Rainer Rilke

the first word was the promise of something like light

some parable of a Garden, a fall

to be lost from His sight

barely guilty, by Fate and by trial

to drown all the same in some flood of the Nile

a Fire it burns, and a Fire it grows

vague humiliation is all our minds know

we’ll drain a cup to the dregs

and die of thirst

in this life or the next

be the last and the first

in this life or the next

running from the curse

so if there’s a God

whatever it is that wields the staff and the rod

we’ll wander in Sinai

the even and odd

counting out beads

and reciting a verse

praying for home

a return to the embryonic womb

running in place, a race to lose

running forever from the wind and the tomb

Author's Note

I was in the mood to write something, so here we are. It isn't very good, and I'm just sort of repeating myself at this point... so let's call it a work-in-progress.

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

so if there’s a God,

Now that is a question I’ve asked myself so many times John, when you read and hear the news daily of the destruction some of our species inflicts and the carnage done to innocents. On our journey through life isn’t without problems and it frequently asks the question what comes next? Your poem raised many issues, I travelled in your words.

Chris

[John Sullivan]

Thanks, Chris. I think often about the possibility of God... but I've got kind of a funny view of life. The way I see it, chances are you're obligated to go through your day. The people you meet, the situations you find yourself in... all somewhat out of your control. You can choose, however, how you react... what you do with the situation. Life as a multiple choice test. Maybe there's good answers to that test, as well as bad ones. Maybe they all count in the end. To do as good as we can, within the confines of our individual tests. Maybe?

Thanks for reading, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

You are welcome John

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree with your thought John.
"running in place, a race to lose

running forever from the wind and the tomb"
Hard to know. Are we running toward life or death? Thank you my friend for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[John Sullivan]

Oooooh, Coyote asking the big questions! I do.... often believe in an afterlife. Life is too crazy complicated beautiful ugly for this to be it. Thank you for your kindest reviews.

[Brandon Houser]

I really liked this John. Very deep. You could read this 5 times and have 5 different meanings. I'm a big fan of this kind of stuff. Well done!

[John Sullivan]

Thanks so much, Brandon. Glad ya read this one.

[Weeping willow]

I thought it was nicely done, enjoyed the read ;-]

[John Sullivan]

Thank you so kindly, W.W.