Two Views
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, NaPoMo 2009, Poetry, wisdom
NaPoMo poem #15
This is the fifteenth of the poems I will be writing each day here in April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.
I interpreted today’s read write poem NaPoMo prompt a bit differently from Christine’s example. This is still a response to “instead of”, but I wrote two poems, each from the perspective of an ancient old-growth tree. One looks at our world from a ‘glass half empty’ perspective, the other from ‘a glass half full’ point of view.
• NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.
Two Views
•
I watch
as generations recede
as empires crumble
as wisdom ebbs
I’ve observed
millenniums of human folly
as they stumble
to a cold isolated existence
disconnected from each other
from everything
serving the machine
perfecting violence
as they race to ruination
aliens in eden
I see the natural world
reshaped
scarred
diminished
but still I stand
thrusting skyward
closer to heaven
than any living thing
a perpetual survivor
rooted in perpetuity
the constant sentinel
a witness to tragedy
•
(optimism)
I watch
as generations move forward
as civilization painstakingly progresses
as knowledge slowly unfolds
I’ve observed
millenniums of human endeavor
as they awaken
to self-sufficiency
less dependent on conformity
on hive mentality
mastering the machine
enduring strife
as they strive for the light
evolving beings
I see the natural world
reshaped
tempered
resilient
and still I stand
reaching skyward
closer to heaven
than any living thing
a perpetual presence
rooted in perpetuity
the constant sentinel
a witness to triumph
• • •
rob kistner © 2009
___________________________
• you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem
April 15th, 2009 at 10:39 am
LOVE the concept!
http://lori102870.blogspot.com/2009/04/procrastinationnapowrimo-15by-tlb.html
April 15th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
lots of food for thought here, beautifully served.
Sitting here as they plow through old woods to build a new school, I find myself agreeing with the first tree.
April 16th, 2009 at 3:53 am
Angie -
Thank you for the kind words, and remember - the only difference between a glass half empty and a glass half full, is your perspective…