Perfection is so rare in anything
that when we see it, we sometimes miss it.
Even in the perfection that is nature
there is flaw
and in those flaws,
there is perfection.
but we
miss it all.
And wind up believing that perfection
is too rare to be found at all.
So when perfection is so elusive in almost anything
we deem it impossible to be found in a human.
a flawed
imperfect
defective
human.
a human who has known war.
a human who has known hate.
a human who has known other
humans.
how can there be beauty,
or perfection
in such natural flaw?
And yet, here I sit, behind the well notched wood bearing the wounds of a thousand pupils before me
watching perfection speak
in the form of a man.
Watching such grace and beauty as I have never beheld in
anything
nearly attack me with its force
in the form of a man.
When we are all so shallow
and
hollow
fake and
imperfect
Passion can be the water we starve for
and so rarely achieve or
believe
in.
And yet, here I sit, confronted with an impossibility.
overcome with beauty
with the sheer force behind a life
I long to lead.
watching and scarcely breathing as everything I've ever read
ever wrote
ever dared to dream
paces like a caged animal
confined in its own inadequate body.
straining at the confines of a mediocre life
showing me a mirror and daring me to
disagree.
I see stars and blood and the future.
pacing in front of me.
I hear the woods and dreams and beauty.
speaking out at me.
I taste a life and death and wonder.
lashing out for me.
and sitting behind this well notched wood holding back a sigh
it's all I can do
and all of my strength
to listen and not to
cry.
Author notes
I really like this piece for a few reasons. One of them being that I finally managed to capture the feeling I get from a person adequately. This is actually about one of my professors at school. And he is just the most amazing, passionate, wonderul teacher I've ever had. A serious inspiration to people. When he talks, it's like listening to razor blades. That's how sharp all his thoughts are. ::shrugs:: Don't know if that makes much sense, but that's exactly how it is. I just tried to put it to paper. I feel that he brings perfection into everything he does. It's a paradox really; the concept of a flaw being perfect, but sometimes, that's how it is. And more often then not, that is where true beauty can be found. 
Written March 18th, 2004
In a list
A contest entry
- consider yourself a advanced poet...? click here by starsnostars.
487 points, ended April 23, 2004, 18 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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this is truely a compelling piece... Great job!!!~
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I can see how this could be true, particularly if you espouse the chaos theory, but even without the theorem the metaphor if great. Good luck in the contest.
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mm. so true.
'i feel like a late sleeper-
could you wake me? you seem to have a broader sensibility...
i'm just livin' on nerves and feelings
with a weak and a lazy mind just
coming to people's parties
fumbling deaf dumb and blind...' -joni mitchell
you have this knack of being really careful, and taking lots of time with the emotions/subjects that you're describing. your thoroughness draws me in, and you always teach me something.
anyway.
sweetdreams.
ex oh pseudofemme -
put that foot down lol
i love the perfection mantra throughout the first part. and before my eyes unfolded a scene. she who slept for so long, is now awakened. and sees everything. the beauty. and the flaws. and its all she can do to not cry. cry in beauty, cry in darkness. -
"a human who has known other
humans"
↑ good point.
"And yet, here I sit, behind the pockmarked wood bearing the wounds of a thousand pupils"
↑ remember how we were talking wednesday about Emily (Dickinson ), and how her poems are so stunning b/c she takes something ordinary and finds poetry in it? that image did that, and did it just as stunningly as some images in Emily's work. way to go Reighna!
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Well, then you can't possibly have read very many poems can you?
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this was absolutly beautiful! so well layed out, and worded. very good! wonderful! i never thought of perfection like that..lovely work, keep it up! God bless,
~kristi -
Whoa that was a great poem.. it was great!.. and extremely long. Possibly the longest poem I have ever read in my entire life! You really put a lot of thought process into it didn't you? Well, it certainly showed me a lot about your personality. Great job and keep it up!
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So very true. Nature's perfection is in her imperfection, as beauty lies in flaws. Ever noticed how a really awesomely attractive guy has a small scar on his chin or maybe really messy hair or something is a little out of place? That's because perfection (the sickening kind) is disgusting, and natural flaws are much more interesting and beautiful. This poem was very well written (though quite long) and has a great point that most people never think of. The background goes with the poem really well too! I'd love to see more poems like this one!!!
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thank you all.
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wow this was beautiful!
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amazing
omg thats so good i've never thought of it that way! this shows incredibly deep emotion! i LOVE it! -
beautiful...i never though of perfection like that...beautiful words...u wrote this with words of deep thought and emotion...i love it...GREAT write!
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