Condition

We came out from the trees, lived among stones
traveled down rivers
to oceans so vast they seemed to drown the world

What are we?

We tamed the Sun and called it fire
we tamed it again
and got a cloud formed like a mushroom

We built, we destroyed.
We created, we killed.

We make music and we dream dreams.
We lie, we cheat
We heal and inspire

What is this?

Sitting in the air we can watch
steel rubber-ed ants traveling grey ribbons

We make tools to carve mountains
and explore the ends of the Universe

What is it to be human?
Are we able, without similar alien intelligence, to know?

We make gods, we make demons, we worship ourselves.

Are there words to tell, music to explain
what we are?

How do you capture a consciousness seven billion live?

we are short sighted, greedy
we have vision and nerve

we harness and enslave
we set free
while we are often chained

Never satisfied
too often satiated

We live only with and among ourselves
seeking and, when we find
nervous and itchy
we move again.

Sweet dreams
dark nightmares

Warped and shaped
reality bends to our perceptions;
will it finally define us?

Reviews

[Valentine]

Being a simple human being envelopes all of these good and bad qualities plus hundreds you have not mentioned. This is a write that leaves the reader thinking. Valentine

[Beccy]

And we are the ultimate contradiction, able to create such beauty, yet at the same time the most destructive force imaginable.

Amazing and so insightful lines.

Beccy.

[Mark]

Thank you very much for your comments. :)

[alanwgraham]

Great. You have caught the human condition honestly and brilliantly.
I think my creation myth called Gaia- Lord of the world might ring some bells. Inspired by a trip to Sri Lanka.
Thanks, Alan

[Insight "MH"]

You really gave me a lot to think about. When did the wrong turn happen?
Nicely written.

[Mark]

about the same time the right turn did? :) Thanks for reading.

[Insight "MH"]

So, the left turn is better? :)

[paddy d daly]

So many questions and so much to learn,
Have we messed up this world we so easily
Call our own, your words are a brilliant
Insight into humanity...

[Great Aunt Astri]

All we can do is live our own personal lives as best we can (WE are all different) Your poem holds attention and, ending with a question mark, is very effective.

[Terpsichore]

Second read; more than a snapshot I reckon.

T

PS. Thanks for the review of 'Mouse,' one little kid is one to many, I hate the B******** that steal such innocents lives; won't tell you here what I'd like to do to them, Geneva convention be buggered.

[Terpsichore]

We are all that and more. The complexity of the human mind is overwhelming, and how we can create such beauty, yet cause such chaos, is quite beyond all comprehension.

Can only add that this is a damn fine poem.

T

[Mark]

Thank you for reading, and yes we are so much more. I knew I wasn't going to capture everything but tried to portray a snapshot. :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Man had done great things. Also deadly things.
"Warped and shaped
reality bends to our perceptions;
will it finally define us?"
When man is gone. What will they say about us? Wasters, war mongrels and greed. I hope for comment sense. Thank you Mark for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[DIVYA]

The verse on taming the sun is simply beautiful and brilliant! Reading this poem I was overwhelmed by the vastness of the human intellect and the human dimension. Much appreciated.

[Mark]

Thank you very much :)

[DIVYA]

You are most welcome. :)