Wild Heart

“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

 


48 thoughts on “Wild Heart”

  1. 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.

  2. 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’.

    1. 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!

  3. 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.

    1. 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.

    1. 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.

  4. 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.

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