Redux
i feel the incessant battles
of internal opposing forces
my personal war
feelings clashing
emotions raging
peace alluding me
rational thoughts tip-toe in intermittently
it’s a daily challenge
every minute
of every day
seeking tranquility in the chaos
hoping for a forced equilibrium
but usually tossed about by my innate human nature
developing intentional maturity
gains me some stability
slow and teetering baby steps
in the direction of wisdom
age and experience lend a hand
slowing down the urge to take up arms
so fed up
and just tired and weary
the beginning of acceptance
or true insight
not really sure
the continual striving for harmony during this brief stint
a life well-lived
i hope
with death comes peace
ending a lifetime of struggle
balancing the scales
i will not know it though
sure doesn’t seem fair
Originally published 8/13/2018 on I Write Her. Reposted with revisions.
I Write Her 
For some life is a constant struggle. Well written my friend
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Thank you, Sadje! Yes, it’s sad.
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You’re welcome
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I find it interesting that your words from 2018 are still applicable today. I’ve brought back several of my poems from 2017 and 2018 which seem so apt for today’s world. Excellent writing, Susi.
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It’s the beauty of humanity, I think! What attracted me to poetry is even those back going back to ancient times echoed many of the same thoughts we have today. We really are human and all the times we live in don’t change that fact, only our technology keeps up. 🙂 Thanks, Eugenia!
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A song for intriguing poem Susi …
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It seems oddly compatible, Ivor! Thanks! 🙂
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I thought so, yep, oddly enough
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You do have a good ear for that, Ivor!
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The lyrics are powerful …
.
I see you in windows
That open so wide
There’s nothing beyond them
And no one inside
You kick off your sandals
And shake out your hair
The salt on your shoulders
Like sparks in the air
There’s silt on your ankles
And sand on your feet
The river too shallow
The ocean too deep
You smile at your suffering
The sweetest reprieve
Why did you leave us?
Why did you leave?
You kick off your sandals
And shake out your hair
It’s torn where you’re dancing
It’s torn everywhere
It’s torn on the right
And it’s torn on the left
It’s torn in the centre
Which few can accept
It’s torn where there’s beauty
It’s torn where there’s death
It’s torn where there’s mercy
But torn somewhat less
It’s torn in the highest
From kingdom to crown
The messages fly
But the network is down
Bruised at the shoulder
And cut at the wrist
The sea rushes home
To its thimble of mist
The opposites falter
The spirals reverse
And Eve must re-enter
The sleep of her birth
And up through the system
The worlds are withdrawn
From every dominion
The mind stood upon
And now that you told her
And now that it’s done
The name has no number
Not even the one
Come gather the pieces
All scattered and lost
The lie in what’s holy
The light in what’s not
The story’s been written
The letter’s been sealed
You gave me a lily
But now it’s a field
You kick off your sandals
And shake out your hair
It’s torn where you’re dancing
It’s torn everywhere
AnnaPopova 2021-09-10 16:09:44
My feeling is that this song is about dying. There are lots of references to Christ and Christianity, saying your good byes to life, seeing things from outwordly perspective. It is unimaginably beautiful, like written by someone who lived through dying, who died before. Most of it cant be explained logically, just felt – what is the meaning of great poetry anyway. many of our human experiences can ve expressed only thorough the paradox – “The lie in what is holy, the light in what’s not”. It is torn, like in birth, like a mother’s body is torn for the baby to come through. Death as rebirth, death as birthing oneself – it is incredibly strong, both cerebral and emotional, almost hard to keep experiencing it…
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I think your feeling is spot on, Ivor. I felt it in these lines particularly:
It’s torn in the highest
From kingdom to crown
The messages fly
But the network is down
It speaks of the many unanswered prayers when loved ones are suffering, and perhaps dying.
It is definitely a deep and profound song, and just like poetry, one you’ll want to keep going back to to uncover it’s meaning. Thank you for posting it, Ivor. ❤
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You’re welcome Susi … I have learned a lot from reading Mr Cohen’s words 🤗📖
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❤ I appreciate it!
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