07-02-2013, 05:25 AM
The critique was concise and specific
“The poet’s subject matter is limited, indeed.
He writes exclusively about mountains and battle
Love, honor and dignity.”
“Adventure, sacrifice, courage and tenacity
Are his oft recurring themes.
His poems lack imagination
He is a single-minded poet, it seems.”
The poet responded with a demonstration offer
To prove artistic versatility.
He suggested he write a poem about nothing
For the critic and others to read.
Nothing is the diametric opposite
Of courage or a mountain he maintained.
If he could write a poem about nothing
It would certainly dispel the critic’s claim.
So pen in hand he jotted down
Nothing is without substance or form.
Nothing is the opposite of something
It has no meaning, value, or warmth.
Nothing is empty. Nothing is black
A void without a vessel, so to speak.
Nothing exists in many places
It can’t be seen, only believed.
Nothing is the sum of any boxer’s talent
Who remains prone when knocked to the ground.
Nothing is the culmination of an adventurer’s experience
When uncertainty makes them back down.
Nothing is the value of a golfer’s game
When he can’t hit a shot from the rough.
Nothing is the total of meaningful gain
When one fails because one gave up.
Nothing is the content of a person’s contribution
When they cower from truth or task.
Nothing is the measure of the size of one’s heart
When one lacks the courage to ask.
“Where is the truth? What is its meaning?
What action is the right one to choose?”
And make that selection based on honorable values
Regardless of what one might lose.
Nothing is the outcome of circumventing the mountain
That lies on the path of one’s life.
Nothing is the benefit of avoiding the battle
Only because one lacks the tolerance for strife.
Nothing is the shell that represents a person
For the duration of the life they lead.
When they abandon values and disregard virtue
For an easier way to succeed.
________
When the obvious became evident, without any remorse
The poet put down his pen.
He reflected on his failure, which appeared quite dismal
Then to the critic this message he sent.
“Mountains and battle,
Honor and strife,
Are all very integral
Parts of life.
They can be avoided,
They can be ignored,
Dismissed, denied or rejected
Of course
But to do so, to turn one’s mind to less important ideas
Is something I don’t want to do
Life is to short to long ponder that which
Means little or nothing. Adieu.”
“The poet’s subject matter is limited, indeed.
He writes exclusively about mountains and battle
Love, honor and dignity.”
“Adventure, sacrifice, courage and tenacity
Are his oft recurring themes.
His poems lack imagination
He is a single-minded poet, it seems.”
The poet responded with a demonstration offer
To prove artistic versatility.
He suggested he write a poem about nothing
For the critic and others to read.
Nothing is the diametric opposite
Of courage or a mountain he maintained.
If he could write a poem about nothing
It would certainly dispel the critic’s claim.
So pen in hand he jotted down
Nothing is without substance or form.
Nothing is the opposite of something
It has no meaning, value, or warmth.
Nothing is empty. Nothing is black
A void without a vessel, so to speak.
Nothing exists in many places
It can’t be seen, only believed.
Nothing is the sum of any boxer’s talent
Who remains prone when knocked to the ground.
Nothing is the culmination of an adventurer’s experience
When uncertainty makes them back down.
Nothing is the value of a golfer’s game
When he can’t hit a shot from the rough.
Nothing is the total of meaningful gain
When one fails because one gave up.
Nothing is the content of a person’s contribution
When they cower from truth or task.
Nothing is the measure of the size of one’s heart
When one lacks the courage to ask.
“Where is the truth? What is its meaning?
What action is the right one to choose?”
And make that selection based on honorable values
Regardless of what one might lose.
Nothing is the outcome of circumventing the mountain
That lies on the path of one’s life.
Nothing is the benefit of avoiding the battle
Only because one lacks the tolerance for strife.
Nothing is the shell that represents a person
For the duration of the life they lead.
When they abandon values and disregard virtue
For an easier way to succeed.
________
When the obvious became evident, without any remorse
The poet put down his pen.
He reflected on his failure, which appeared quite dismal
Then to the critic this message he sent.
“Mountains and battle,
Honor and strife,
Are all very integral
Parts of life.
They can be avoided,
They can be ignored,
Dismissed, denied or rejected
Of course
But to do so, to turn one’s mind to less important ideas
Is something I don’t want to do
Life is to short to long ponder that which
Means little or nothing. Adieu.”