It’s the one that doubles you over,
takes you by surprise, the one
you didn’t see coming, the low blow
landing so hard it stops your breath.
Or is it the one you yourself deliver
out of the blue – too sudden
for advance warning, too swift
to restrain, too instant in rage?
We all know it, don’t we,
from both sides of the fist –
from when we were kids, still
(but never again) unaware.
‘Now you know how it feels,’
I was told, ‘You know
not to do it.’ Interesting
philosophy, quite common then.
We seem, collectively, to have lost
or abandoned that line of thought.
Retaliation becomes our chosen way.
We forget centuries of wisdom.
(’War begets war.’ ‘Two wrongs
don’t make a right.’ ‘Return
good for evil.’ ’Do as you would be
done by.’ ‘Stop and count to 10.’)
Pretty soon, the world delivers
so many gut punches, so fast,
most of us can barely stand.
They no longer amaze, just weaken.
Written for Friday Writings #199 at Poets and Storytellers United.
This is sooo true, Rosemary, moreso in our country than yours. I've had an unexpected experience tonight I am on my back in a hospital bed. They can't figure out what the cause is for my problem. Soon they may give up like before with my anemia and Kidney disease stage 3 and call it "aging". I guess that I deserve that because I am old, will be 92 in a couple of weeks .
ReplyDeleteSorry if I'm crying on your shoulder.
Sorry to learn you're in hospital, dear Jim, hope they get you fixed and home again real soon. You can cry on my shoulder if you want to – but you don't sound like that, you sound remarkably calm and cheerful, all things considered.
DeleteA pome of great wisdom..perhaps some of us learn how to 'play dead' as a child when the punches are thrown - but I hope as the years turn we can stand tall and strong. I know never not to throw out punches in return - Jae
ReplyDeleteAh, you my love have acquired great wisdom (even if it was hard won).
Delete"They no longer amaze, just weaken" - that is a gut-punch of a closing line...so true... in a way we're just sitting ducks, waiting for the next one....
ReplyDeleteWell, I was in a pessimistic mood. Perhaps, though, we can learn ways to 'roll with the punches'.
DeleteThey no longer amaze just weaken and yes We forget centuries of wisdom. But there are still wise poets like you and hopefully they listen
ReplyDeleteYes, I was just looking at Jane Goodall's last message to us all – it was to never give up hope.
DeleteAll so true...We all learn to deal with the punches in our own way .Good poem.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I hope we learn collectively before it's too late.
Delete