Predestined

Am I a whale?

Migrating, drifting, each day searching anew,

Instinct erasing all meaning from my actions…

Driven by coded DNA compulsion,

Beached, beyond the tidal swells,

While sharks feed on my impulse?

 

Am I a dog?

Rewarded for loyal behavior,

Wagging the tail of preconditioned responses…

Digging holes to bury treasured rotting bones,

Eating grasses’ bladed cure,

Vomiting past the dry nose of my soul.

 

 I am a man!

Building on ancestral foundations,

Intellect and reason placing each stone…

Passions cementing construct,

Walls of cause and effect rise and fall,

Predestined to choose my own destiny.

Reviews

[Belle]

Some people are believers of circumstances, that a man who meets calamity as a result of his action should not blame the fate or others for the belief that each man only receives just results of his own action. This is absolute truth specially in the minds of existentialists, but for some others points of view, man since birth has a destination because there are many factors, predeterminers that shape and/or control man's life. One of them is the man's law, though this kind of predeterminer can still be broken by those who have courage enough to go on transgression, but still the norms set by society can absolutely define man's existence. Another one is the DNA ( as you have mentioned in this poem), once a man is genetically coded to have sickle cell disease then he'll live for the rest of his life suffering from the disorder ( well, probably not if science can find faster way to alter this kind of disorder since according to gnome experts if patience will undergo stem cell treatment it will still take years to see the result). What I am trying to say is that, we may have all the freedom, the capacity, the capability to define our own existence but there are these factors, predeterminers that we can never get ourselves off, and we have no choice but to be passive...So to say, I have already accepted that my protein is giving me curly hair and I am doomed to live with curly hair ;)

David, I am so glad you are back. You stirred my mind and soul once again. :)

[David Scott]

Dear dear Belle...
I am honored you felt my words stir your mind tonight.
You show intellect and wisdom in your response.
My intention was to present this philosophical concept in simple terms with simple examples...
I guess I could have avoided the last line, but it does speak my undestanding of the ultimate freedom to choose my eternal destiny.
You are 100% correct in stating we do not control the environment of our human existence, but we have 100% control and accountability concerning our spiritual destiny.
I love your depth of discussion. Thank you for your gifted response Belle.

[Belle]

No, the last line is powerful paradox. It is for me a good ending that reader can have in mind to think of. And it is also best that you included the DNA, the two makes the poem complex which opens up readers to another truth...

[Tate Morgan]

It sure made a better man if me

[KWP]

This very much reminds me of the Thich Nhat Hanh poem 'Call Me By My Real Name'

You should read it if you have not already ...


Your words give rise to thought ... Something I very much appreciate

[David Scott]

Thank you very much. I will look it up.

[BThomvanWart]

The Philosophy student within my soul along with my Sarcastic reactions just want to provide comedic relief, but I can't! I must be serious! I like the random, yet organized way about this piece. It's in one area and then another and finally concludes with the reason for it to begin with. It's funny, because my brain started shouting "Manifest Destiny!" at first and then I was like "No! It's brilliant!" It's so simple, but conveys an idea so much more. Very great work, David!

[David Scott]

Ha! I like how your mind works. I too think with a critical humor. There was room to roll your eyes, but I always try to provide a bit of meat to feed the soul. I'm glad the philosophy held water for you.
Thank you for the enjoyable review!

[...]

I think we choice to have our individual experiences. I often kick myself in the a*s lol

[David Scott]

I agree. Free will is absolute. Yet we have a destiny prepared if we choose it. IMO.
Glad you found this oldie.
Thanks for the review.

[...]

I actually intended on giving this a better review, David, but in the middle of doing so I got company. This was awesome IMO and I loved the comparisons. Excellent write, my friend

[David Scott]

Ha. Too funny. I'm thankful for any notice. You are kind.

[Ghost of Jupiter]

Oh..this might be too deep for me today as I am loaded up on pain meds..hahaha. You seem to just swirl up a tornado of thoughts within my mind with every poem I read of yours. Although you try to mask this depth in simplicity, you never the less, create a profound question about our humanity. One that i think I better meditate more upon before I say much in my medicated state...lol. wonderfully enjoyed, as always...

[David Scott]

I am sorry you need medication. You must tell why you are in such pain.
Thank you for seeing the underlying intention.

[Great Aunt Astri]

A very good read. I like the line 'Driven by coded DNA compulsion' It has alliteration and slides off the tongue. And do you know, I do believe that it is in our coded DNA, as humans to be 'Predestined to choose our own destiny' A very clever and well constructed poem!

[lee von cleef]

And the Horse predisposed to a curby hock condition, won the race anyway.

[David Scott]

Indeed. Thank you for your time to read and comment.

[Muse]

This made me think of an interesting article that I tried to find for other reasons the other day. Reading this reminded me of it...and it stimulated the nerdy part of my DNA. The article was about an experiment done some time ago "you won't read about it on the news" but they took chickens...and other species of animals...and they proved that we all share a common link. The dog had a part of it's brain stimulated to quack like a duck...or something like that. The duck could bark like a dog. The human subject was stimulated to act animal like. It was fascinating! I forgot where the source was...Steve Quale or something. Because of animal right activist the testing is done underground "if you know what I mean" if I ever find it again I will share it with you. So long story short, what I'm trying to say is...despite our very human traits...our animal DNA is in there. I guess that's why our behavior can be quite pathetic if not carnal. Interesting subject matter should you ever choose to dive deeper into it. I will keep searching for that article...if I ever find it I will share it with you.

[David Scott]

You reflected this poetic thought back to me upside-down and backwards... Very much like looking at something without the optic nerve righting the object in the brain...
Interesting take.
Yes, please share oh "nerdy" one. ;)
Thank you for reading.

[Muse]

This made me think of an interesting article that I tried to find for other reasons the other day. Reading this reminded me of it...and it stimulated the nerdy part of my DNA. The article was about an experiment done some time ago "you won't read about it on the news" but they took chickens...and other species of animals...and they proofed that we all share a common link. The dog had a part of it's brain stimulated to quack like a duck...or something like that. The duck could bark like a dog. The human subject was stimulated to act animal like. It was fascinating! I forgot where the source was...Steve Quale or something. Because of animal right activist the testing is done underground "if you know what I mean" if I ever find it again I will share it with you. So long story short, what I'm trying to say is...despite our very human traits...our animal DNA is in there. I guess that's why our behavior can be quite pathetic if not carnal. Interesting subject matter should you ever choose to dive deeper into it. I will keep searching for that article...if I ever find it I will share it with you.

[Muse]

This made me think of an interesting article that I tried to find for other reasons the other day. Reading this reminded me of it...and it stimulated the nerdy part of my DNA. The article was about an experiment down "you won't read about it on the news" but they took chickens...and other non-winged animals...and they proofed that we all share a common link. The dog had a part of it's brain stimulated to quack like a duck...or something like that. The duck could bark like a dog. The human subject was stimulated to act animal like. It was fascinating! I forgot where the source was...Steve Quale or something. Because of animal right activist the testing is done underground "if you know what I mean" if I ever find it again I will share it with you. So long story short, what I'm trying to say is...despite our very human traits...our animal DNA is in there. I guess that's why our behavior can be quite pathetic if not carnal. Interesting subject matter should you ever choose to dive deeper into it. I will keep searching for that article...if I ever find it I will share it with you.

[TL Boehm]

I am a man!

Building on ancestral foundations,

Intellect and reason placing each stone…

Passions cementing construct,

Walls of cause and effect rise and fall,

the whole poem is so strongly written "vomiting past the dry nose of my soul" that line made me stop for a moment and just mull the meaning in my mind. But that last part - that's the stand out for me. the careful - permanent construction of a destiny and a legacy. this piece spoke volumes. Well done.

[David Scott]

Hey TL!
Thank you for the read and review. :)
I hope you are well my friend.
I'm glad you enjoyed the poem. Your favorite spots were mine as well. I liked the dry nose line... My dog had just gone outside and gorged on grass only to leave me a smelly mess beside the recliner... It was poetry IRL... Ha. I had to laugh at my wife. She was very upset. Not sure how she got through two children. Oh well... Doo doo occurs.