Taking Up the Gauntlet for Poetry

While I may write a lot of alternative health articles and nutrition articles, there's more to living than just maintaining the body. The mind, spirit and body interconnect and what occurs in one affects the others. Charlotte Kuchinsky recently wrote an article requesting readers that love poetry to follow suit and either write poetry or discuss your favorite poem. This is my response.

Even before the movie "Invictus" or before I had a clue who Nelson Mandela was, I read and fell in love with the poem "Invictus." While my life was tame compared to some, there are always mountains to climb, emotions to conquer and fights to fight. So, by the age of 9 or 10, I found and memorized the poem. If you're not familiar with it, here it is.

Invictus

By William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

This powerful poem got me through many an emotional or stormy night. It gave me strength to challenge those larger than myself and occasionally come out victorious. It made me believe I was powerful and because of that, I was. When faced with a battle, still today, I repeat it over and over either aloud or in my head. Of course, when I repeat it aloud, my challenger immediately thinks I'm "tetched" and backs away.

The second powerful poem in my life is the "23rd Psalm." It gives me comfort when I'm frightened. It lets me know that all will be all right for indeed, someone is watching over me and I am His favorite child. The words of David give peace and tranquility to the troubled mind. It too gives courage because you know you don't walk alone. It's another I repeat over and over before facing a nemesis or difficult situation.

Psalm 23

¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. ⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Of course, there are other poems for every possible expression of the human condition. This last poem is one I also memorized early in life. I read it at my mother's funeral as part of her eulogy. She taught it to me and lived by it. Whenever we would feel sorry for ourselves, she would repeat it and then we put our troubles in perspective and life was better.

Oh God Forgive Me When I Whine

Author Unknown

Today, upon a bus,
I saw a lovely girl with golden hair,
I envied her...
She seemed so happy...
I wished I were as fair.

When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle;
She had one leg and wore a crutch;
But as she passed...a smile!

Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I have two legs.
The world is mine!

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him.
He seemed so glad.
If I were late 'twould do no harm.
And as I left he said to me,
"I thank you, You have been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I have two eyes.
The world is mine!

Later, while walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
He did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment, then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word,
and then I know he could not hear.

Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I have two ears.
The world is mine!

With feet to take me where I'd go,
with eyes to see the sunset's glow,
with ears to hear what I would know...

Oh, God forgive me when I whine.
I'm blessed indeed.
The world is mine.

Poetry is the fodder for life, the food for the soul and often sanity for an insane world.