change the world

because we stayed the same

     (but different) 

Author's Note

Reviews

[AYVID N]

"never fight that which cannot hit you back"
and have the discretion to know which is which. Venting spleen purely for the sake of it is destructive universally, yet as you say, we cannot change what we are.

As it takes superhuman will to counter the rage, one can try damage control yet not sure to what extent it mends things broken mindlessly but deliberately when one goes full throttle. So introspection is the key.

No one appreciates a toothless shark or a cat with a lost killer instinct. Because that's the whole beauty of it. Channelling the chaotic energy within can and does perhaps make a positive difference. Again that cannot be expected all the time as we are human. One also needs to be appreciated as one is, just as a killer shark in the deep blue sea is.

What you say here has sound reasoning and is practical in relating to our intrinsic nature and how we reason with ourselves. Very nicely put.

[Davidgeo]

Thanks Divya. It is almost always pathetic when someone neuters their true nature. Conversely, it is always impressive when someone adapts their true nature in a positive way.

I really like the idea behind this one but I kinda botched the execution of it. I don't think it reads naturally like good poetry should. It kinda sucks actually.

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

good work david like this how do you get music on pages and poems here ive tried to no avail

[AYVID N]

I liked it a lot as it is, David. Thank you for sharing what you thought, here.

[guy drori]

I loved this poem! It shows how to maintain the prefecr balance - on one hand not to be a ruthless monster but on the other hand stay true to our dark side . . . very nice :)

[peter Duggan]

Wise words you have written here David. I believe in a peaceful life. I could not care less about what I see. I just flow along with life. I enjoyed your poem, mate....peter

[Davidgeo]

You have the right idea about living I think.

As beautiful as all the apex predators are I'd hate to have to do the things that they have to do to survive. What we would call a psychopathic killer is what they would call a successful hunter.

I'm just fine admiring them from a far.

Thanks for reading me Peter. I do appreciate anyone who leaves an interesting review.

[Chris Shaw]

Never fight that which can not hit you back
always fight back for a difference beyond yourself

Those two lines really registered. We might not be able to change the behaviour of sharks, but we sure learn how to recognize them, and respect them I might add. I think I would be a bit wary of swimming too close to a shark for fear it might eat me alive, but from a respectable distance, I can admire them and try to understand what drives their behaviour.

If anger is channeled in the right direction, it can move mountains and make a difference for the good. Wrong way and it can cause devastation. (that is subjective of course)

Plenty of bait in your poem for your readers to contemplate David.

Chris

[Neville]

Say it like it is why dont ya... I wonder whether these words had to be written with the same or even more urgency than I felt compelled to read them... whatever the case, you are of course spot on with your shark analysis and associated perceptions... Cheers, Neville

[drew garner]

Saner than some of your work. Love your ruthless honesty. Have you read Ryu Murakami's coin locker babies? Something tells me you may like it.

[Davidgeo]

I haven't. But I will, I think I can trust your recommendations.

In the past 4 minutes I fixed the errors in the above poem. On weekends I'm always a s****y editor until after the fact. I'm just not a good writer when I drink. That's reason 469 why Bukowski would be disappointed in me. Good poets are supposed to be good drinkers.