Notes About The Poem

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Contemplation

I've had many heated conversations with . . . myself
over how a circumstance, or life itself, should be perceived.
My best time for self-probing is late at night.

Even now (in my sixties), I lean toward idealism.
Reality--not killjoy, but counselor--reminds me of
my boundaries. Opportunities to balance realism and 
idealism have proven successful, warding off pessimism.

Pursuance of goals is still fueled by fire, but the flames 
don’t leap so high as when I was young and vigorous.

Effective self-examination can be time-consuming 
and painful, sometimes revealing that challenging 
changes are required of me. These growing pains, even--
or perhaps especially—at my age, are necessary, 
for life is not yet through with me.

I classify myself as the basically satisfied, often joyful 
by-product of late-night contemplation.



March 9, 2021
entered in Craig Cornish's Contemplation Poetry Contest
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Laurie Avatar
March 9, 2021 at 7:01 PM
Hello Janice … contemplation seems to be a fierce weapon of a writer as we delve into a long gone past for our next poem - well done Janice - Lindsay
Canerdy Avatar
March 9, 2021 at 9:08 PM
Lindsay, thanks a million. Janice
Pandit Avatar
March 9, 2021 at 12:32 PM
Powerful voices of introspection, Janice. Words of wisdom at any age--much to gleam from this poem. All the best.
Canerdy Avatar
March 9, 2021 at 9:07 PM
Thanks a million, Vijay. Janice
Leffanta Avatar
March 9, 2021 at 10:48 AM
Hell seems to be old age when one is reminded of all the really stupid things one did when young and full of fire .....Aloha! Rico
Canerdy Avatar
March 9, 2021 at 11:13 AM
Thanks, Rico. Yep, the years have a way of cooling us off. lol! Janice
Cunningham Avatar
March 9, 2021 at 9:25 AM
So true Janice, as we get older the flames may not be as fierce dispite our minds being as sharp as a tack. Hope you're well. Tom
Canerdy Avatar
March 9, 2021 at 11:12 AM
I'm doing great. Hope you are too. Thanks so much, Tom. Janice
Hankins Avatar
March 9, 2021 at 9:03 AM
Some excellent thoughts here nicely expressed. Maybe "basically satisfied" is all most of us can hope for, Janice, don't you think? I enjoyed your poem.
Canerdy Avatar
March 9, 2021 at 9:04 AM
Milton, thank you so much! Janice
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