“Originally written about a proud wild beast, I changed the perspective to being the beast. That change made the poem empowering for me, rather than just powerful.”
No — I will not be confined
always in motion
restless is my spirit
perpetual like the seas
my wild heart
challenges constraint
defies boundary
to bolt at will
I will not be defined
my nature is fluid
my essence turbulent
deep — ever changing
reach not for me
I will not be held
do not name me
I will not be yours
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: Earthweal
Stay wild! I love this poem.
I will Sherry, it is all I know. I ams grateful that you liked this piece, thank you!
Aww. This is sad. 🙁
I didn’t mean fir it to be sad Lily…
I was inspired and did the same, and had the same experience… love the shift in perspective.
Pretty cool isn’t it Björn.
Remember Kerouac, Burroughs, and Brando in THE WILD ONE? This transposition fits you well, it’s like Wolf is your spirit animal.
Remember it well Glenn! I certainly am drawn to wolves and the moon… hmmm
Excellent poem!
Thank you so much Toni.
I like this version as it feels transparent, there is no glossing over.
Direct and to the point Lisa, that is what I was aiming for.
At least the wolf says exactly what is on his mind! I love the flow of this-it resonated with me 🙂
Thank you Vivian! 🙂
Wonderful, Rob. I never would have associated the naming of a wild animal with a move towards taming it. Sooo clever.
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Thank you Jim! Just in the simple act of naming a thing, a place, an animal, a person — you have laid claim to its identity.
..
Wild and free, prowling territories unknown.
Yes True, investigating my inner territory.
Excellent. Could apply to many other species/situations as well.
It is universal Kerfe.
Wild at heart for sure! You describe it so well. Personification of your personality?? Well done.
Thank you so much Dwight!
I really enjoyed reading this in the first person Rob. It reminded me a of favorite poem I found about wild horses. You really connect with the animal writing this way. It was beautiful.
Thank you for your very kind words Christine!
It’s amazing how a change of perspective affects the mood and feeling, Rob. Empowering is an excellent word to describe it. I love the restless spirit, ‘perpetual like the seas’ and the lines:
‘my nature is fluid
my essence turbulent
deep — ever changing’.
Thank you Kim — it does shift tge essence of the poem.
There’s a deep magic to naming – all those tales where you shouldn’t share your true name. I like this wild poem, you inhabit it well.
Thank you Sarah!
Well done, Rob. Making this from a personal perspective is a good move, and compounds the strength I might imagine in the original.
We agree Ken, 3rd person write is about power and independence. The first person write is empowering.
We are born to be free and feel restless when “labeled”…good write, Rob!
Thank you Lynn… 🙂
Nicely done rob. I look for that wildness in me, that has been caged so long…
I think we humans, like the rest of the animal kingdom, resonate strongly to the natural world. It has been human’s effort to exert dominance over the natural world that has created this dangerous, ever increasing potentially deadly shift in the balance of this earth. If we humans do not find a way back to living in balance with the natural world — we will be expelled!
Very nice. I read your comment first and was skeptical but you nailed it.
Thank you Xan! 🙂
Well done, Wild At Heart!
Thank you Sara! 🙂
This is just so good, Rob. I think this is what the Ukrainian people are feeling right now, fighting for their right to exist. Sigh. I am glad you linked this at earthweal. The wild heart is hurting these days.
Thank you Sherry. I must be naive, or just plain stupid — I thought this kind of insane demagoguery was a thing of the past. I feel heartsick for the Ukrainian people.
A wild poetic.
Free and wild and living in perfect balance with their environment!
Ah! I hear the mighty cat, the youthful warrior and the aged and wise.
If left to my devices Susan, I would live in wilderness. I knew how, and did live off the grid, a month or two each year as a younger man. But age and health have robbed me of that pure ability — to my great sorrow.
I love the wild strength of this. It is great to be untamed in our deepest wildest heart. Like you I would love to live off the grid and have done it from time to time. Like you, I’m getting too old now but the urge is still there.
It never goes away Suzanne — that has been my experience.
This certainly has a raw power to it, Rob!
Thank you Ingrid. I hope it is somewhat intimidating. 🙂