Why must I strive to be
who I already am?
When how irrevocably
I was cast? No sham
is needed here. Enough
to do and to be where
gifts given me, too rough-
edged to fit debonaire
social strata high above
my selected place.
I need not strive. Any of
the riches that debase
quality that matters,
why, when what I can give
more than what flatters
ego for my gain. I live
simply, helping those who
need assurance of value
of simple tasks they do
for others, sharing virtue.
Author notes
I was interrupted by a phonecall when the message had started, and had to start it again.
A contest entry
- Quickie Contest - 2 hours, 20 lines, 20 entries by Maatkara.
450 points, ended July 17, 2007, 11 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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This is realy pritty.
Alice, 7
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This reads very smooth.
Nice idea**
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I love the distinct perspective you chose, "Why 'strive'?" indeed
This is a wonderful affirmation of true individuality which requires no effort once realized
To be true to oneself is the only way to be content and sharing that insight with others its fulfillment.
Your enjambment is effortless, subtley adding substance and dimension. Very smooth, very impressive.
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Thank you! My Muse thanks you too!
Terry
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always a pain when you get interrupted, ask Coleridge...well in due course of time of course. you read all conflaburation bout him stealing stuff? The duty of the poet Eliot said.
strive, striven for. houses, and pools, tea in the backyard. big things little things, all those things you can have and hold, god bless us everyone.
that ship sunk. My momma said, takes all kinds of people to make up the word. (Always surprising those things that Momma said, as often we didn't listen and turned out for the worst, leaving little bits of floatsum drifting on the wakes.
so you raise the ship, and paint it all new and bright and start preachin from the stern bout turning all those wrongs to rights but the wind is too strong and drowns your words and it takes your brand new ship right outta sight so that over the horizon you start searching for new worlds. the sun is always coming up, and no matter how alone you might feel yourself to be there is always that feeling of something undone yet to be.
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Greetings Lute,
I enjoyed your comment about striving--sure the can be an incredible number of things to strive for, but I don't need to go there when everything simply is as I like it.
In the competition one of the choices was an exhortation, in such a superficial world, to strive to find simplicity...what is real. I had never been otherwise, so why strive?
I mean, my pension--not huge by any means--feeds six people, leaving room only for mortgage and taxes and like that. It would be frustrating to strive for more when we already have enough.
A lottery win would be nice, but likely to spoil everything. I was a kid through the 1930's Depression, dependent on garden and fishing, and occasional rabbits and game birds. It changes a person.
Terry
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Confident
It took me a few moments to notice that your line breaks indicate rhymes, these are so smooth. There is a great comfort here, in rejecting the stress of modern society for a simpler life. Well done, good luck!
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Thanks Sandal
Pretty sharp! Enjambment is a great device for hiding the end rhymes that so many claim to hate. Old habit puts them in anyway.
At my age I can remember when "everyone" lived simply.
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Congratulations for gold!
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A happy surprise--
is very reassuring! It has been YEARS since the last one! (Mind you, I had not tempted fate often either, but you don't have to believe it.)
Thank you!
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And your intended message so uniquely your own. Benefits the masses in the relating of each in their personal experiances too.
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Yup!
Yes, uniquely. But known by many whose service to others is more important than any personal aims. It is a happy way to be. Thank you for seeing that!
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Smiles
There is only one person in the world who can be good at being you - and in a long life, you have done much good. The value of simple tasks is very high - appreciation is due to all the people who make things work. Best of luck!
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The long life--
has been a gift indeed, sometimes courtesy of the medical profession! What gets lost in today's world where exhortations such as the one that prompted us to "strive" for certain virtues too often not seen anymore ( gasp!) is how almost everyone used to be. My simple life of sharing has many rewards in happiness.
Thank you for understanding what looked like rejection was really farthest from it!
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