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Reason To Be

I am, I was and I will be
As I live in each heart through death;
I yield to no oath or no shackle
I stimulate all with my breath.

I speak the words of love's passion
I know the damage of sorrow;
I hold the reigns of compassion
I reach for the dreams of tomorrow.

I dream in the fire of the jewel
I sleep in the blood of the tree;
I speak to the beast of the forest
I walk thiis earth and am free.

I've felt the sharp arrows of pain
I've joined in the laughter of mirth;
I've danced to the devil's refrain
And know death is not better than birth.

I don't live in a convent or cave
Or in an ancient kingdom above;
Here on this side of the grave
Is where I shall labor and love.

liferhyme

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Keith Bickerstaffe

Date: 5/28/2012 2:26:00 PM

BRILLIANT, Elizabeth! Every phrase is a gem... '...I yield to no oath or no shackle,' '...I hold the reins of compassion,' hell... ALL OF 'EM! '...is where I shall labor and love,' a most fitting conclusion. Now I am speechless! Love, Keith

Bl Devnath

Date: 9/29/2011 12:05:00 PM

Dangerous truth you have penned where absolute truth lies, no one can deny, because that's true at the end- "And know death is not better than birth". Hi! friend, I appreciate personally your level of thoughts. Thanks for sharing. bl

Terrell Martin

Date: 9/28/2011 4:53:00 PM

Elizabeth, there's a reason you get SO MANY positive comments from SO MANY positive people. You're so darn good you make the rest of us look like clowns TRYING to be writers but we just don't have "The Right Stuff." Obviously, you've got it so keep it up because this old world certainly needs all it can get from the likes of you. PS: Hows the book coming along?

Robert Johnson

Date: 9/27/2011 10:39:00 PM

I have to rezound the general concensus. You really are gifted, it's not just a fuss. Your really prolific, and cleverly so. The ink in your pen, how it does freely flow.

Honestly J.T.

Date: 9/27/2011 3:24:00 PM

wooooooooooooooooow. you somehow, someway manage to top yourself everytime. you seem like the Blake Griffin of poetry.

Robert A. Dufresne

Date: 9/27/2011 8:46:00 AM

ahhhh. The definition of life and such a beautiful poetic description, Elizabeth. You have a spring of lively bubbling poetry within and you have obviously found how to tap into it and relate. I shall put this one into my favs. If you haven't already, you really do need to think about putting together a little book to publish and share with others. ...before i put this in my favs, what is a "kindom"? : ) I'll put int in right after that luv. : ) this poem is brilliant with talent in my humble opinion.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 9/27/2011 2:37:00 AM

OOOOOh, I really enjoyed this creative piece Lizzy. Great things to ponder.

M. Hussain Effendi

Date: 9/27/2011 12:42:00 AM

Beautiful thoughts expressed majestically, dear Liz. Yet another one from you.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/27/2011 12:38:00 AM

Such a nice writer you are. Your words are always precious and easy to understand.

Kevin Clark

Date: 9/26/2011 7:57:00 PM

Another great write. Your my favorite.

Ilene Bauer

Date: 9/26/2011 7:22:00 PM

beautifully written with a very powerful ending. i love the flow of the rhyme.

Cyndi Macmillan

Date: 9/26/2011 2:42:00 PM

Hi Elizabeth, I really liked the rythme of this piece, though we share completely different ideologies. ;-) I do yeild to oaths- to God, my husband and my country. I especially liked the 2nd and 3rd stanzas. The devil makes a rotten dance partner. He's prickly, if you ask me. I think of death as a 2nd birth, beyond any imaginings... but like you labor and love in the moment, though I know I shall continue to love from the other side of the grave, too- like those who passed before me. Hugs cyndi

Joe Maverick

Date: 9/26/2011 2:35:00 PM

I feel the masters touch in this Elizabeth, and the spirit witness's to the truth and of his labour..God bless you..

Joseph Osita

Date: 9/26/2011 2:18:00 PM

This is very nice. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing

Dan Kearley

Date: 9/26/2011 2:04:00 PM

So....You debate with men and am free..Hey?....Just kidin..Lovely write as always... :-) And yes, you shall stay in my heart.

Sara Kendrick

Date: 9/26/2011 1:53:00 PM

And 'tis good to be on this side of the dirt..Enjoyed reading your work this morn..I am in the process of writing one similar..The idea came to me at the doctor's office this morn..Thanks for stopping by, reading, and commenting on my work..I should be glad that I have food to cook instead of complaining that I have to cook..Thanks for reminding me..Sara

Nette Onclaud

Date: 9/26/2011 12:51:00 PM

a flawless tide of things ethereal, elize... from dreams, fire, beast to arrow and laughter, the senses are awakened to suck the marrow of life.. and there " to labor and love... divine! :) huggs, nette

Tim B

Date: 9/26/2011 12:36:00 PM

A stunningly powerful piece, it oozes the charm of the poet's of yesteryear and has so many great lines I would not know where to start, but I tell you the third and fourth stanza is just marvelous, "I sleep in the fire of the jewel, I wake in the blood of the tree" marvelous!!! The last line does really bring it all together too, this one is going in my favorites, well done Elizabeth.

Russell Sivey

Date: 9/26/2011 12:34:00 PM

Wow Lizzie, this is a fine piece of art...I just love how you put everything together! The second stanza is amazing, I know it's not the main stanza of the poem but I enjoy the words and the flow of it!! Awesome work!!

Linda-Marie Sweetheart

Date: 9/26/2011 11:57:00 AM

a most creative blend of inspiration and emotion elizabeth.. lovely rhyme makes this a delightful and dazzling read luv.. so appreciate all your amazing comments to my body of poetry luv..

Jack Horne

Date: 9/26/2011 11:25:00 AM

I just love this powerful piece, Elizabeth - and the last stanza is amazing

Tobey Hill

Date: 9/26/2011 11:16:00 AM

another winning write. I love the 3rd grouping..i wake in the blood of the tree..great line..thanks again for reading mine..the trip I took towards the new rising sun, was really a trip. my head hurt for a week..TAH

Ravindra K Kapoor

Date: 9/26/2011 11:13:00 AM

Great words 'I am, I was and I will be' to start a beautiful and bold write my friend. It’s a beautiful way to confirm your confidence in His presence, who was when there was nothing; who is there in everything and who will be when there may be nothing except HIM. Quite a philosophical approach in this lovely write. and thank you for your comments on my Song. Sorry that I was away from Kanpur and could see your mail only today. Love and best wishes.. Ravindra ..elizabeth wesley

Daver Austin

Date: 9/26/2011 10:35:00 AM

This is boldly spoken, Liz. Old Zarathustra would cringe. Love, daver