Today’s poem first appeared on the
blogs in 2016, ad has since been (slightly) revised.
Staying positive and trying to keep looking on the bright side of life has
never been harder for many of us than now as the Covid-19 coronavirus continues
to take its toll around the world. Essentially, I am a positive thinking person;
even so, life has a nasty habit of contriving circumstances likely to make us
think differently, circumstances which, for whatever reason, spot a chink in
our psychological armour and send us into free fall ...
Many years ago, my lie took a turn for the worse (not the first time) and
I had a bad nervous breakdown; unable to see a way through it, I attempted
suicide. Fortunately, life forces I cannot begin to describe kicked in, and I started
to see something of the wood through its trees. I recall telling a doctor,
"I can't do this." His reply has stayed with me ever since.
"Yes, you can," he said, "... just tell yourself over and over
that you will get through it, and you will. Better still, focus on all the
positive things you want to do that giving up now will never let you, and go
with the damn flow, man, go with the flow."
So … I went with the damn flow, and survived to tell the tale.
Good or bad, we make the world we live in and it is up to all of us to try and make it a better one.
Humanity's rage to live for love and the greater good will always defeat its enemies in the end.
Looking on the bright side of life may not always be easy, but human beings have a natural capacity for love, in all its shapes and forms, and the more we can focus on that the better.
(Did I say it would be easy...?)
This poem is a villanelle.
L-O-V-E, SURVIVORS
Though bigotry and hate thrive
among the world’s power brokers,
it’s love that will see us survive
Always, people willing to drive
forces for good to the aid of others,
though bigotry and hate thrive
While terrorist-led plots connive
to mock this world’s peacemakers,
it's love that will see us survive
Open heart and mind ever contrive
to expose the worst attention seekers,
though bigotry and hate thrive
If life giving forces as bees to hive,
(a warning sting for potential takers)
it’s love that will see us survive
As sure to keep freedom's name alive,
as frustrate its would-be code breakers;
though bigotry and hate thrive,
it’s love that will see us survive
Copyright R. N. Taber 2016, 2020
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