What would you have me do dear friend?
Wear rings and things and buttons and bows
And shampoo well my greasy hair
Or if grey, colour it black
And carry a comb in my hip pocket?
Be in trendy dress, abrade my skin
To be smart and trim?
Or clad in a safari look like a clown
With an eternal smile on my face?
To stand on a pair of knocking knees
Doing obeisance to the boss and lick his feet?
Or with a supple spine do impossible tricks
To please everybody all the time?
To be cunning as a fox to defraud my friend,
Full of guiles my language miles away from my thoughts
In a mind like serpentine lane?
To walk my way in sinister silence
In cherry-blossomed shoes
To a private paradise
Where latest gadgets gauge my gains
And the shopper and the ‘keeper both become consumer goods?
And all my adornments display on my rotund flesh?
To bury the luxury of conscience
And the bother of casuistry in obesity heartless
Thinking the worse is coming to the worst
And doing some business when the going is good?
No thanks, my friend,
It’s my pleasure to displease.
I will walk my way a vertebrate
And wear my virtues on my soul.
Yes I would remain a fool, a motley fool,
In unsmart garb without guise.
I will spread my heart on my palm
As one who thinks what he says and does.
I shall give full credence to my creed
Not to make hard bargains with the present
But stand and wait in disappointment
For the best to come,
For come it must.
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A contest entry
- Found/Find/Finding Youself! (with 680 points) by Dreamer42morrow.
650 points, ended December 21, 2008, 16 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - I've Lost My Purpose In Life... by teddybearsRangels.
1075 points, ended March 24, 16 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - & Integrity by Gabrielle..
450 points, ended April 4, 11 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Give me the best by Jenny Rose.
1200 points, ends July 10, 124 entries
• next poem in this contest, • Add to finalists list, or remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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This is a really witty poem. I enjoyed the metaphors and symbolism. It makes a stance on so many things: on society and being yourself. I think that the last part could be expanded upon. I much enjoyed the play on words, a commentary on industry and the workplace. Thanks for entering~
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I love that last stanza - it's incredible!
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-->>"I will spread my heart on my palm
As one who thinks what he says and does." I was really struck by these lines; I'm a big fan of 'heart-and-the-hand' stuff. I actually had to read this poem twice to fully absorb it, and I'm glad I did - great poem! You certainly knew who you were and kept it up with good grace.
Thanx for entering my contest, and good luck!
~Mariah!~ -
Almost shakespearian
Verbose in modern terms, but elegantly put together. Myself, I like to write a couple of words in a line just to effect a little clarity. But this was clear, all the same. -
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chilliwoman
Many thanks for the compliments, provided you don't belittle my hero, one of the greatest love of my life. -
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I'd never tell you who to love.
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chilliwoman
Love can never be prescriptive. Text books are horrible things, but the day I opened his Julius Caesar for the first time - a prescribed college course text - I committed to memory its scenes in entirety. He became a life-long love.
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I will walk my way a vertebrate - strong and clear message - a lonely walk, perhaps, but with pride.
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Thank you very much for reading and commenting.
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