W e cannot hide
as comes an unquestioning fate
that breaths in the space
of destiny’s light and dark
in the days of falter and fear
of divisive polarity
in this vital odyssey
descending unbridled
with critical momentum
a duality
that moves
unsteady in the ether
of unquenchable doubt
yet your heart must embrace
in the spirit
of truth and forgiveness
that which is pure
tested by time
and the wanting hands
of the waiting
who cower
yet smile
singing truth
through the hail and barrage
‘cross the bow mast
of freedom
seeking broad measure and berth
as all that you seem to desire
slips slowly away
like rain down a spout
and nightmares plumb deep
the sphere of darkest dreams
break free
of this duplicitous error
open
and see
*
rob kistner © 2021
Poetry at: Sunday Muse
See other responses to this photo: Mindlovemisery
Your dark moods are always so eloquent, Rob. Cohen’s “Hallelujah is a perfect accompaniment!
Thank you Bev. When I look closely and honestly at the human impact on each other snd perhaps more importantly, the world — I get dark. The Cohen Hallelujah was my bittersweet hope for this chaos.
I relate to this poem so much – there is a plethora of light and dark happening on the planet these days. Hard to hold onto hope that lightness will gain the upper hand, at the moment, which is why I love your closing words: “open and see”.
Pleased this resonated for you Sherry. This world is absolutely at a tipping point socially and ecologically. My hallelujah by Cohen was my cling bittersweetly, to hope.
A haunting song Rob! I enjoyed your examination of opposing light and dark spaces.
Love Cohen’s “You Want It Dark”! Thank you for your kind comment Ingrid… 🙂
Cohen saw both sides at the same time. No, we can’t give up.
Yes Kerfe, Cohen is one of our great modern poets — broad deep vision.
Your dark poem is lit with beauty my friend! I love where the black and white image took you! As Bev said, your dark moods are always eloquent poetry Rob. Always a pleasure to read your poetry!!
Thank you Carrie, I appreciate your gracious comment! 🙂
Rob, I would love to listen as you read this amazing poem!
And be still my heart, I have listened to both Cohen songs!
Thank you.
Perhaps on a future OLN LIVE… 🙂 Leonard is the dude, and he definitely abides!
yet your heart must embrace
in the spirit
of truth and forgiveness
Love that acknowledgment of goodness in a good guy.
Can’t be sure these days. Wanting to survive is no more an option. but a necessity. Great post Rob!
Hank
Thsnk you Hank…:)
Of all the books I had as a teenager, having lost most of them when I moved from Ireland to England, I still have all my three collections by Leonard Cohen, one of which is dated 1973, and he influenced my writing for many years – still does. Your poem echoes with tones of Cohen and ripples with the interplay of light and darkness, Rob, and these lines reflect the way I have felt so many times in my life:
‘…all that you seem to desire
slips slowly away
like rain down a spout
and nightmares plumb deep
the sphere of darkest dreams’.
Always love me some Leonard, written or sung — masterwork! I am leaving an opening for hope Kim.
The divided dystopia is a certain realm of savage intensity and brutal consequence: the means to heal it, as you say, comes from a realm of truth and love in which such division isn’t thinkable, much less sayable. Difficult indeed — but what are we without “broad measure and berth”? Well done Rob – Brendan
Thank you Brendan. Human emotional and spiritual coordination and balance is the challenge. How we answer it will determine our ultimate longevity and make our mark in the book of the earth.
I can feel the tilt and slip in this; the hope that this is not the wave that overwhelms.
As a species, we are certainly riding a big breaker right now Chrissa.
A poem deep and dark… yet, hope?
The sign of really good poetry is that it generates questioning and rumination.
Glad this resonated for you Charley.
Love the rain down a spout.
🙂 Thanks Shay!
There is no light without darkness. Even the mighty mountain accepts it as the sun passes overhead.
Yin Yang — the balance of life.
We are inundated with light and dark these days. Your poem is a beautiful tale of the shades we live in. Perfect music choices also.
I am really feeling the contrast, the collision of the two states of dark and light lately. I don’t know why, and I can’t tell if it is a good thing or bad thing I am sensing. It is definitely a powerful thing, whatever it is Susie.