True Work

I offer this piece in response to prompt #18 at Writer’s Island.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE: I had this incomplete 3-year-old draft of my poem “True Work” (loosely inspired by Gary Snyder’s “Real Work”). I had wanted, for some time, to edit it into a piece, with which I would be more satisfied. The above listed prompt inspired me to create a suite of poetry, threaded together by the phrase: true work. My focus for this suite being humanity, which was the crux of the “True Work” draft I already had. The digital rendering I created of the hand holding the world helped me finish my vision of this poetry suite.

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“empty your love into the world”
“the true work is never done”

 

True Work

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I bend my back and squat
then straighten at the waist
hunkered ‘neath the weight
I lift clean the load
the warehouseman’s refrain
always on my mind
“back straight
lift with the legs”

the first test – no result
I try a second
then a third
on and on
day after day
long hours in the lab
the formula must be perfect
only perfect will save lives

drywall must be flush
and plumb
also square and seamless
meticulously
I set each sheet
with the level and the bob
then pause
to wipe my sweating brow

I curse the clay
do battle with fatigue
I coax my muse
to commit to form
the first draft of my vision
to then modify
and remold
until the ultimate creation

these are elements of the work I do
or did
or may yet do
and I am you
and you are me
and we are all together
in this endeavor of our daily life

but this is not our true work

to bend to lift someone in need
to help carry their burden
until they again stand steady

to seek the components of peace
to formulate the dialog
that fosters understanding

to measure well tolerance
to stand squarely flush
with truth and level justice

to visualize universal love
to create the enduring model
for a free and vital world

this — is our true work

so little done
so much to do

* * *

 

If Only
____

stressed beyond limits

earth’s fragile balance falters

but this can be changed

her future is in our hands

if only we do true work

* * *

 

Endeavor
____

abstain from false pride

prayer does not a halo make

that requires true work

____

rob kistner © 2010

 

* photorendering above entitled “In Our Hands”
by: rob kistner © 2010

60 thoughts on “True Work”

    1. You do fine work Viv, and bravo that you’re DOING it, and not just thinking about it, or wishing you were — you are expressing yourself… you go girl… 😉

      Thank you for your always kind words…

      …rob

      Reply

    1. Thank you Barbara…

      I had this incomplete 3-year-old draft of my poem “True Work” (loosely inspired by Gary Snyder’s “Real Work”) that I had wanted, for some time, to edit into a piece with which I would be more satisfied. When I started reading all the prompt sites this week, I began to see a serendipitous relationship among the current prompts, and my “True Work” piece.

      This inspired me to create a ‘suite’ of poetry, threaded together by the ‘true work’ phrase, with the focus being the ‘world’ and its inhabitants — which was the crux of the “True Work” draft I already had. The digital rendering I created of the hand holding the world helped me finish my vision of the poetry suite.

      I am pleased you liked the integration. It came together in a sort of organic, real-time fashion. I am satisfied with it at this point, but I never remain satisfied with my work — so who knows if it might morph and evolve. I love doing that… 😉

      …rob

      Reply

  9. What a rich life of true works you have. You are truly a master of multimedia creativity–I enjoyed looking at your artwork and collages as well. You must have endless energy! Bravo.

    Reply

  12. Rob, I really liked all of your True Work pieces. They messages are so strong. I have read them over twice now, and each time I get something more from them. I don’t know where to start on commenting. Usually I try to focus on one thing I really like, but in this case there are so many things. I will randomly choose ‘carrying someone else’s burden.’ This definitely is true work. Agreed. If we make life just a little bit lighter for someone each day, it will have the ripple effect, I believe..and the person may pass it on. At least that is my hope.

    Reply

    1. In essence what you say is true Gautami, except humankind has become such a blight on the earth, such a cancer to her host, that she is no longer “free” of us — we are killing her…

      …rob

      Reply

  21. I love this bit:
    drywall must be flush
    and plumb
    also square and seamless

    Also, a lovely turn in this poem to the “lifting” of those in need.

    Reply

  24. Your free verse is awesome I enjoyed reading it but the last Haiku is my favorite “prayer does not a halo make” no truer words spoken too bad more people don’t know this.

    Reply

  27. True work. Inspiring. When I read this…

    I curse the clay
    do battle with fatigue
    I coax my muse
    to commit to form
    the first draft of my vision
    to then modify
    and remold
    until the ultimate creation

    I immediately thought of an editing project I’ve been putting off. I’m not a fan of editing…

    Wonderful poem. True Work!

    Reply

  31. In terms of birds and stones, well done with getting everything to harmonize in here; that is true work indeed! These three have a neat progression to them: the descriptive and narrative, then the thoughtful, then the Zen. But there’s a connective tissue between them that’s neat to see… very cool!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Joseph, your comments are gracious and appreciated! I am pleased that this suite held together for you, it seemed to organize and present itself in my subconscious, the progression beginning to take form a bit before I fully realized it, I then grabbed the thread downstream and ran with it — it was an interesting experience for me…

      …rob

      Reply

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