The Hill I Die On

The content of one's character relies on their unshakable courage to stand alone against adverse odds in the beliefs they hold to be true.

The Hill I Die On

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

The hill I die on is paved with good intention

In the flowers and needles of my own pretension 

In a crown of barbwire I take delight

In the losing battles I often fight

But within these wars I come to recognize 

The best and worst which often humanize 

No nobler stand can one seek to take

Than stand by the decisions we often make 

For there are no saints or sinner to play

To rage against our ethics or moral decay 

We live, we love, we weep, and we die

In-between these things hopes often lie

For in the end life is not judged by worth

It's what we leave behind; for better or worse

Author's Note

If I could become a patron Saint I would choose to be one for art. For few things can shape the heart of a human being than the aspirations towards creativity. Because to reach that place deep inside you in order to call forth the sublime one must be willing to reveal the true nature of their heart. CLE

Reviews

[Neville]

sounds a little like part of the Dokun I recite daily .. 'rely on your self and not on others, since no one is more reliable than your own well disciplined self' etc etc .. I follow a Buddhist path but recognise a bloomin good poem when I read one sir .. and this fits the bill in my book ........... Neville

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Neville for your comment on this poem I really appreciate it. I couldn't agree more with those wise words you share. We can rely at times on the kindness of others but in the end it is truly up to us alone to want to be better ethically and morally. It takes our own self discipline to work towards that achievement. Such a path to enlightenment is taken one step at a time, but despite its long journey it truly is worth the struggle. Thank you again my friend.

[keith]

my friend, you do what you do very well.
you have a certain way of measure to achieve rhyming that floes with ease

i do have difficulty with the often reference to your religion and God
it's not meant in an awful way ... i am atheist
but i still like your reads for the talent you express!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you kindly Keith for sharing your thoughts with me on this poem. I myself am agnostic and left organized religion years ago. I just don't believe in it anymore because I strive for the proof of truth. Logic and empathy guide my ethics. I admire faith for it has good qualities to it at times. While at others it can radicalize. There are many religious philosophies that pave the way towards a human enlightenment. But in the end it is a journey of self upon the road towards our own individualism. If it takes a person faith to be ethical then it can't be all bad. But it should never be just about that to be a humanist. I recognize I don't have all the answers to life, nor should I. But I have left behind the things of my parents in their beliefs of faith because it has few provable answers. And more excuses to be fallible. Sometimes I see the residual teachings of faith in my writings, but I attribute it towards those who influenced me as a child. But as I said I have out grown those things. I choose to live life under my conditions and not by some unknowable faith that lacks actual proof, but has good parables. One can easily make a religion from the tales of the brothers Grimm. I'll choose my own path in life and let it shape my ethics and character. Thank you again my friend for your comment, I really appreciate it.

[keith]

we are the victims of good faith.
our parents assume we should share the same values, same moral standards and religion
that's ok i suppose for some but not me
i did my DD on religions in search for one that fit my criteria ... there are none
i worship nothing but accept all that is within our 'natural' world
it's good enough for me
best to ya pal

[Dara]

Your philosophy on life in a glorious nutshell. So very well written and full of wonderful philosophical thoughts. Sad that some leaders don’t pay more attention to their legacy or what they leave behind. History does not lie. Poetry is one way of leaving a bit of us behind. One day, when I am gone I hope my children come upon this site and read some of what I have written. I think it would have more meaning for them then than now.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

That is such a beautiful legacy Dara. And it is in that hope that art has such great resonance and power. To know that your children will read your thoughts and aspirations for them and their kids as well. For it is within the lines of your art they will have the clarity of who you are and the heart you have. The abundance of heritage you have gifted to them with love. Thank you for such a revealing and thoughtful comment. I truly appreciate it.

[Dara]

Thank you for your continuing effort to emphasize the importance of art. It definitely is capable of transcending the soul and mind.

[John the Baptist]

And all these years I thought it was the road to hell that was paved with good intentions. What I get from this one is that we make our decisions according to the info available to us at the time, and we must stand by them. Sadly, we cannot always be sure how our lives will be judged, despite our best intentions.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Absolutely true. One may see another as a hero, while others will view that same person a villian. These moments we live define the content of our character by the choices we make. Whether good or ill they will be remembered by those that love us, or hate us. It is up to others to decide, we could only stand by the decisions we made and hope they were right for that moment in time. Thank you JB for sharing your thoughts with me on this poem.

[Fran Marie]

A well penned piece
the legacy we leave behind
is what will be remembered
the good deeds and our very
nature of whom we are and
the values we stood for in life

Nice Work Carlos

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Fran for sharing your thoughts with me on this piece. I wanted to write something about the content of character. It is difficult to not sound too preachy when discussing ethics and morality. Yet, I hold such high value and regard for those qualities. Sometimes I may fall short of my own expectations, but I feel it is the journey to be better that leads to greater self discovery. When I am long gone from this world the best thing I can leave behind is that I tried to be a better human being and expected no less from others. Thank you again for your comment. I really appreciate it.

[Temperance]

I agree with your note that one needs to face the truth deep within themselves. Creativity comes from the heart and soul…in my opinion. The most moving works come from that place deep within. We are judged more by our character and actions more than anything else. Very poignant! Thank you for sharing! Temp

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Temp, I appreciate your comment and feel we see things exactly the same. If one wants to know a person on a more revealing nature one need only look at their creative side. It is through their art that reveals the soul of a human being. Their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Whether their talents stem from writing, drawing, singing, or any other unique skill it often reveals the passion that resides within. And the thing they can't live without, which defines who they are. I love writing. I always have, and without it I'm not the person I was meant to be. One can easily discover the heart I have by simply reading my work. I exist within these words. Thank you so much again.

[Temperance]

You are most welcome!

[Aura]

The last stanza rings true

"For in the end life is not judged by worth
It's what we leave behind; for better or worse"

It doesn't matter you're worth or how much of something you have, it matters what deeds you did in the life. Those are what you leave behind, and what others will remember.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you,Aura, for commenting on this poem. You are absolutely correct and I totally agree with you on that. I could not have said it more wisely than you. Thank you again I really appreciate it.

[Aura]

You are welcome!