Falling Off The Edge of The World

Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.

... and so what of us who still think the world flat

those who didn't go in search of diamonds, emeralds or rubies

forgetting gold, silver and ivory

oh the rich song that the piper, flutist and cellist still play

morning opening and shutting its eyelids to a new day

horizon's treasures nearer but eternal

content rather in their own lush back yards

offering no apologies for circular arguments or rich indigence

as misguided drummers of trees break their sticks

inhaling contented abundance of little

relishing truth along with sweet cousin innocence

spilling life's oceans and rivers

winter turned to but a few mere shivers

dancing to a different song

peering through ethereal, power windows along with all of their stained, broken shards

Author's Note

As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness. - Thoreau

Reviews

[willweb]

Those who pushed on even though thinking they might fall off of the edge of the world took the steps needed so that those in their backyard, bar-b-queing chicken legs and such could actually relax by the pool with no worries of ever falling in. :) Really cool my friend.

[Pete]

thanks for sharing ww. begs the question - do those who push the envelope do it for sheer knowledge or elevation of mankind or to line their pockets, perhaps both or one under guise of the other some do it simply because they can ... :)

[carl]

Thought provoking write and well formed and stated, much truth in what you have to say, but also there were those who sailed over the edge for truth and knowledge ( HMS Beagle 1831 - 1836) I am not saying I believe everything they purported but seems to me it did advance knowledge. Having said that I am a firm believer in Money as the root of all evil, and your claim that most voyage are as you said a search for wealth and most often with mass destruction to those they encountered in the process. I thought your quote in aurhor's note was very interesting and worthwhile Thanks for the post- carl

[Pete]

thankful for the excellent share carl. true there were those who did but man is never satisfied and keeps pushing the envelope. how many times can we reinvent the wheel - always new ways of doing the same old things. probably all the talk about the coming artificial intelligence revolution has got me thinking. when is enough enough - now we need something else to do our thinking? no one measures the consequences of so called "advancement" until it is too late. there is good and bad. only nature/creation is pure and incorruptible although man tries to tinker with it as well. must be i'm getting old. as thoreau wrote in the 1800's, "We do not ride on the railroad, it rides upon us." peace brother ... :)

[carl]

no one measures the consequences of so called "advancement" until it is too late - absolutely one of our worst human inclinations "let's try this and see what happens." and yes we are destroying nature and by that I believe we will destroy ourselves. Thinking it is okay to poop in your own bed is another stupid attitude that we have.