A Million Reasons

Only the defeated and deserters go to war. - Thoreau

leaping with stark mania

prone with subtle depression

always turning the affirmative into another unanswerable question

way back in the last row

under the spotlight on stage

wetting my curious fingers as i turn another stuck page

a manifestation of loneliness

a lost sign language of love

a soft push turns into a hard shove

a gauntlet morphs into just another sanguine glove

hear my cries

see my wails

pull the frayed rope and raise the tattered sails

i wish

i pray

in all that i do and say

i hide

i seek

both brave and meek

i look in the mirror

i stare at the sun

searching through the rubble of a lost kingdom come

i laugh

i cry

never really knowing why

i cling to life

i scream at death

gasping for each and every deep breath

i kiss the day

i hug the night

weeping for the greys 'tween what's wrong and what's right

i hear the song but am deaf to the music

i sing the lyrics but forget the meaning of the words

as i strum electric air and whistle with the birds

i bleed

i run

thinking a million reasons are but one

believing that the battle is never done

not realizing

i've already won

Author's Note

"Measure your health by your sympathy with morning and spring. If there is no response in you to the awakening of nature - if the prospect of an early morning walk does not banish sleep, if the warble of the first bluebird does not thrill you - know that the morning and spring of your life are past. Thus may you feel your pulse." - Thoreau

Reviews

[R.J Calzonetti]

I have little to say here, as I often have trouble expressing my love for a poem, I simply read it and know, and I love this one. Definitely one of your best in my opinion. Love the rhyming here, not overdone, love the thought put into each line. Love the meaning in the words. Also, your quote "Only the defeated and deserters go to war." by Thoreau is probably my favourite of his quotes that you've shared ever. This poem might be what I consider to be your best as well, but it's very hard to say because my memory betrays me. But this makes an impact, and the last line wins me over a hundred times. Go find a publisher already. More people need to read this.

[Pete]

thank you for sharing thoughts rj. you encourage me my friend ... :)

[Patricia Wedel]

Hi Pete.. ❤️ love the Thoreau quote… glad the Spring of My Life is not Past…. The above is the Perfect Poem for this time of the Pandemic and Variants. We use to have Leaders who would not have Open Borders and no Accounting or Walls.
We are spending Pretend Money. Need I say More. gently, Pat

[Pete]

we're living in an age where the table has been kicked and flipped over - what was wrong is now right and vice versa. money backed by nothing and tied to nothing - i never thought i'd live to see the day. the border situation and pretend money has many rolling over in their graves. keep well pat ... :)

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Pete… there is Hope in Pandora’s Box. I only hope and pray we do not have a Draft in reference to bad choices. We have lost so many of our young people and older Soldiers also. Insanity is the Problem and of course the money can be Evil 😈 or the love of money. Shall we pray for a Miracle? !!! … Amen. Pat

[Pete]

i did 4 years in the marine corps after high school. i could never kill a person - certainly not for some messed up political agenda. what's going on is a travesty - makes me sorry i ever served. served what? what's left? i answer to no one except god and my conscience, miracles yes indeed ... :)

[Sami Khalil]

This speaks volumes about what we all go through in life, the ups and downs, the struggles and comforts, the hopes and failures. I like how you framed this and the structure all throughout.
Masterful.

[Pete]

well you're certainly a lot kinder than life can be. thanks ever so much sami ... :)

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Thank you kindly. You are welcome sir Pete.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

"hear my cries
see my wails
pull the frayed rope and raise the tattered sails" These three lines really spoke to me and are so powerful in their meaning. A solid piece of poetry Pete.

[Pete]

thank you for sharing that carlos. keep well ... :)