Life

The heartaches of living are many
The comforts of living are few;
The truths we are told are not many
And the lies we were told have come true.
Anxiety's anguish and burnings
That trust, now frustrated brings
The endless sorrows and yearnings
Are lost in the exhaustion of things.

We're done with the frivolous fancies
They sufficed in times of the past;
When we gathered the poppies and pansies
We knew the dream couldn't last.
When all who are weary are sleeping
Collecting their joys and their cares;
Their planting now ends in the reaping
Of thistles and thorns and the tares.

What happens when dreams are all scattered
As leaves are tossed in the storm;
When our faith has been hopelessly shattered
And hopes and our dreams won't conform?
What we had should have been and therefore
It might and perhaps it will be;
And if not, we should prepare for
A flight from reality.

We speak of the worst and the wiser
But the wiser and worst are as one;
Philosophy is the despiser
Of all that lives under the sun.
There is nothing concrete but confusion
There is nothing decisive but death
We imagine our lives an illusion
For life is an ephemeral breath.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

123
Date: 4/15/2013 6:02:00 PM
I agree with you. Life is all that. i want to think that life is a dream and death is when I wake up. A beautiful poem...... Lucilla
Login to Reply
Date: 8/17/2012 10:42:00 AM
I felt the need to stop by your list of poetry today Elizabeth. I wish to thank you for your kind words on my writing. Hope you have a wonderful weekend and hope to see you back here Monday. Love, Carol XX
Login to Reply
Date: 6/8/2012 4:25:00 PM
Oh Elizabeth this one is very sad, dance dear dance rise and dance your spirit is so beautiful and words always captivating and so memorable! Hugs Lizzie
Login to Reply
Date: 6/3/2012 1:28:00 AM
How vivid is your description of life Elizabeth. The first two lines are so true for the most of us unfortunately. I wish it the other way around but reality is an eye opener. I enjoyed reading your poem tonight. Thanks for visiting me. Love Dalila
Login to Reply
Date: 6/1/2012 7:16:00 AM
'What happens when dreams are all scattered As leaves are tossed in the storm; When our faith has been hopelessly shattered And hopes and our dreams won't conform?' These lines reflect the universal fact of human life, where sadness dominated the fate of life, but even broken dreams too are here in this world for a purpose. Another beautiful write with the depths of philosophy of life and beauty of a soothing melody. Love and best wishes always...Ravindra...Elizabeth Wesley
Login to Reply
Date: 5/31/2012 3:09:00 PM
Lovely Liz, As usual, another AMAZING poem by the Queen of Poetry! All comments below added together don't convey how truthful, deep, perceptive and wonderful this poem is. PS: I'm fine. Been traveling lately and VERY busy. Back overseas again. Keep up the beautiful writing ):
Login to Reply
Date: 5/31/2012 9:15:00 AM
just a wonderful write,,,i think this same thing,,,life,,,wow,,,i forget how beautiful your poems are,,and the feeings i get from them,,,sooo very nice....
Login to Reply
Date: 5/30/2012 9:14:00 PM
I love this poem SO MUCH! soup mail :))
Login to Reply
Date: 5/30/2012 7:42:00 PM
What we planned for and hoped for in life unfortunately is seldom what we get. Most often what seems like what we've searched so hard for with time and closer inspection pales in reality compaired to what we imagined it to be. Not waiting to slip on the rose colored glasses of conquest before we know what lives inside the vision we are longing for. TLee
Login to Reply
Date: 5/29/2012 5:36:00 PM
Elizabeth; this is a very beautiful poem. I would say a piece of art. We all go through this things in life at one time or another. Thanks for sharing. Lucilla
Login to Reply
Date: 5/27/2012 7:04:00 AM
Je comprende, mon amie! It certainly seems that way does it not? especially when we put too much stock in this world's situation. I do it all the time. You have written of the situation well and I like the style with which you did it as it allowed your expressions to be thoroughly explained in a most poetic manner. I know you so I know there is another side to it also that is not so existential as this write may appear to some. once again... great write miss Elizabeth.
Login to Reply
Date: 5/26/2012 10:58:00 PM
Awesome well written write! Hugs
Login to Reply
Date: 5/24/2012 11:17:00 PM
am loving your poem elizabeth as it trully captured the essence of life. Each like came with its contridictor. It was pleasure reading this. Excellent poem. *smiles* Ron
Login to Reply
Date: 5/24/2012 5:02:00 AM
Very deep but great poem Liz Love your words always
Login to Reply
Date: 5/23/2012 9:38:00 PM
Wonderful striking poem, you have indeed appraised the essence of life. The times of joy too few, the times of sorrow too many, the pain and sorrow overwhelming. Our hope is only in the Mercy of God......profound write lovely lady Elizabeth....with love....old Jack
Login to Reply
Date: 5/23/2012 11:43:00 AM
im jealous of your poetry you can churn out so many great ones :) awesome awesome awesome awesome 7up:) i have to catch my muse it always runs away from me lol
Login to Reply
Date: 5/23/2012 6:46:00 AM
WoW! What a sad poem here Lizzie. It speaks of growing old in defeat. For myself, my life has been hard at times but not as hard as it could have been. Many others have suffered far more. Without my faith I believe I would have been worse than defeated. Without God we are nothing. He has given me everything in life that is good and lasting.I thank Him for that. We must learn to count our blessings and not our curses. Good poem though. God Bless, Soup Mail my friend. JB
Login to Reply
Date: 5/22/2012 9:20:00 PM
You have captured so much depth in this poem...it floods the mind !! Especially like the last stanza...Marvelous !!
Login to Reply
Date: 5/22/2012 1:19:00 PM
Your poem stands out as golden words of wisdom, truth and vision. I admire your thoughts on life. Your statement, "There is nothing decisive but death", life an illusion and ephemeral breath, is so true. Please read my poem 'Nothing' on this subject. Thanks also for your enquiry. Since the Operation I have had no more pain. I reached Portugal via Zurich on May 12. Here there is Spring Season. Very pleasant weather with lot of sunshine. Good atmosphere for rest and writing. Regards. -Mohammad
Login to Reply
Date: 5/22/2012 9:13:00 AM
"The truths we are told are not many And the lies we were told have come true." As is the case, Elizabeth, because we believe the lies told in our valley of the shadow of death. Such a depth of tuth in your write, may we evolve into God's precept which is truth. Yes I am involved with autistic children, Elizabeth, I drive a special Eds bus here in Dover school district in Arkansas. Loved your depth of thruth of truth in you poem Sis. Agape, Moses
Login to Reply
Date: 5/21/2012 10:44:00 PM
I think I have read this one. I wanted to tell you that I read the first 15 pages of your lovely book Sunday. I will keep reading it when I find time. Sundays are usually the best for me when reading books! I will tell you some of my favorites later!
Login to Reply
Date: 5/21/2012 2:40:00 PM
i had to look up emphemeral. i like this word.
Login to Reply
Date: 5/21/2012 12:03:00 PM
more soup mail :)
Login to Reply
Date: 5/21/2012 10:33:00 AM
There are two life, one is of physical body and of Soul though lies in physical body itself. Soul hears without hearing because it is not limited like material ear. So we always go ahead with mental imagination, confusion and illusion. Better and best is Soul always, never misguides, just needs to believe what inner real truth Spirit speaks., Loved always, bl
Login to Reply
Date: 5/21/2012 10:22:00 AM
I stole a word from you. I hope I used it well.
Login to Reply
123
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter