The Burden

The burden of the soul

weighs heavy and takes its toll.  

It is lost and it is found;

it is silent, yet makes sound.

                 

The burden remains ever nameless,

yet never shall it be thought to be blameless.

It is both sin and sacrifice,

the folding of card and the rolling of dice.   

 

The burden is both heavy and weightless,

it is all acts courageous and spineless.

It is “war in peace, and peace in war”,

until devil and angel both protest, “no more!”

 

The burden is razorblade and pen,

it is deeds of terror and of Zen.  

It teaches and learns and remembers and forgets,

all of its shames and all of its regrets.

 

The burden is written word and song that is sung,

it is the stinging bee and the one it has stung.  

It is the prisoner and his guard,

the penniless poet and plushest bard.

 

The burden is ice and fire,

it is the rod spared child and his sire.

It is the tears that have been cried

and the knots that will be tied.

 

The burden is all things that are,

it is sun and moon and cloud and star.

It is the guiding light and the burning map,

the route of escape and the deadliest trap.  

 

The burden is I and it is you,

it is the many and the few.

It flies and it falls, is caught and is free,

never knowing from what it must flee.

 

For the burden of the soul is love,

it is the blood on the wings of the snow white dove,

and the broken twig of olive clasped in its beak.

For when the burden is lifted, it is the souls turn to speak. 

Author's Note

What is your own perception of love? Does any of this ring true with your own experiences?

Reviews

[Leo]

Fantastic! Rhyming is absolutely brilliant..Two Thumbs way Up!
Just curious how long did it take you to write this masterpiece?

[Skai Rain]

Fantastic poem with perfect rhymes. Thank you for sharing!

[Tash Hill]

Well thank you very much for reading!

[Dipanjan Dutta]

Could have suggested a few edit but that is absolutely ignorable since the poem is a beauty. Simple words, nice rhyming and proves your potential. Really a great one. Keep writing.

[Tash Hill]

Yes, I do find that i struggle with the idea and practice of technical grammar in poetry. I am slowly learning, as it is so very different to the grammar and expectations of prose writing! Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.

[R Smith]

this is an instant poem for my library, great to bring it out and read again and again, you have such strength in your work and the ability to rhyme is great in you and yes a lot of the burden in love is expressed here, marvelous writing Tash :)

[Tash Hill]

I did not know you could add things to a library! lol. I am glad that you found pleasure in reading this, it is one that really does have a lot of meaning to me - even more so than some others I have written in the past. Yes, love can be such a heavy burden to bear, but it can also be the very thing that gives you the wings to rise above the burdens you will eventually face in both life and love. It is such a complex and undefinable emotion!

Thank you again for commenting and reading!

[R Smith]

Thank you :)

[NoelHC]

I did not find myself relating to "love" in this poem as much as I did "life" in all its ups and downs, joys and sorrows, excitement and disappointment.
Much of what you wrote her does ring true for my experience.
As to the poem, I like it, the form, the flow, the rhyme scheme are all very good, and I enjoyed reading it, in fact read it a few times over, before commenting.
I think you have found another outlet for your talent in this form.
I have admired your writing from the first I came across you, you write with a sparse style, an economy of words, symbolism, and a wealth of meaning. That carries over so well to poetry.
Keep it up, and keep me posted when you do have more.

[Tash Hill]

Yes, I do suppose that life and love do eventually become mutually inclusive. Perhaps it is not a case of either or. It could be that one cannot have one without the other/ I am very thankful for your comments on every one of my pieces, they mean a lot. I am glad, for poetry seems to resonate. Well, I mean to say, it is a lot easier to put my ideas and feelings into words when I do not have the pressure that thousands of words can be!

But thank you again and many times over for bother commenting and reading!

[NoelHC]

I remain your faithful servant, m'lady. : ) Keep sending me read requests when you have new work ready.