let us have a vision
Let us have a vision.
Though we may be weary of trying
to break free from the oppressive truths of our present;
Let us have a vision of better things -
When looking around us brings only despair,
When what we long to change seems unchangeable
And the odds against us insurmountable,
When our efforts are hindered at every turn
so that some lose hope
and some lose will
and some stop caring at all.
Let us have a vision of better things
And a burning passion
to light the darkness of the unbelievers
and consume the fears of the fearful.
Let us have a vision of better things
And let us not stop reaching for it
For we are men, and worthy of a better fate
than this.
I agree that sometimes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. My beef with people who defend the status quo (either by actively or passively resisting efforts towards change) is this: if we can have something better why not go for it? I mean, the French people didn’t tell themselves, “let’s stay oppressed because it’s going to teach us to stomach hunger and cope with poverty and make us ‘better’ persons in the end” – they revolted and brought about a better social order. Which is not to say that we are peasants, or that we should revolt.
My point is, we are where we are because our forbears didn’t settle for less. At one point or another in history, they decided that they didn’t have to endure what they were enduring, and they changed it. If now, we just sit on our haunches and tolerate our inadequate paradigms because ‘it makes us stronger’, how in the world do we get to the next, better paradigm?
In the first place, we go to school to educate ourselves. Saying that we don’t need to fix what’s broken because it teaches us life lessons anyway is really ridiculous, and lacking in perspective. After all, I’m sure there are many other opportunities for us to learn that. And I am pretty sure that “life lessons” are not what the classroom is about. You know what life lessons and “street smarts” are good for? Surviving. Surviving is hard, I agree, but if we concern ourselves with merely surviving, we’ll be no better than animals. To be man, we have to be rational, be critical, and learned. Guess where you learn those.
But really, all of this is too darn complicated and tiring. Let’s just go on with our life as it is. After all, we’re only kids. Sure, go ahead. Just know that there’s so much more to being a ‘kid’. And you’re all missing out on it.
It’s a good poem for stuff that don’t rhyme
I like the theme and the way you have used your words. Amen.
diana
18 December 2006 at 5:56 pm
“At one point or another in history, they decided that they didn’t have to endure what they were enduring, and they changed it. If now, we just sit on our haunches and tolerate our inadequate paradigms because ‘it makes us stronger’, how in the world do we get to the next, better paradigm?”
Very persuasive questions. I get weary of the whoile complacent “life lessons” thing, too.
naturalhigh
19 December 2006 at 2:58 am
Thanks your poetry is very positive. I makes my day brighten!
http://www.verdispoetry.com
Jennifer Verdi
15 February 2007 at 1:38 am
I love poetry that does not rhyme, so this was ok by me. I enjoyed the read. You should check out my new site I just opened. It is still slow because it has been launched a day. It is a poets and artists community/workshop. There are workshop forums to post work for critique, and a blog community to share you finished work with everyone on. Check it out!
Cheers!
Shawn Nacona
http://theinvocablemuse.com/
nacona77
16 February 2007 at 9:35 am
I enjoyed the poem and share its intention. But I do wonder is this vision to light the darkness of unbelievers another form of aggression?
There are no unbelievers as we all believe in being happy and are all filled with light.
Derrick
19 February 2007 at 10:55 pm
Derrick,”But I do wonder is this vision to light the darkness of unbelievers another form of agression?” Amen. Everything has a string attached, even dealing with suffering, waiting for things to change, apathy, and more so, being in a state of peace when the world around is in chaos. How do we know it is chaos? Who has not volunteered to be in it? One has to make that choice; whether or not to allow themselves to be a part, of the calm or the chaos, both make a person an active part of all “this” There is no such thing as an unactive participant. And both have pain attached, but, those who have found the calm might not need to be uprooted by it all. Just moved.
alisunshine
25 February 2007 at 10:41 am
I enjoyed your poem.
Catherine
20 March 2007 at 4:24 am
Pretty. We all have to carry hopes when we are young. Sadly, not all of us do…
john
23 March 2007 at 7:24 am
Life is complicated isn’t it? But we somehow find the means to carry on inspite of ourselves who can sometimes be our own worst enemies in that we starve ourselves of happiness or a breather from whatever we’re doing just so we can survive.
literaryc
8 April 2007 at 5:32 am