The things that never happened,
The thoughts that never were
Things we cannot imagine
Therefore cannot confirm.
The ones that still are waiting
For the thing that never comes
For a story that is fading
In a Time that never was.
Beyond four dimensions dying
There are things we have not seen
No one hears the Watchers crying
For the things that should have been.
If we had not made that promise
If we had not looked that way
If the Road into the darkness
Had not led us to Today.
There are questions that are curses
There are things we must not ask
When the Present moment merges
With the Shadows of the Past.
Somewhere deep within the Earth Time
There was something that went wrong
Now the bloody tears incarnadine
The First and Final Song.
In the moments dark with weeping
We are always looking back,
To a thing that never happened
And a question never asked.
Our broken hearts are weeping
As the sinking sun is dead
Still and silent they are keeping
All the tears we never shed.
Not for things that were before us
Not for things we had and lost
Not for vain and foolish choices
Not for coming of the Frost.
Not for golden summers dying
Not for fruitless loves grown cold
Not for children’s voices crying
Not for valiant strength grown old.
Not for blossomed branches breaking
Not for years now gone to waste
Not for misery of waking
In a dark and desperate place.
Not for things that were forbidden
Not for awful Death incurred
But for things that never happened
And for thoughts that never were.
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Thank you, Raora - that is a very beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am not a poet myself (more a mix of old physician n young philosopher, lol) I write a bit of stuff and read a lot of stuff, so I recognised you immediately (ur 1 of the 1 that we all are, on the inside, right?)
If ur ever bored enough (lol) u can read my recent attempts at serious prose at http://www.wanterfall.com - or my recent attempts at humorous philosophy at http://profile.to/gordoncoates (no need to include a message, I accept all friend requests - n bliev it or not, I only have 2 delete abt 1 per year... maybe iv gotta guardian angel hehehe)
N e way, TYVM again 4 ur beautiful poem!
Kind regards
Gordon
aka gG ("gG the garrulous antiGuru", actually)
Hey,
ReplyDeleteI really like this one. Though I have one minor thing I would say, which isn't really a big deal; it gets a little repetitive about half way through. And then again, it also gives the poem depth through volume. Just an opinion, maybe you thought the same.
Also, maybe you could help me, I'm not positive about the true meaning of the poem. At first, I thought it might be about man's sin in the garden of Eden because of the line about taking the dark road. Then it seemed clearer that it was about "the thoughts that never were" (hence the last line). But the two, within the same poem could cause confusion. Maybe I'm wrong both ways.
Great job!
~ Q
Q,
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting! As to your questions - The repetition was intentional, though if it obstructs the flow of the whole I may consider altering it. When it comes to meaning, I intentionally incorporated more than one theme into the poem, but the themes are closely related and interconnected. To clear things up.
The main idea is summed up in the word 'regret.' More specifically, regret for things (very general, includes thoughts, actions, events etc.,) that could have and should have happened, and didn't. Not things that had their being in the past and are now lost, but things that never were at all.
Yes, the Garden of Eden, as the ultimate regret, is referred to (though never specifically) especially, but not exclusively, in stanzas 4 and 6. But it isn't the sole theme - it is the regret from which all others have sprung, but the poem also speaks of all regrets since, all the things that should have happened and didn't, all throughout history.
There is another sub-theme which might be a little confusing. Stanzas 4, 5 and 7, specifically, bring in the element of 'one cannot ask what would have happened.' We will never know how it should have been.
Hope that makes sense!
Namarie,
Raora
Thanks, Gordon, for the kind words.
ReplyDeleteAnything new there? *grins*
ReplyDelete