I have lived

Photographer: Colin Smith.  Rising Sun, Weymouth Bay, Dorset, UK.  Licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.  The original image can be found at http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2772136.

 

 

I have lived

     …Honoring Starbucks’ poem by the same title:

        (http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Starbucks/945275/)

 

I thought, in youth, I'd always last--

A part of me still weeps!

For now there's such diminished time

Before my final sleep

 

With Man's cruel lot, what's Victory?

And who can contradict and say

That these cut flow'rs of yesterday

Don't mirror our decay?!

 

I thought, in youth, I'd always last--

There in the glory of the sun!

Did I build castles in Life's sand--

Of life make ' reckless run?

 

I wanted to embrace so much--

The precious flow'rs of fragrant Spring!

But 'neath Fate's chthon'an hand I lived--

I plumbed the depths of suffering!

 

And Life, I held your tortured bowels--

I held them bloody on my breast!

And now I know most earnestly

I'll suffer on 'til final rest

 

But know that I have fully lived!

Beheld the center of Life's Truths--

And dreamt when young, I'd always last

But now...I'm not that youth

 

 

© 2012, Richard Puetter

All rights reserved

Author's Note

Dear Friends,

I deeply thank Starbucks for encouraging me to post this piece. Thank you so much, my friend. Without the inspiration of your poem, this poem would never be.

Much respect and gratitude,

Rick

Reviews

[Lalli]

What has always struck me with some sort of abrasion is when people comment about how our writing isn't within the confines of their expectations. The art of poetry is the creation and outlet of a person's expression. This expression comes in many forms and is not limited to any structure or expectation. I'll let that sink in for anyone who may read this comment. (Unfair to you, I noticed a little of this in the reviews)

Rick,

Your poetic roots are profound, educated, and deep. So deep that often it is a depth many have not traveled yet. Of all the many writers I've read in my years on WC, you are by far one of the most articulate I've come across.

This is my absolute favorite stanza I have EVER read from you,

"With Man's cruel lot, what's Victory?
And who can contradict and say
That these cut flow'rs of yesterday
Don't mirror our decay?!"

There is so much truth in these lines. What I like about it the most though is it really makes us readers think and question for themselves. Most of your work that I've read has been creative reconstructions of history or culture. This Is the first I've read of you branching out upon more of a inspirational personal journey. I feel like through this poem, I learned more about you than your love for history and culture.

What I'm getting at is I can really identify with this poem. It made me reminisce at my own life, my own joys, recklessness, and pain. But it also allowed me to enter the realm of appreciation. To savor the moment of now! Yes, cherish the memories of the past, excitedly look forward to the future, but to not be so focused on either to the point that we miss the moment of now. As well as the acceptance of our who we are at this point in our journey. These were the inspiring stimulants from my interpretation.

beautiful write my friend. Glad I had an old friend give me a little inspiration to get on here and read something ;)

much love n' respect
-Lalli

[Persephone]

Wonderful poem - I am still very young, but even I know I undervalued younger days with yearning to be older - what a great reminder to vlaue the time one has - outstanding job!

[Marie]

The dreams of youth
Are not life's truth.

[~Artemis~]

I loved this. It had so much emotion though you never used, emotion-related words, just created images and told a story, which was brilliant. It was super powerful and actually gave me chills, Brilliant!

[WhiteWillow]

I agree with BLB..."Youth is wasted on the young..." The exact thought came to my mind when reading this. No matter how old we are, we always feel the same. But there are moments when I realize I'm not as young as I think I am, and I start to have feelings of regret. So instead, I try to repress those feelings and appreciate where I am now, and to make the most of every day.

[Mockingbird]

brings to mind dante's inferno where he is led to the circles of hell. when we are young we think we are invincible. but you journeyed through the suffering of the world. you saw the truth. after that there can be no coming back to innocence. excellent piece.

[BLBrown]

Wow. This is a hard topic to write about, but you do it very well and it seems, without trepidation. I love the analogy of the cut flowers mirroring man's decay. I also enjoyed the cadence and rhyming. What's that saying? "Youth is wasted on the young." Nicely done and I will check out Starbucks poem. I'm new to this site and am loving it!!

[Relic]

I've read most of the reviews and I can only agree with them all. This is a fine poem and your style is so impressive. Each line is full of creativity. You're a fine poet and one to be admired.

[Samuel Dickens]

I know nothing of Starbuck's poem, but yours sure rings my bells. Hardly a day goes by that I don't shake my head in disgust at who I used to be.

[Octob3r Star]

Could totally turn this into a spoken word piece. Be awesome :) Cheers

[AHHHHHHHH! Heath.]

I'm not gonna lie! That is awesome right there! Has sorta an old timey feel to it, thoroughly enjoyed! Bravo my good sir!