The Veil

inspired by Mark's "A Journey"

Before you tore the veil

And the scales fell from my eyes

Was I a child of the lesser light

Burned out echoes in ashen skies

The thundered rush of blood

Was I deafened by the lies

 

Before you cast the crown

Set diamonds sparkling at my brow

Did I crave the baser things

Found in the here and the now

Wrapped up in my thicker skin

Screaming where and why and how?

 

If you give perfect pleasure

Why would I require pain

What purpose does the deluge serve

For seed drowned out by rain

Why would I surrender Heaven

Just to go through Hell again

 

I can’t unwork the simple truth

Of a destiny unearned

If I step into the fire

I know I will be burned

Sometimes the seminal lesson

Is the lesson left unlearned 

TL Boehm

01/03/2014

Author's Note

there are several schools of though about our existence. Did we exist before we were born here? Do our souls continue on? Do we lather rinse and repeat til the water runs clear? I found Mark's poem fascinating and was inspired to write something. What ever the truth is - I personally struggle with the thought that I "chose" my situation so I could learn something from it. And if I did - Darwin gave us hominids too much cred. Here is Mark's Poem http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Insomnius/1261233/

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A amazing poem my Poet friend. Many lessons to be learn in your words.
"If you give perfect pleasure
Why would I require pain "
I believe no-one learn the easy way. We must fall down a few times to learn to appreciate the good things. A strong ending to a outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[TL Boehm]

True words, Friend. thank you.

[Sasha]

"If you give perfect pleasure
Why would I require pain
What purpose does the deluge serve
For seed drowned out by rain
Why would I surrender Heaven
Just to go through Hell again"

Beautiful !

[TL Boehm]

thank you Sasha

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Beautifully penned. Truth is a relevant concept. Most people's truth is composed of whatever they believe. Forget that our mind's are fallible and optical illusions abound and it's easy to believe the earth is flat and we all aren't upside down. ;o)

[TL Boehm]

Thank you so much. Yes the earth is round. My feet though, my feet are flat.

[Troy Henson]

Thought provoking to say the least. So many questions that beckon so many answers. Life brings about defining moments, ones that leave an imprint in our subconscious....I often wonder about these moments in time and can't help but think that maybe we must return again in another life to try and try again.

Nicely done.

Regards

[TL Boehm]

That is a profound thought that we may return again and again. Thank you for your kind review

[David Scott]

First Tammy, I want to say I am happy the "veil" and the "scales" are gone... It is a blessing beyond measure. I like how you try to share it here in a quality poem as well. Many will read this and at least be stimulated to consider what you are talking about. I do not know what you "eyes" have seen, but I suspect and I have felt the same hand in my life "casting the crown".

Second, I have read many of the responses. I usually do not read others writers reviews at all. Especially before writing my own thoughts. Just to keep the review purely my own reflection... However, here I made and exception. I wanted to know how your words affected other readers. What I read seemed to show both a desire and willingness to learn and listen, blended with a stubbornness to stick with philosophies their personal life experiences have "taught" them. I too have a stubbornness at times... ha.
I think we all want the security of either "knowing" what we know, or just saying nobody really can know anything. Yet the fact is, it takes a degree of faith to believe any philosophy we can contrive... Even to say we think this is all just chance takes a great amount of faith in our own thoughts and experiences. Anyhow, I found it very interesting how your poem seemed to bring out of others what they think rather than what trying to see more clearly what you have experienced. I probably do the same thing... It is human nature to keep our filters in place.

Lastly, I think your last stanza was a pure truth. The "destiny" did not feel like some pre planned or controlled path to me, but rather a gift of an alternative to the path this life has dealt. An "unearned" opportunity to escape the destiny of darkness that covers Earths history. Nobody can earn it, but all can accept it. I agree with many other reviewers who contend this life does not look like some grand plan of a benevolent God. This world's path is in fact evidence of what happens when His plan is not followed. I believe God is blamed or "given credit" for destinies of our own choosing or dealt to us by other's evils. I wonder why it is so hard to accept this perfect alternative destiny.

Also, you show me a little of my own thick-headedness in the last line. Kind of like curiosity killed the cat, but you wrote the idea with sophistication. We (at least I), do not need to experience everything in life to be whole. Some things are better off unlearned... Of course, it takes faith in something or someone to believe we don't need to know or experience certain things... We have to give in to something outside of our full understanding to be willing to leave Pandora's box unopened. Usually I find all of us are stubborn and curious enough to want to find out for ourselves and then wish we had not.

Well, I have gone on enough... ha.
Love the write. Love the declaration. Love the heart and soul I see in the lines Tammy!

[TL Boehm]

Wow. Just....wow. I have to tell you I read this and I cried. Sometimes I cave to girl moments and today this is girl moment number two. First and foremost I suppose - I can tell you I have experienced horror at the hands of others - and it is primary to me that I do not repeat that behavior and pass it on to my progeny. And its difficult because my default settings are vindictive, jealous and self serving. I have to "work" to be "nice" but the investment is worth it. I had to come to a place in my own heart where I accepted as my truth that I am not a victim or a parrot. I can chose life, light and love under the most horrid circumstances and so while its often still not my first choice in a tough spot - I eventually come around to it. I am a Christian - but I'm not a preacher - and so when I write about my faith - filters do come up. We are all in different places and since I know what lurks under my skin - I try to be careful that I don't do more harm than good with my words. If I need a full on vent or purge....well that pink bar comes in handy. I'm just humbled by your review. So often I feel that my writing is this big black hole or a chaotic mess when what I really would prefer is that it be either a light or a mirror. Thank you so much for your kindness. I too believe God gets blamed for choices we make. I know I've done it - and probably will again. thank you again. (they were happy humble tears btw.)

[David Scott]

You obviously moved me as well...
Much love!

[Baby Ricochet]

I don't think I'm here for a purpose and if I am I lived it out in the corps. All that crap about everything happens for a reason and some kind of divine plan died in me along time ago. Bad s**t happens to good people from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Circumstances and luck rule our lives more than we want to think about. Obviously this poem struck a chord in me because I said more than my usual one line flip remark. Good poem TL

[TL Boehm]

Rico - sometimes I think part of your purpose is to wake people the Eff up to the truth of things - this is what you do for me almost every time I read you. You knock me out of my little comfort zone and I believe that is a GOOD THING. I kinda think "purpose" is basic. We're here to love and be loved. Sometimes we get a little tough love from other humans. but I agree wholeheartedly with the truth of bad crap happening to good people because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. One of my favorite "a ha" moments was when I heard my pastor say "God is a gentleman. He won't force you to do anything. He protects your free will to go straight to Hell if you want to." I've actually tested that several times over my life -and yup. God lets a body step right in it. Sometimes I think my real purpose is to make the Big Guy roll his mighty eyes.

[Rita L. Sev]

This is an excellently crafted piece of pondering, Tammy. Your last stanza will stay with me... lessons unlearned... I like the seamless flow of this poem, too.

Your note brings to mind a line from a song written by my brother: "I don't like to think about what people call paying dues; I like to say that every day I live the way I choose..."

Seems like we all are just trying to figure it out...

[TL Boehm]

Rita that is an excellent line. It took me YEARS to accept personal responsibility for my actions. YEARS. But now its actually easier to deal with some things in my life and put them in perspective knowing that I "did" it and it wasn't "done to "me. Or that it was "done to me" but it wasn't personal. It was programming. Of course, I still have my moments.

[Mark]

Glad your "little banshee" found her sea legs, TL! I think my favorite part of my WC experience has been being compelled to swim where previously I was barely wont to splash in a puddle, and that annoyedly!
We shall never know, until the Final Curtain, what roles we have played, or been cast to but neglected to rehearse, or in my case, could never find the theater! You express beautifully the frustration of knowing we're meant for something, but never being more than tangentially aware of what it might be...Lovely!

[TL Boehm]

Thank you Mark. Self awareness is a double edged sword. Studded with grappling hooks and coated with acid. But sometimes we duck the blow and we see a brilliant moment...

[Lydia Shutter]

Indeed a lesson left unlearned. How can anyone know the truth? Those of faith believe they know the answers, but somehow I need a bit more proof. "If you give perfect pleasure why would I require pain?" A question I have asked the Rabbi often. Why do such bad things happen if there is a benevolent guide "up there?" You pose some wonderful questions here. This is one to read over and over again...and to debate! The rhyming flows easily and is not forced. Great work, Tammy. Lydi**

[TL Boehm]

yes, it is a fascinating subject to debate that's for sure. I am a simple soul - I think sometimes if I did know the answers my head would pop.

[WILDERNESS]

We are the highest form of beings endowed with Gods soul breated into us. It is only when we reduce ourselves to earthly and bodily pleasures, we stoop lower than a beast. The triology of mind, soul and spirit completes us, with the soul acting as the balancing agent between the two and the body their keeper. the spirit is divine and pure, the mind earthly and desireous, and the soul our true sacred self, which lives beyond the body when it dies. The most unfortunate person is the one who waits for death to discover God, because that is the ultimate truth.
Thats what I have learned, and I too ask all kinds of questions, ....................dont mind the tirade.
And superb poem, which got me going in the first place........................Thanks

[TL Boehm]

Thank you for the "tirade" ( big smile) I believe that too we are spirit - we have a soul - we live in a body. And yes waiting to die to find God is a waste of the very life He gave us.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and sometimes we learn from our situations and for some reason end up in another just like it...maybe we crave consistency..

very thought provoking piece...causes lots of introspection.

[TL Boehm]

I've been in those looping moments myself. Thank you Jacob!