The Easiness

I was always told

   that this was the easy way out.

But I was told this by those

   whom I now have every reason to doubt.

For they have never stood just like this,

   at the edge of the precipice.

           But, I tell you now:

The easiness they spoke of

   was not as easy as they told me.

And if the easiness they spoke of

   led me to this, who there will hold me?

Then, as the sun rose above the quarry,

   off the rocks below, a voice echoed.

It shewed away the darkness as it spoke:

   You’ve made life’s mistakes;

You’ve played dice with snakes;

   You’re only human--but you’re made of gold.

           And, now I know:

The easiness they spoke of

   was not as easy as they told me.

And if the easiness they spoke of

   led me to this, who there will hold me?

Downward rains these gentle thoughts,

   that gets me through those days…

Those days, when I stood in that very spot;

   and the question answered to my downward gaze.

           Now, I can honestly say:

The easiness they spoke of

   was not as easy as they told me.

And if the easiness they spoke of

   led me to this, who there will hold me?...

Reviews

[KWP]

The tone of this piece is a real gauge of what you are trying to portray. It is like the narrator has walk the storm, right though it and come out the other side to find the resurrection of peace and tranquility. It's so true, life and experience give us humans the capacity to cope.

I question the repetition of stanza's - it's such. great piece - wonder if this repetition serves the purpose. I wonder if you could add more shining wisdom through a metaphor.

Saying that - I come away with a little piece of serenity - well done X

[Wesley Dingler]

Thanks, K.
I'm glad you thought of it so.

I suppose I could change it around, but, if I may say so, that would be like second-guessing myself for someone else's taste.
Not trying to sound harsh, it's just that it came about the way you read it here, and we aren't story-tellars as much as we are antennas for stories greater than our own.
It reads exactly as I felt when I wrote it, and so it stays this way, as a reminder of a bad time in my life. The repetitions are like me reminding myself what I found on that precipice.

However, on the upside, you just gave me an idea for another verse of similar proportion.
I will start on that one tonight, and maybe it will be more metaphorical.

Thanks for giving me your thoughts and thoughts of my own.

Much appreciated.


-wes

[KWP]

hey Wes - oh yeah, we all have our own unique view point - my thoughts were the here and now back then when I wrote it a few minutes ago. My perception after eating an omelette may have canned already ;)

The tone you have used is rather striking - just so you know it grabbed me right away.

[Wesley Dingler]

I'm proud of that.
But for real, though, you gave me a new idea to gestate.

When I'm done, I owe you one.

[Sami Khalil]

"You’ve made life’s mistakes;

You’ve played dice with snakes;

You’re only human--but you’re made of gold.



And, now I know:"

[Sami Khalil]

Hello my friend! I have not seen you in a while. Pardon me! I guess we all went through hell and high water during the crisis on a world-wide scale. To those who survived it, I hope they came out more resilient and hopeful for the future. This is a powerful poem and message. I like the repetition too to drive the message home. Take care.

[Wesley Dingler]

Thanks Sam. I have missed all of you. Naturally I have done my part to make the best of the worst. I hope you and everyone else has as well.

[Sami Khalil]

Same here. Survival is a must. No giving up. You are welcome.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

The Easiness'
Wesley Dingler,
From the title I couldn't help but smile. Living is anything but easy as it is an ongoing process of thought and feeling. Coming to the end of your poem the reality of decisions and how we accept or reject the input of people and life became a good center point for this writing. Where, how do we find meaning, safety of heart and mind. Life is a really vulnerable existence so full of ups and downs. Any way thanks for listening to my ramblings. You have shared your own inner essence from pain beautifully! Good Job.
Blessings,
Kathy

[Wesley Dingler]

Thank you Kathy. I am greatful you loved it so much. I am sorry i have been away for so long. It has been a hell of a year. I am back now though. And happier than ever. This poem came feom a dark and lonely place inside of me that doesnt exist that way anymore. That place is filled with something brighter and more satified now.

[Carol Cashes]

Duuuude! Dark and intense, but a blinding sun coming out from behind the clouds saves the day!

This is a thinking person's poem. It is only as you progress through each verse that the true meaning hits you, which is brilliant by the way - helluva hook. A gentle challenge to another contemplating the same? "Think dude! If it's easy, tell me who is going to be there." and maybe even a "Don't listen to strangers!" (The "they" you reference throughout).

Hmmph! I liked this and you're like really smart...and stuff.

[Wesley Dingler]

Thank, Carol. I'm certainly smarter now than I was on that cliff. You hit the nail on the head.
read moreThank, Carol. I'm certainly smarter now than I was on that cliff. You hit the nail on the head.

The "they" I mention are the ones who don't care enough, in truth, to talk you down from the ledge in the first place. Instead, they see you on the ledge and only judge you as being a person who took the "easy" way. But here's another thing, haven't they also taken the easy way just by saying this?
Whoever they are, they sound obtuse to me.
It's funny really, how I have this revelation as I write you this: People are always so quicker to label and judge than they are to lend a hand or a voice to help.
So, another kudos to someone who pointed out something in my verse I didn't see at first.
Yes, that's it. People who only judge and nay-say, they are the ones who are really taking the easy way, aren't they, my friend.

That's why, as the repetition comes about three times, by the third, I've lost all faith here in what they might have to say. I then turn and take another route. I choose life--which is not easy--but is so great all the same. And, in my opinion, life is everything you want it to be, depending on how badly you want it to be.

I didn't want to die there in truth, so I didn't die there. A unconscionable voice rose up from within me, asked the question here that saved my life.
"if it was so much more easy for them than it was for me, who there will I have to befriend?"

Wonderful review and excellent interpretation.
You and I are going to go well together, i think.

[Carol Cashes]

I don't know what's wrong...but I can't read past "nail on the head" from here. I only know you wrote more than that from The Feed.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Those people who plant such thoughts have no right to offer said embrace. Cause what a life lasting shadow of grief is left.
A really strong piece.

[Wesley Dingler]

Thanks, Cherrie. I'm always happy to hear from you.
This one was one of last year's darker pieces I wrote.
even reading it now, with a bright happy new year ahead, this verse seems to leave a cold, bitter taste in my mouth.
This is more like something that tore its way out of me, rather than was written

[Cherrie Palmer]

Those pieces that are so intimate and emotionally fueled are overwhelming to write and even to go back and read.

[barleygirl]

Right away, I was taken with your use of the word "easy" (as in "taking it easy") juxtaposed against the word "easiness" -- you make the 2 words seem more different than similar, which is unexpected. I love the way this is wrapped up in the way "they" (whoever they may be) always seem to be telling us how to live our lives, but regardless of wisdom or care, life always takes us by surprise! Your way of writing is SHOWING (instead of telling) with strong rhyme. (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wesley Dingler]

haha. You're smarter than the average bear, Marjie.
Good eye.
There is a psychological language to how I write poetry as well. And this is just one of those examples.

[Robert Trakofler]

I have a very close friend who jumped from the Cathedral of learning at the university of pittsburgh. He had his frontal lobes crushed in an auto accident thus rendering his inhibitions to next to zero! This made for quite a colorful personality he was brutally honest about every aspect of his existence, a true poet without ever having to write a word. The medication that kept him stable was one that was never going last and he knew he was running against the clock. Secure in this knowledge he went at life with both guns blazing the reverie was enchanting to observe but always with a pinch of sadness for me the observer of whom was keenly aware of his situation. In a conversation we agreed that if things ever got to bad for him and he was to be hospitalized he would call and tell me that he wants to meet me at the tower about a job opportunity working for some aliens (that was how his mind worked.) Over time I had lost contact with him for various reasons probably for the sake of sobriety... One day i got a phone call from him "Rob, come and meet me at the towers, i've got some alien friends i would like you to meet." and he hung up the phone. Now I have a neurological problem myself that affects my memory so it didn't register right away and i just kind of dismissed it as one of John's weirdnesses about three hours later i get another phone call from a mutual friend john is dead I dropped to my knees and i think part of me is still there i was told he wrote something to me on the wall next to the window before he jumped but i never found out what it was he said. This wonderful poem brought all of that back to me just now boom! If i could speak for john, your outcome from the precipice is much better and i hope the enlightenment from it has a lasting effect on you as i'm sure he would too after saying you need to eat more carrots. I am so glad i read this one

[Wesley Dingler]

That's such a sad story.
I'm sorry to hear that.
But I'm glad you liked the piece.

[Wesley Dingler]

I'm always very happy with the piece when someone is brought to such a power reflection by my work.

[Robert Trakofler]

Oh yes indeed you made me write about it twice now

[Wesley Dingler]

hellz yeah.
This is why I won't do two shows a night...
I won't do it.


")

[Lanny]

So, I can see this working well as song lyrics, and the topic you deal with so wonderfully thorough your sincere reflective process resonates strongly; as well, your specific diction to generate your emotive exploration is particularly effective.

Nicely done, and all the best,

Lanny

[Wesley Dingler]

Thank you so much, lanny. I really don't write dark stuff much these days, but some how, this tore its way out of me.
For me, it was one of those pieces that made me feel like I had left behind a heavy weight and sadness after it was done.
It was therapy, if you will.