The Starhiker
Live your life as if it were your last.
See the future, but remember the past.
You will die, and be born again,
And each time it will be in pain.
When Death comes, you will spite her.
You're immortal. You're a Starhiker.
© Jim T. Henriksen
May 20th, 2005
Author notes
This poem I have submitted to Masked Desires' contest "Contest. . . .JUST ENTER!", under option 1. Try to figure out what I wrote about here... 
Written May 20th, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- Contest. . . .JUST ENTER! by Trial and Error.
500 points, ended November 18, 2005, 3 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 49 of 49
-
This is a badass write!
I've always said, the most can be said
...in the fewest and powerfullness of thoughts! -
-
Thanks, fallower!
Thanks a lot for the comment, fallower! Many of my early poems were like that, short and powerfull in thoughts... You should take a look.
Jim
-
-
Hi, Erin! Sorry, I didn't know what didactic or aphorism meant, so I looked it up... The first line is not an aphorism (or a saying as it means), but a rewrite of a saying. The saying goes Live each day as if it were your last... And even if it is close to the saying, using sayings in poems is a common thing... I used it to start off telling the reader that it was about something bigger. If I used aphrostics, or clichés if you like, I am sorry, I just tried to put my thoughts together in a way that made sense, describing my life philosophy. This poem IS me, it was written by me five years ago... Thanks for your contructive critisism, but I decline your challenge, as the poem is already written, and I do not rewrite a poem I am satisfied with.
Jim
-
this poem has a very didactic feel to it (which doesn't always sit well with me). the first line is a well known often used aphorism. starting off a poem with an aphorism, at least for me, detracts from the poem's sense of originality and import.
again, "you [we] will die", is another well used maxim. in fact, most of what this poem expresses is in aphoristic form.
my challenge to you would be to rewrite this poem using language that is more original, more you. note that the only image in this poem is the picture above it. if a poem must convey aphoristic notions, let it at least do so with the assistance of strong visual accompaniment. if you decide to take this challenge, please send me the link to the new poem.
-
Hi, Roz! I am so glad you liked my poem! You may do something arty with the poem if you like, even with just a few lines of it, just remember to have my name along the poem, and the poems name along with separated lines. Copyright-stuff, you know...
Thank you very much for the comment, and the applause. Jim
-
cool, man
I love this one so much, especially as it mirrors my own way of thinking. Would you mind if I done something arty with the first two lines so they can go on my kids bedroom wall, coz I think those first two lines are a wicked message for kids to grow up with? -
lol! your welcome.
-
Hi, Shahrzad Maftooh! I am glad you liked this one! Thanks for the comment, and the applause! Jim
-
Hi, Kitty! You don't have to believe you will be reborn to see the truth in this, even scientists can see truth in it, as we all come from stardust, and will one day become stardust again, according to them. Thanks for the comment, and the applause! Uncle Jim
-
Hi, rabidgnomes! In a way, this is a poem about myself, because it reflects my life (and death) philosophy, so it was not a silly question at all. Thanks for the comment, and the applause! Jim
-
A nice poem.Interesting.
Shahrzad
-
Aww. This is sweet and also holds quite a lot of truth (if you believe you will be reborn that is!!) A wonderful poem Jim! Keep it up!
One love,
Your AP Neice,
Kitty xoxoxoxo -
interesting poem. is this about yourself? lol... was that a stupid question? I feel a little kooky today
anywho, liked the write, short but.... erm... intense? sweeeeeeet.
cara -
Hi, TheMoodchangingPoet! Thanks for the great comment, and your heartwarming applause! Jim
-
Great Job!!
That was awsome!!! I loved it! I love poem that are full of meanings and are kind-of philosophical! I love poems about death... not about people dying and blooooooooooooooood but about the term death itse;f....
Anyway, I loved the poem very much. Well done!!! -
Very good try. Everyone put something else into what I meant with this poem, so I guess there is no right meaning.
-
seize the day live no moment idle. donnt let a life pass you by... again i liked this much .. thank you .
-
Hi, Brokenpen! I am glad you like it that much. Now, what did you put in it? What did I try to say here? Thanks for the comment! Jim
-
another awesome write
truly insperational.. i enjoyed this much, well done . thank you for sharing this with me. awesome. -
Hi again, Kat! Glad you can see it now. Jim
-
Oh, hahahaha, I guess my mind's a little preoccupied with heartbreak. . . With mine being all broken and everything . . But I see death Thanks for clearing that up
~Kat -
Hi, Kat! Heartbreak? Um... no. The "her" in the second last line refers to Death, which is one of the Endless, made by Neil Gaiman (The Sandman)... You could look at my (closed) contest "The Endless Contest" to find out more about Death and the other Endless, then try again. Thanks for the comment! Jim
-
Very good. I interpreted something along the lines of heartbreak? The last two lines, especially the second to last line, "When death comes, you will spite *her*". . .
Good job, thanks for entering and good luck
~Kat -
It would be nice to read what you interpet from reading this. Everyone seems to have their own opinion on what I really wrote about. Jim
-
Hi, David! I would be thrilled if someone else but me knows this one by heart. Thanks for the comment, and the applause! Jim
-
Monga tak
This is one i would like to memorize. -
Thanks, Linda! I guess everyone can relate to this poem in one way or another... Thanks for commenting!
Jim
-
this is a nice way to look at ones demise and look to being born again,nice flow through out as well,keep penning and we shall read..Love sis..Linda
-
Thanks, darkinocenceangel! I have always been, and will always be a Starhiker. Thanks for the comment! Jim
-
awesome
This is true anyone in this life has probably been born about 10-20 times before. What it didn't have in length it made up for in meaning. -
Thank you, Dragon Tamer! Yes, it is true that people can see many different meanings, especially in this poem. Each person reading this has his or her own interpetation, based on religion, conviction, and thoughts about the afterlife... Thanks for the comment and the applause, I really appreciate it!!
-
That is the great thing about poetry...so many people can see so many different meanings.I thought this was very well written and the flow and rhyme scheme was flawless.I look forward to reading more of your poems soon.
-
-
I was hoping it would be the best poem of mine to enter, and it seems I hit bullseye.
-
Thanks for the comment, Joyce, and thanks for the good-luck wish for this poem in the contest...
-
This is a very powerful piece. I really loved it. it follows in my beliefs as a pagan. thank you for entering ~calentice~
-
Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!!!
Short as it was, it's beauty was endless. I believe there is something after this, our soul will take off and fly being reborn over and over. You captured this brilliantly with so few words. All I can say is WOWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!! Keep penning my poetic friend. Amazing, fantastic, spectacular, etc...
Best wishes in the contest with this entry, it deserves a prize for sure. Joyce
-
Sure thing... I can wait. Just let me know when you do...
-
I have to get over this one FIRST. -
I wish somewone made a FAQ on how to join poetry contests...
-
You were supposed to put in your author's note whose poem you commented on, and I didn't know. Also, yes you were supposed to comment on another contestant's poem. Sorry, and I really did like this one, so don't hesitate to enter it into other contests!
-
Oops, I did it again...
Thanks, LoveDrug. About the contest, I guess I'm out of the loop in how this would work. I did comment on one of YOUR poems, I do believe it was "Home Sweet Home". Were I supposed to comment on a contestants poem?! -
I am amazed how people see different aspects to the poem all the time... meaning of life, death, and rebirth... thanks for that one!
-
Thanks, IbeBecky! That's almost exactly how my beliefs are... I guess we're pretty similar in that way. Not the part about your fiance, but the rest...
-
This is a very short, profound piece you have right here! It's a poem anyone can really relate to, and I thank you for putting it into my contest, sharing it with me. I can't promise a place in the contest, only because you didn't follow the the rule about commenting and saying who you commented on in your author's note, but good luck in the future and happy writing!
-
short but sweet i loved that you used the meaning of life death and rebirth it was really WOW i cant think keep up the great work
-
Awesome, 'crossing over' must read!
What a short, sweet, profound, awesome, intense, powerpacked, awe inspiring write you have here! WOW! You've packed a mightly whollop in this little, universal write. I do have my own beliefs on death. I don't believe that death even exists, actually. We merely leave our physical bodies and our energy moves into another dimension. Sometimes I wonder just how closely life and death really are tied together; if they are not intermingled somehow and this dimensional plane is simply something that our minds cannot comprehend. I wonder if the spirits of the dead are not a part of our everyday lives and we simply don't know it. Energy; the universe....we are all so small, yet so very enormous. Infinity is beyond our comprehension. In immortality, we walk the path of the Starhiker. But then, I've had some very strange experiences with death. I 'lived' with my Fiance 22 years after his death and became a Neurological 'lab rat' because of all of the strange activity. This is why I am in the process of writing a book on the subject.
You write one awesome poem to which I can relate! I love it! Many blessings
~ Becky ~
Edited on Aug 03, 4:40 because 'type-o'. -
Thanks, Huntress. That is my belief too, but I guess my poem is kind of universal; it applies to any belief, as each one has a promise of rebirth, on earth or in heaven...
-
I believe our souls are reborn to learn lessons not learned before. I like this very much
Adding your comment:
1 - 49 of 49
15 old applause
