Measured,Weighed

If a man needs rewarded in the end for deeds he should do by conscience there is something wrong with him.

Becky and I

Neither birth, nor death, escape pain

it starts with the babe's cry

Men wax and wane, throughout their reign

in the end just to die

 

 Through heat and cold we push onward

like Lemmings to the sea

Ever shore-ward, ever nor-ward

and on to victory

 

The weeks pass by without delay

and with them countless tears

As most I'd say, lament the day

that their months turned to years

 

What makes man something to behold

is not the after-life

It's in the gold, of stories told

and arms of the good wife

 

We need no promise from above

to tell us we'll be paid

By joys hereof, through souls we love

is man then measured weighed

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Author's Note

It has always bothered me the idea of being paid in the end for our good deeds that is. If a man needs rewarded in the end for deeds he should do by conscience there is something wrong with him. Kindness is it's own reward. Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

Reviews

[David Lewis Paget]

As always, Tate, you ponder the imponderable. I don't suppose we'll ever know the answer to your questioning the rights or wrongs of performing good deeds. Suffice it to say that good deeds usually bring about positive results, and these should be reflected in our Karma. Better that than the destructive urges now being played out in the middle east, anyway. And if there is nothing after death, we lose nothing by being magnanimous.

[Tate Morgan]

Pondering the Imponderables I will always do good works because kindness is its own reward Thank you David

[AprilRN1210]

I couldn't agree more Tate!!.. what a beautifully moving way to express what I have always believed deep in my heart... you have such a depth of passion to your writes that speak of life, love, and meaningful lessons.. you are hands down one of my favorite writers on here and this stunning write shows why.. your pen shines sincerity and a sparkling spirit that makes this site a brighter place.. heartwarming and affecting piece.. the flow is dreamy as always, with such splendid rhyme..

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you dear i bet you say that to all the guys lol Honestly i am humbled you make me blush

[Lydia Shutter]

Beautifully said, Tate. It is so true. I would like to think humans are innately kind. Why believe we will be repaid? Often we are not, but the act of doing a good deed should be the "thank you". The rhyming and rhythm of this one is superb. I am saving this to my library and giving you a 100...which I don't often do. Lydi**

[Tate Morgan]

Lydia thank you I really had to rack my little brain on the rhyming in this one to be relevant and still adhere to the strict ridged form of the piece.

[WILDERNESS]

That is a message to be taught in every school, to be read in every gathering and written on every tombstone. Well done my friend, for sharing such a splendid poem.

[Tate Morgan]

Now that is a humbling review.!!! I thank you so much. Who among us would not wish to make such an impact. Thank you from myself and my ancestors all the way back to the beginning of time. You made my day

[WILDERNESS]

You made mine ............... welcome

[J. K. Beach]

Regardless of what lies beyond the grave, you have hit the nail on the head with this one... whom and how we love in this life is beyond important, it is essential to who we are and who we should be. The last two stanzas are pure gold and should pave the streets of our hearts from this point forward. Extra good stuff Tate!

[Tate Morgan]

J.K. Thank you I wondered if this piece would be written well enough to get the idea I was struggling with across or not. I am pleased you liked it. These ideas always run through my mind. If we are not due reward for our good acts as i propose Then neither are we due punishment . We are given life and tasked with giving it meaning. Through our actions we define the whole of humanity.

[Relic]

Family is what always remains in the end. To "lament the day
that their months turned to years" is something we can never foresee as a youth. Life is ahead of us and we take it for granted. Then one day--as a Pink floyd song says--you find, ten years have got behind you, no one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.

Although I'm not married, I know a wife is gold to the husband that loves her. From what you have written in the past, it's obvious your bond is a blessing. Always a good poem from you Tate.

Well done.

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks relic Yeah my wife is a peach she gives me peace of mind it is a great feeling to never worry about your partner To know them so well that you have no fear.Thank you

[Rachelle]

What does God really want from us? Blind obedience - not - but obedience because we return His love, that is something else. No fear of punishment but fear of hurting the One we love.
Sometimes, we have to contemplate the real reasons why.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you rachelle It never hurts to think about the things we have been taught and question their efficacy

[Einstein Noodle]

you play my heart strings (in a manly way of course) every time i get to read your poems .. no exception here Tate .. you make fine points ... for staying the course .. without expectation .. through seemingly nihilistic conundrums .. i think it is exceptional that you offer no other world solutions .. but justification in an honest life dedicated to another .. marvelous poetry in my mind! .. very well said! would lean towards persisting in high expectations ..
E.

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks Einstein I offer no answers just observations and questions and hope everyone can find their own answer

[Dane Osborne]

You do have to take the good with the bad and that is only natural. But as for the incentive based drive within the morality of humans? I too have noticed that.
Friedrich Nietzsche said that if we need a religion that threatens us with punishment for being good then what does that say about humanity?
That was a good question on his part and like all good questions it reveals more than any answer.

I don't subscribe to any conventional religion for the same reasons I've never subscribed to conventional society. I believe that every day I have the choice to be a good man OR not to be. That is a difficult choice to make sometimes. But choosing the right side makes it worth it all.
I choose to be good because that is my real nature. Not because of incentive.
Yes, I've had moments where my kindness was used/abused.
But you have to be true to your real nature or else it makes you miserable.
Every time I ever chose the bad side of my nature to lash out then I always usually regretted it after my head cleared.

I've stated to you before in previous correspondence about my spiritual outlook that I've acquired. It all comes down to the fact that I believe there is SOMETHING beyond this tangible reality that we piece together with our senses. That's just me. But for me it is not about incentive. I believe people merit what they deserve by being true to who they are.
S****y people often face the shittiest ends in life due to this principle. That has nothing to do with any written doctrine.

This is a great poem Tate and thank you for making me aware of it.

[Tate Morgan]

If it is true that we deserve no reward and it seems it is then we deserve no punishment either

[Tate Morgan]

I often wonder whether Id rather be simple and happy or intellectual and always questioning.The fact that i always do just that well it answers my question with my nature . lol

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Beautiful my friend. It makes one think about the fragility of life.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you I agree the fragility of life so tiny are we in the universe

[R Smith]

always such a pleasure to get the call to come and read one of your poems Tate, this is sure no exception, full of beauty and kindness, the type of poem i associate with your writing and such a sheer delight to read, thank you :)

[Tate Morgan]

thank you richard so nice to have you round