Humanity Perfected

This is pure phisophical exploration.

A child asleep, humanity perfected?

Tears hide behind this frail charade of bliss.

What lies beneath is not what you've expected.

The spell is broken by a foolish kiss.

The anguish lies beneath eyes gently sleeping.

Your ears don't hear the dreamer's lonely weeping.

 

A child at play, humanity perfected?

Laughter sings that nightmares have no power.

Heart open wide, no friendship is rejected.

The smell of joy fragrant from each flower.

Stuck down by lightning from cloudless, sunny skies.

Paradise is lost, mind burnt behind blue eyes.

 

A child growing, humanity perfected?

Faith promises realization of dreams.

Work is driven by goals from dreams projected.

Hope calls forward, past disapointment's screams.

The mind perceives a glimps of dark foreboding.

Slippery feet, foundations start erroding.

 

A child is grown. Humanity perfected?

Reality in check, forward thinking.

Values in place, morality inspected.

Roots planted is the soil, never blinking.

In the quite night, peacefull sleep is broken.

The cry of pain is strangled, never spoken.

 

A child finds love.  Humanity perfected?

Flying over the worries of this earth.

Soul filled. Loneliness gone. Now connected.

Mated, creating visions of new birth.

Numbness, so deep it stings hands once held dear.

Agony, twisting the heart, dripping with fear.

 

A child bears fruit.  Humanity perfected?

Awakened soul, now sensative to touch.

Compelled to pass the wisdom earth's collected.

The cup is overflowing from so much.

Panic freezes, dread happenings repeated.

Back alive, a past that was deleted.

 

A child is aged. Humanity perfected?

Years molded wisdom, crowning cold hard facts.

Circumstances mixed with choices selected,

Legacy given, heredity acts.

Each stepp brings pain, arthritic memory taunt.

Futility mocking, your dreams only haunt.

 

A child is dead. Humanity perfected?

No more suffering, pain completely gone.

Soul now waits for the body resurrected.

Pressure released, soul escapes mortal bond.

This earth will not perfect frail humanity.

Perfection, you know, is human vanity.

 

 

Author's Note

Each moment of life is not just two sides of pro and con, good or bad, yin and yang. It is more like the many facets of a cut diamond. The light will catch it so many different ways as you inspect it for beauty and for flaws. Hope you enjoyed this. Yes a bit long winded...

Reviews

[...]

Ah David, you got me thinking. I find this piece quite interesting. Perfection...animals and plants have no concept of it, they just are, perfect, would you agree? See I feel the human ideology of "perfection" is singular. What's perfect for me, might not be perfect for you. This makes "perfection" a matter of opinion. I say, thank god there is a variety of opinions lol. The thing about "perfection" is that it becomes stagnant in the lie of it's perfect. If you think yourself perfect, are you then refusing to reach, expand, love, understand, or forgive, be humane? Perfection is meant to be strived for and never achieved. Keeps us constantly growing, dreaming, reaching. Did I say I love this piece? It's not lush or whimsy or romantic, but it is truth and it is perfect in it's way :)

[David Scott]

Ha. Exactly why I concluded the pursuits of perfection are vanity. I grew up being told I needed to seek "sanctification". It is a hellish thing to do to a child's mind...
Anyhow. You are right about the words seeking their own contradiction.
Thank you for reading and commenting. I am not writing much lately. Just a bit from time to time.
I have many I took down, but I really appreciate all your attention. You feed my soul with your kindness.
Be well Lynn.

[emmajoy]

' Circumstances mixed with choices selected, .. ..Legacy given, heredity acts.'

Such an extraordinary piece of writing, full of sadness and yet - in the meaning and intention of the whole, - full of hope that maybe, the words, the phrases can be and will be contradicted. Not sure that seeking Perfection is a healthy trait. Surely Perfections in itself is a flaw... think of that as being an arrogance in the need to be better than others. And, nobody can or should be. Wee flaws are a sign of individuality, of humble humanity, it's how we use the rest that matters.. Surely that is where perfection lies?

See, your words have made me think, dig deeper, come up with something just a little worthy. (I've had to search for an unread post, it goes back a while. PLEASE come back soon .. )

[David Scott]

Thank you for reading my thoughts here Emma. I enjoyed your response. You echo my intention as it is vanity to seek perfection. We are not God. This is a simple yet misunderstood fact of our existence. God is our perfection and humanity still glimmers with the glittering perfection of our Creator.
You are kind to deep tenderly bringing me back here from time to time. I do love this place and the many talented writers here. I hope to be writing again one day, but for now, I am growing in other areas of life's garden... :)
Thank you again for your kindness.

[Traci]

This my friend is a wonderful portrayal of the circle of life. Each moment is a journey, exemplified by lessons learned, personal growth and reflections, as we venture through life. Your closing lines sum up the depth and sincerity in this write, as do the emotions and imagery in this brilliant older write. So happy to add this wisdom to my library, definitely a favorite, Scott.

[David Scott]

Thank you once again Traci.
This poem does not have the flow and grace of the modern prose poetry, but I did write this after reflecting on the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes. I think he said it better of course, but this was my condensation of thought from his inspiration.

[Jack...]

Step by step you have taken on this journey called life. In little bite sized pieces you have brought the different phases of what makes each of us different, yet very much the same. David, this is extremely intriguing and definitely a though producer. Very cool my friend.

[David Scott]

Thank you Jack.
This is something I wrote a few months back... Still working on that perfect poem. Ha.

[Horizon K.]

Powerful closing statement... Perfection, you know, is human vanity... And throughout this entire piece, the rise and fall, push and pull between hope at each new stage and experience, then swept over with jaded realizations... Is the cup half empty or half full? Is perfection something we should have as our goal or will such hopes always lead to heartbreaks at reality never being so. And this makes me think of how I do often feel at times, as I watch my son play and grow, how I wonder how long this perfection of innocence and naivety will last, how I seek to shelter him from the ultimate crushing of dreams which will surely come to pass. Yet... At the same time, I want myself and he and everyone to feel suffering and disappointments at times so the rise ups will that much more powerfully profound and appreciated. Without loss, perfection has no meaning...
Wow, I could go on and on about what wheels this piece got turning in my head. Incredible, Scott...

[David Scott]

You see my philosophy on the meaning of this life. Not to perfect as much as resolve to learn and grow....
Thank you Horizon. Now it is you who spoils me. Ha. I'm honored.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

This shows how vulnerable life is.. how flaws can be engrained within our core, to be carried throughout our lives...
We carry hardships, which can weigh us down...each step heavier than the one before...
If light can bring hope, it can also release despair...

Well penned, my friend.~xo~

[David Scott]

You give wise counsel Robbie. Thank you for your comments. My actual thought process was more along the lines of the vanity (hopelessness or futility), of seeking perfection in this life. Being what others refere to as a perfectionsist in some aspects of my life, it can a freeing to realize that all you can do is, do all you can do... Leave the rest in God's hands. Still, ther is perfect beauty in this life and we do see moments of the perfection we are meant for. Those moments give me hope!
Love always dear friend!

[Robbie~xoxo~]

I guess I'm being optimistic then... lol
Yes, Vanity is not the best trait to have, is it?... some must live and learn to be humble... xx

[David Scott]

No dear, not vanity as in a desire for beauty. Vanity as in, " all of our efforts are done in vain". This is confusion since our culture has used this word to describe a persons focus to look beautiful. I am not talking about a character trait here at all. I'm talking about the philosophical evaluation of the whole of human effort to acheive or gain favor in the universe...
This is deep water for thought, but it is actually the summation of the book of Ecclesiasties written by Kind Solomon... ;)
Sorry I was confusion...

[Robbie~xoxo~]

oh! lol...well when you were speaking of "perfectionist" I assumed vanity... within the realm of trying to have a flawless life...:)

[Sami Khalil]

Thank you for penning this great write. I think ti is my favorite from you Mr. Scott. A very thoughtful and philosophical one...
going into the library...:)

[David Scott]

That is high praise indeed Sami. Thank you for reading. I'm glad my thoughts translate well to your intelectual midset. It actually is my short version of books worth of philosophical study...
I am honored you stopped by and left your comments.

[Sami Khalil]

Thank you for the praise which you deserved it too for this awesome write. Any thing to make our lives a little better is commendable...You are welcome...:)

[Yellow Butterfly]

You have painted a beautiful picture of 'Circle of Life' here David of which is endearing and heartfelt.

Posing the same question throughout "Humanity perfected?

Not a question that can be answered halfheartedly.... but honestly and you have depicted this well with your chosen choice of wordplay creating a wonderful poem giving us all food for thought.

You took me on a journey and kept my attention from start to finish.. :O)

YB

[David Scott]

Thank you YB! You honor me be looking back to my past writes and giving me your kind interpretations. I always care more how you feel when you read the work. I am also glad I held your attention... I usually keep my poetry short because my own attention span is short. Ha. This one got a little long..

[PoemsbyPatrick]

A touching and slightly sad, or perhaps realistic, view of the cycle of life.

Excellent writing and story line.

[David Scott]

Thanks for the review. I get tired of pushing myself beyond reasonable expectations. Fun to look these issues though. I teach myself every time I stop and think about something like this. Glad you found it interesting.