Vanity

God once thought to give me a choice

by offering the chance to choose

I stood bold stance, and took that chance

to ever walk within his shoes

 

He then offered me five choices

Fame, Love, Riches, Pleasure, and Death

I will have won, when it's all done

so I thought as I caught my breath

 

Then so it was I chose Pleasure

with the thought to enjoy my youth

To run with the boys, through life's joys

happiness was my only truth

 

Pleasures that youth delights upon

were disappointing, then grew cold

Sun setting play, that every day

trickled my fingers through, like gold

 

So once again he came to me

"surely wisdom has found you now"

"Choose your fate, before it's too late

as I said, this I will allow"

 

"Fame" I said as he smirked at me

"I wish to be a man renowned"

"To play the game, that touts my name

as one deserving of the crown"

 

But Fame was a fickled master

that led to Envy, Greed and Lust

A shinning star and giant car

that in the end had turned to rust

 

Once more God offered me a choice

of the few things that still remain

"Besides birth, only one has worth

try using your heart, not your brain"

 

"Riches then" I did say to him

"surely they can cure all my pain"

"To do what I can as a man

by amassing what I may gain"

 

Wealth was not the answer I sought

left me with none of what I'd won

When in the end, I had no friend

to rejoice in what I had done

 

So one last time he gave me choice

"Love" I said is what I would like

"A woman's breast, where I may rest

perhaps even a little tyke"

 

The time it passed so quickly by

as I then sat beside her grave

A-wash in tears, for all those years

spent chasing dreams, that none could save

 

"My life has run it's course old man

your final choice is the worst yet"

"My love I lost, at such a cost

all that's left of me is regret"

 

He said "since you have not asked me

for advice on what you should do"

"I gave Death in a dying breath

to one more deserving than you!"

 

" Why won't you grant me rest" I said

"what more is there for me to learn"

" That a life of greed serves no need

live with old age, till it's your turn"

Tate

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Reviews

[roarke]

I concur. Although we have to also recognize that this truism, this perspective paradigm is changing, inevitable given the human condition for lack of a better label. There are some changes a person of my age and eduction and experience can't adapt to. That's as it is as well. I think your poem also address that juncture, where one set of values and perceptions meets the new set..... it is at that moment the concept of this poem returns and offers us another look, another chance.

[the_stoic]

this piece of write here encompasses all the essence of life .. goes into my library and i will always cherish it !

[Dane Osborne]

Tate, This was a very wise and thoughtful poem. All these things people go through their lives devoting themselves to are really just facades, We lose our sense of self and identity through false wants. But it sneaks into our consciousness in such a snakey way, doesn't it?

[MoriartyMesa]

Is it strange that while reading, the role of God could have been played by either Frank Sinatra or George Burns, crap maybe even Hal Brooks. Any way, with the title of course I am going to read it and wonder if there is an under line message. But I am also rather insane, cause I am stuck on God being one of those three.




Cheers

[Amberway]

This was really inspiring! Exquisite!

[Mark]

Great story Tate, I personally would relish the chance to have a conversation with God. Perhaps that is my vanity.

[Aurora]

I really liked this poem... it is very beautiful. I love how he went through his life learning, and at the end God said he wasn't worthy enough for death.. it was a very beautiful poem great job. :)

[Alex_Vandool]

Marvellous

[ba mcfarlane]

With deft skill, this write burnishes the patina of an often visited theme.