I have walked this route many times in my life.
In youth and age, in peace and strife.
I have seen the rocks like crouching creatures.
Seen them change their eternal features.
In my youth they were friendly pets
Now they’re symbols of my regrets.
In happy days I’d clamber over their smooth faces
Now I accept that they’re inaccessible places.
Once a challenge I would gladly take on.
Now a reminder of strength that’s gone.
And like Thoreau I don’t find that strange.
We know it’s us not them that change.
Author notes
The impetus was a quote - "Things do not change; we change". ~Henry David Thoreau
The reality is a local beauty spot and the differing effects of time on them and me.
http://www.brimhamrocks.co.uk/
A contest entry
- Yes We Can! by poetryality.
526 points, ended February 18, 8 entries
Honorable winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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Oh I used to walk by rocks and get similar thoughts every time I passed! This is awesome and I am glad this was brought out in your poetry
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We all find something different in our readings MJ. I am glad you found something you coud relate to in mine.
Jim
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Too true. Beautifully written and wonderful to this quote. We do change, and hopefully for the better in our lives. I liked this very much. ~Pamela
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Thanks for those words Pamela. Perhaps you're right and that the change is for the better. Now that I can no longer rush frantically around parts of this beautiful county [Yorkshire] I can happily take my time and find new reasons to like it.
Jim
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A nice tie in at the end there. I found myself reading with personal lament. I believe with every gift out grown, if we have learned in our growing, we receive and even greater gift through wisdom.
That's a cute picture too by the way.
John
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Thanks for reading and writing John. I needed an extra couple of lines to fit the pattern at the end and thought it wouldn't do any harm to hammer home the message of one of Renee's prompts.
Jim
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A very ingenious work of poetry here poet. The metaphor you've used is not only educational but entertaining. You make me want to visit this natural rock collection. Very clever writ here. Thank you for this entry in my challenge. I love to learn, and be introduced to something I've never heard of. Thank you for that. I wish you well here.
Much Love & Respect ♥
Renee
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Once again thank you for the prompt of a good contest and your kind words about my offering.
For some reason Thoreaux took me here and the poem wrote itself.
The political aspect had, for me, already been covered by one of my entries in one of your earlier competitions
http://allpoetry.com/poem/3707296.
It is a tribute to your efforts that I am so often prodded into words by your competitions. Thank you for that.
Jim
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So True
It's amazing how our view of things change with life experiences.
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Thanks for reading and writing Mom . . . and for the loud applause.
Jim
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As a youth I would view the formation in the photo as a friendly teddy bear. Today, at my age, I see it as a grizzly bear ready to pounce.
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The locals call this one the dancing bear. I always regarded it as a puppy begging with one paw!
Thanks for reading and writing.
Jim
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All too true
It is difficult at our time in life to give up on what was so easy when we were young. To accept our mortality is to give up our youth.
As we grow older, we must give up more and more and faster and faster. I want it to be more gradual but alas, life moves right along hearing me not.
Wonderful write my friend but a bit sad.
Jim
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I'll never give it up though I cannot stop it being taken! If I can't scramble over them I can still walk aroud them.
Jim
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