The Way it Is...

‘What are we going to do with you?’

My parents would say to me,

‘We want you to work in a banking house,

But you write poetry.

You may look back on a wasted life

If that was all you did,

You need to steady, and take a wife

So you’ll need to make a quid.’

While I, in all of my innocence

Would look at them, askance,

‘If life were just about money, then

I think I’d rather dance.

I don’t believe that it’s all about

The grind, amassing wealth,

I cast my fate to the winds, let that

Take care of it, itself.’

I needed to be creative so

I scribbled, more and more,

Composing the perfect poems that

Did not exist before,

They didn’t earn me a single quid

But that was not the plan,

A part of me will be left behind

Once I am done with man.

And so I tell the Millennials

Don’t waste your time with sweat,

But add something to your culture that

Has not been written yet,

Whether your art is writing, music,

Painting, poetry,

The question, ‘What will you do with you?’

In time, will set you free.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Richard, suggested I read some of your work. This poem is wonderful and sound advice too. Everyone should nurture their creativity. I think we all have it, but it lies dormant in many. That question asked by your parents, probably made you more inclined to writing poetry. I think it certainly would have done so in my case. Poetry has been a life long friend to me, in good times and bad, it has always been there.

Chris

[TPK Stories]

We should all strive to be the best that we can be...well-written, DLP.

[Avinash]

I rarely share the writerscafe works, mine or others on FB. But this one I am.

[KT-B]

Before I read your work I know I'm going to love it and you never disappoint - love this one David, and with a great message - good stuff :)

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend.
"Don’t waste your time with sweat,
But add something to your culture that
Has not been written yet,
Whether your art is writing, music,
Painting, poetry,
The question, ‘What will you do with you?’
In time, will set you free."
A life working and never doing what we enjoy. We are just meat for the factories and the wealthy. I agree with the above lines. Thank you David for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Tony Jordan]

Perhaps it was the same reasoning behind handprints at Uluru David. What a question though 'What will you do with you?' - mind blowing.
Keep leaving bits of you DLP - it's very much appreciated !

[Glen's not so clean sla..]

The best thing I've read so far on this website. Fantastic!