by ~Gregg Rowe~
~~~~~
I would rather be ashes than mere dust
That my spark burns out – a brilliant blaze
It should be stifled by dry rot -- a must
A kaleidoscope of colourful rays
I would rather be a superb meteor
Every atom in magnificent glow
Reciting an ancient Confiteor
Become a fixed planet – sleepy and slow
The proper function of a man is to live
Let us question, a sec -- not to exist?
It is proof that I was very active
Political differences still persist
I do not waste my days prolonging them
I shall use my time or become condemned
Author notes
This needs somewhat of an explanation: These words were written by Jack London-- I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time. After reading them, as a person living with HIV and as someone who recently underwent heart surgery, I had an innate feeling to respond to these words, so they are a collaboration between us two, a dialogue where I used his words in my argument. Okay, I will take the digital slap.
As I mentioned above, these words not only intrigued me when I wrote this, they haunted me because I went through all these questions before I faced my open heart surgery. I just wanted to do justice to this great writer and honored him in the best form I think anyone may be honored and that is Sonnet form and poetic devices (most sonnets are written questioning life and death). It spoke to me of one's finality on earth and what it would feel like or how would we want our soul to leave us. And yet I disagree that we are not here to exist, if I was not born I would not have existed, so I stretched his words to question them in a beat/intellectual way. I hope you enjoy it. Gregg
Con·fi·te·or (plural Con·fi·te·ors)
noun : prayer of confession: a Roman Catholic prayer of confession and plea for forgiveness
[ 13th century. From Latin , “I confess,” from the opening words Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti ... “I confess to Almighty God....”]
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Written July 12th, 2004
In a list
A contest entry
- *~*Interesting Choices*~* by Spring Rain.
300 points, ended April 5, 2006, 29 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Origins of the Universe by aslanlight.
300 points, ended December 17, 2006, 11 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Intelligent Design (Your opinion) by aslanlight.
600 points, ended March 30, 2008, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
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How strange! Here we are again, you entered this in my 'Origins of the Universe' contest and now it's in my 'Intelligent Design' one. Are you trying to tell me something?
I think London means about existence that it could be said to mean survival whilst living is being 'a brilliant blaze'.
I'll have to say the same as I did last time to be fair on the other entrants, that it doesn't exactly answer my contest question but here's your invisible trophy made of lightning flashes from the heart of God, which is the heart of man.
Peace Georgia
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Blazing stuff!
Yes I agree with the sentiments in this piece. I'd rather shine than die slowly in a dull existence. Nevertheless it's not exactly what my contest asked for, which was a poem on your ideas of the beginnings of the universe. It does relate of course but more from the end of our own existence rather than the beginnings of it all.
Thanks for entering Greg
Georgia
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Very neat... origional and creative and intriguing. The background and the words really match the theme of it too! Nice job! Good luck and thanks for entering my contest!
God bless,
~Spring Rain -
Well now, this is quite interesting. I appreciate your author's comment, which put this creation into a proper perspective. Personally, I've come to have the thought that existence is a given, and not something we need concern ourselves with. Yet fear can stifle us from living, which could then make existence seem somewhat futile, or bleak, and perhaps even temporary. Certainly existing on Earth is temporary, but being eternal, our essence remains intact.
My beliefs aside, this is intriguing, and perhaps more so because of your personal situation which helped inspire it. Intelligent philisophical writes are always enjoyable to read, and this is no exception. Perhaps somewhere in here, when we all come face to face with our earthly mortality, a spark of unity and brotherhood with each other is found.
Thank you for entering, and for sharing so much of yourself.
peace
doug
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Very odd to me,not much of my type or liking. I did make me sit and think though for quite some time. I can see now how it inspired you to start this contest. I enjoyed it for the most part, nice job and keep up the good work.
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first off, i loved the format- even rhymes aside it really worked well for the poem. the first few lines really said something about your personality and it's wonderful when you let poems convey who you are (because in some way, all poems should)
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I am glad that you question these things....for i too ponder...and there are few things i know for sure but beyond those things not much else matters at this stage in the events...if you want to read some of my work....you might enjoy my last post...."soul recall"....well done here...i like to read peoples thoughts
keep it up
dark search -
i have never read jack london but these words spoke volumes about life and those within it . just beautiful...
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Mr. Rowe,how do you do it?
You've taken this sonnet and woven it together so beautifully. Your rhythm was pleasant (so much so that I didn't even notice what form this was, at first sight), and you kept your rhyme (Exist - [persist]ence, the rhymes
.)
Reciting an ancient Confiteor
I looked up "Confiteor" then realized, you already did so! Your vocabulary is phenominal, by the way (I know you already have been told that).
You have an amazing way with words, Mr. Rowe! They've intrigued me hereso, and I'm excited to let myself fall into them again
.
Love -
"Where hope ends,He begins"
Claide (the hope poet)
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this is a good poem and makes sense. Exist and persistence dont really ryhme by the way lol. But thats alright. Good Poem. Trot
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ditto richard's words gregg...to write something this profound after what you've been through lately is amazing. although, perhaps what you've been through is what allowed you to write this brilliant poem, based on the words of another brilliant man.
another standing ovation for you (and of course, the infamous hunney too)
~liz -
Excellent flow, well written
Enjoy? There is no question here. Awesome poetry as always, Gregg. Lot's of LUV & HUGS*s -
Wonderful! I have to agree. It does not amaze me a bit that you can write like this after everything that you've been through. You are a fighter. You're a survivor. You're my hero, Gregg. Rock on.
Love to you, my friend.
~Tawnya~ -
Wonderful
Gregg, an amazing sonnet! to be able to write like this after all that you've been through is astonishing to me. Wonderful ~richard
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hey dude this is a great poem. my friend has entered this contest and he feels a lil threatened so keep up the good work, and if you beat him you will inspire him to write better so either way you win. i like the poem and this is my favorite part
I do not waste my days prolonging them
I shall use my time or become condemned
As i christian sometimes i get discouraged and i stop. so this poem has given me some hope. a lil bit. thanks for writing this poem it has really helped me some. so thanks again
love ya,
micheal
--friendofsinners--
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this was iin depth and left me in swimmin gin thought.i am a fan of his novels and this was a very well written tribute.ttul
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This was a great piece! Very much enjoyed & wish you the best! I also happen to have read Jack London & liked him very much!!!!Bravo!!
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that is amazing
excellently written and worded so beautifully
i enjoyed it thouroughly
Jack London is a great author
one of the few i've actually taken time to read for pleasure rather than being forced to read for an assignment or what-not
thanks for sharing
awesome imagery (if i can add that last minute...)
-Scott Baltz -
Great
Hey, good job - I really like it. You seem to have caught the essence that was Jack London. I hope you have good luck with the poetry contest you've entered in. You might want to look at your fourth from the last line, though - - was that supposed to be "proof" instead of prove?? Could just be me. Just wanted ya to be able to fix it if it was a mistake (so you can ace the contest!!) Take care... -
This sounds very nice! It flows well and just.......works out well, I suppose. Ugh.....Heart surgery? Ouch. I can't even think about what it would be like. And I was complaining about having to get shots and skin cut off of my back...
Well, I hope you're doing better now. And yes, you did do London's work justice.
Good job,
Arianna -
Yes i did enjoy it man. Thank you for entering. And if you and Claide are the only ones to enter. I will give you both three hundred points by default. God bless you and take care.
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