Notes About The Poem

Author's Notes:  "Be Courageous Above All," is a self-reflective verse write where I've tried my best to wax somewhat eloquently about the practical importance of being upfront and participatory in everything you choose to become involved in with your life.  I've learned over the years that if you, as the "main actor" in your own life, are not actively involved, then there is a very good chance you will become more and more disconnected and disengaged from life over time. Particularly as a writer and a poet this anomaly or peculiarity is something I've actually observed over the years when interacting with certain people in certain circumstances or situations.  And so, this is my exclusive take on "Being Courageous Above All" in everything you do and become involved in.  (Gary Bateman - December 12, 2014) (Verse poetic format)  

Categories:  allegory, appreciation, courage, devotion, feelings, inspirational, and strength.

Be Courageous Above All

Be Courageous Above All in everything
You do and become involved in since the 
Inverse of doing this is often anathema
To leaning forward and getting things
Done and becoming a viable and vibrant
Force in your own life which is so important
Since we all have just this one chance
Within our mortal coil known as “life”
To make things happen and to make a
Difference and so the message should be
Why wait because the positive impact
You have on yourself can have that
Wonderful alchemic by-product on 
Others you know and interact with
In our finite cosmos of the Human
Endeavor and so standup for your
Beliefs and ideas but always be
Polite and gracious to others since
These attributes go a very long way
In helping one to get things done and 
In achieving goals both big and small 
And so—Be Courageous Above All
Since you only live once with your
Current Soul Body on this most finite 
Mortal Earth Plane! (And don’t forget
To laugh at yourself from time to time!) 

Gary Bateman, Copyright © All Rights Reserved
(December 12, 2014) (Didactic Verse poetic format)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014


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Date: 1/24/2015 6:26:00 PM
Your comment about this poem sent me to find it! A very insightful write my good friend. Courage--so often lacking but also so very often a much needed attribute.... Be courageous, be very brave For often its others lives it saves! Yet when its your own the feeling is ever sweet. To face great danger and send it down in defeat! A7 for your fine write and adding it to my fav list!
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Gary Bateman
Date: 1/24/2015 6:35:00 PM
Thanks Robert so much for your read and wonderful comments!! I thought you might find this particular write and its message quite timely and poignant!! (During February, BTW, I will be standing down from PoetrySoup for that entire month until I have everything completed and to my publisher in London for my first book of poetry. You can reach me via my e-mail address. I will be back with "PS" by 1 March posting my latest poems. My book will be ready by May-June this year!! Best, Gary
Date: 12/20/2014 10:50:00 AM
To My FAVS!!!
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/20/2014 11:37:00 AM
Thanks so much Sharon for the FAV!! I will try to get over your way more often to read your poetry. Besides reading the classics and many of the great acknowledged poets, I do get ever much the same fulfillment by reading the variety of poetry written by many of our fellow Soupers. It helps. I learn something new everyday!! Again, Best Holiday Wishes!! Gary
Date: 12/20/2014 10:49:00 AM
Thank you for this message for it comes at a perfect time in my life where I have been stuck for some time now and have just kind of with drew from alot of things and just have been to overwhelmed to go on. This was the perfect pick me up and I appreciate it so. Thanks for sharing and Awesome write Gary, God Bless....Sharon G.
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/20/2014 11:31:00 AM
Sharon, Thanks again so much!! I have more of these writes to roll out in the future. By mid-February I have to send all my stuff forward to my publisher in the UK for my first book of poetry. This poem will be included in that group. I'm glad this poem, as it turns out, has had a positive resonant affect for you as you've described. I'm glad it helped!! Best Wishes Always, Gary
Date: 12/18/2014 3:34:00 PM
What a wonderful message.
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/18/2014 4:54:00 PM
Thanks ML!! (I've got my immediate writes planned, but have not rolled them out yet!!) Thanks for visiting. I must get over your way too -- you're not forgotten!! Best!! Gary
Date: 12/18/2014 11:02:00 AM
Great write Gary great morals to live by!
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/18/2014 3:18:00 PM
Thanks Maurice!! Sorry I haven't been by lately to check out your poems. I've been swamped as of late like all of us probably are!! My wife (Ingrid) and I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a most Happy New Year!! (I hope to have my first book of poetry published by May-June 2015. I have a publisher in the UK. More Later. . . Best!! Gary
Date: 12/17/2014 3:36:00 AM
powerful pen gary excellent piece pal
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/17/2014 7:20:00 PM
Liam My Mate!! Many Thanks to ya' my Leprechaun Pal!! Best Wishes, Gary
Date: 12/16/2014 10:12:00 PM
good one, Gary. DIdactic I think!!!
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/18/2014 8:12:00 AM
Hi Andrea, I just wanted to let you know that I did further research and yes, you're right, this poem does meet the parameters (as far as I could surmise) for it being a "Didactic Verse" write. Thanks!! so much for noting this. I know I've made some classification changes already to some of the earlier poems I wrote. I'm getting everything ready for my first book in 2015. Accuracy is very important!! Merry Christmas!! Gary
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/17/2014 7:18:00 PM
Andrea, Thanks for your read. I wrote it as a verse write, but if it is better classified as a "Didactic" I will change it. (Like all of us -- regardless of my varied writing experience, I'm still learning all of the poetry types and formats.) Thanks Andrea and Best Wishes and Merry Christmas!! Gary
Date: 12/15/2014 5:26:00 AM
"Whatever we wish to achieve, is possible, if we work hard and we never give up trying!" Alexis, Greek writer and poet 4th century BC. To be courageous my dear friend, Gary, means, as you know, not the absence of fear but the overcoming of it! Great advise your poem is! It includes lots of valuable lessons wrapped in fine expressions! Excellent!
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/15/2014 6:18:00 PM
Demetrios!! Thanks so much for you most kind and learned words here. You're right!! -- Fear is always with us as part of our human dimension and experience, but the key is overcoming it every time it presents itself. (Your should check out my Heinrich Heine poem I posted earlier this evening. Most Interesting!!) Best Always My Dear Friend. . . Gary
Date: 12/15/2014 3:18:00 AM
Another very powerful golden pen poem Gary! Always amazed by the way you direct your writing to seize the readers attention and interest.I really enjoyed reading this one, my very dear friend.A solid 7 +++for you! Have a very wonderful week! :) Love and hugs! xxxxxx D.
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/15/2014 6:20:00 PM
"D" . . . Thanks again my Dear for your most wonderful and praiseworthy comments and the most fantastic rating. I'm glad you liked this write very much. It's very cold now over here in Germany and we are getting ready for Christmas. Best Holiday Wishes from Me and Ingrid . . . Gary!!
Date: 12/14/2014 9:16:00 AM
You have chosen a good theme-very pertinent.I quote Jeanne d'Arc “One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it". So it is very important to choose the right cause and stick to it even against heavy odds.You are great Gary. Wish you all success and happiness.Love to you and Ingrid. MERRY CHRISTMAS---your friend RAJAT
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/14/2014 10:32:00 AM
Rajat My Friend, I thought you might read this one!! A great and most appropriate reference to Jeanne d'Arc. The words I wrote in this poem do reflect where I'm at now in my life, and in retrospect, represent what I've stood for and believed as both a human being and as a writer. This is what makes our respective lives worth living!! Merry Christmas and Blessings Rajat!! Gary
Date: 12/13/2014 7:38:00 AM
Well said! Gary! Jimbo
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/13/2014 10:17:00 AM
Jimbo -- Thanks for your read and comment. Best Wishes for the holiday season too!! Cheers, Gary
Date: 12/13/2014 1:16:00 AM
Another masterpiece Gary,for sure your are in Spirit of of grace recently; thank you for your wonderful advice and being there as a beacon,happy Weekend my friend...huggs
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Kayod5 Kayode
Date: 12/13/2014 11:24:00 AM
Best wishes Gary,I know that" Conversations with my Muse" will worth reading,looking forward to having one...huggs
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/13/2014 10:23:00 AM
KAYOD5, Thanks again for visiting and for your most gracious comments (as always!!). I've been posting fairly regularly. By February 2015 I will be sending in most of the poems I've written to a publisher in the UK for my very first book due out during May-June 2015. (The title will be: "Conversations with My Muse" - A Book of Selected Poetry.) Best Always!! Gary
Date: 12/12/2014 3:52:00 PM
steady laughing at myself gary very beautifully penned pal we do only live once for sure excellent piece dear friend
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Gary Bateman
Date: 12/12/2014 4:26:00 PM
Thanks Liam Mate!! That's why our Leprechaun Choir is so important to the both of us. Glad you enjoyed this Verse write!! Best Always, Gary
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