Breakthrough

…this piece is in response to the 19th prompt of 2010 on Writer’s Island,
and offered for prompt 132 at One Single Impression,
and for prompt 231 at Sunday Scribblings….




Breakthrough

•

rise up
clad in colors of a joyful life
rebuke the strife

tilt against convention
the prevailing norm
is a toxic storm

buck the winds of rebuff
ignore the false contention

stare down the face of ridicule
if buffeted by cruel
condemnation

shun the foolish
sadly blown off course
by the brutish force
of blind conformation

be not inclined to fear
nor falter

choose instead
to quell their mindless dread
and so to alter
the contradiction
which grips their head

stay one’s ground
leaning hard on raw conviction
wait the weight
until one’s strength is found

be anchored bold
and deeply hold
to the true and genuine
until your patience spent
revives again

do not resent
remain flexible
to withstand the blows
resisting those
who would see you swayed
and lowly bent

who would see
your spirit broken
for so to savor

instead
raise high your head
don’t ever waver

be never rigid
brittle
prone to break

do not forsake
your heart song
eschew the wayward
noisy throng

breakthrough

wisdom is a supple soul
struck through
by true enlightenment

pierced clean and strong
by wonder

bleeding tolerance
and promise

• • •

rob kistner © 2010

• photo by: Kevin Day, digital photorendering by: rob kistner 2010

22 thoughts on “Breakthrough”

  1. Normally, as I wander round the blogs I follow and the entries to Sunday Scribblings, I think “oh thats nice” or “oo I really like that” This is different. Your words have struck a chord, touched my heart. Thank you seems a bit small, but thank you all the same.

  2. Rob, I am overawed with your write.. it is beautiful

    The lines:

    wisdom is a supple soul
    struck through
    by true enlightenment

    held me from the collar and made me come out of slumber.. indeed profound.

  3. What an amazing poem- I will be reading it a few times to see what else I glean from the words you choose- and you choose them well- same with the image- gorgeous!

  4. oh rob – this is gorgeous, as your work usually is. Sorry I have been absent from the beach but real life is taking over right now. Hope things calm down soon and I can return.

  5. Rob, I love the rebellious spirit behind the earlier stanzas of this poem, and all the subsequent advice is great.

    To change the subject, I have a prompt to suggest for Writer’s Island, but don’t know where to send it.
    Could you email me?

    1. I was apparently in the mood to rant and pontificate when I wrote this one Viv… 😉

      Not my very best work, but obviously something I needed to say — glad you liked it…

      …rob

  6. Nice again, Rob. 🙂 To me this is a poem of good advice for one who is uncertain of his/her choices.

    When you got to this part I got really sad:
    resist(ing) those [brackets my read]
    who would see you swayed
    and lowly bent

    who would see
    your spirit broken
    for so to savor
    .”

    So much the other choice here will lead to slavery or worse. It happens and happens and is so sad when. Quite often the choice is made for a supply of street drugs. Very often by a run-away youth.
    ..

    1. So many ways in life to be enslaved Jim, if one is not careful — drugs, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, food, sex, jealousy, bigotry… the list goes on and on. One must seek balance, and live mindful of one’s center — and in so doing, grow and remain grounded in dignity and integrity… in wisdom…

      …rob

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