Suzette Richards Poet Suzette Prime

Notes About The Poem

From the Stoic philosopher Cleanthes of Assos’ (c. 330 BC – c. 230 BC) famous hymn to Zeus – a part found in Epictetus’ Enchiridion:

Lead me on, O Zeus, and thou Destiny,
To that goal long ago to me assigned.
I’ll follow readily but if my will prove weak;
Wretched as I am, I must follow still.
Fate guides the willing, but drags the unwilling.

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Fate Leads the Willing

FATE LEADS THE WILLING
when my life 
my very wellbeing 
depends on the actions of those around me 
it’s a trial to my innate sensibilities to bring my side 

if my destiny is to live my final years in isolation 
cut off from the interaction with others 
it shouldn’t be any hardship 
as I can employ this time to the enrichment of my scant knowledge 
to learn to do without material trappings of this capitalist world 
admit that we are guided by the rules of nature 
and I must accept all things are beyond one’s own personal power 

every day 
     every hour 
          every minute of my day 
is another chance for a different path 

there are very few things that we can control 
also those who resist the pull of Fate will feel hamstrung by events that alter 
          their life plans 
an individual who accepts the things that occur in life that are beyond his 
          control 
can lead a happy life by controlling negative emotions and passions 

et du volentem fata nolentem trahunt* 

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*both Fate leads the willing and drags the unwilling

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POET'S NOTE: The prepenultemate and penultimate lines (both 23 syllables per line - the top of the range as far as breathing is concerned) overrun the line space, hence the indentations. 
All lines were checked via Howmanysyllables.com

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Richard Lamoureux March 5, 2021 at 5:04 AM This is really good. You put a lot of thought into this piece. I appreciate intelligent and thought provoking writing. Suzette Richards March 20, 2021 at 12:24 AM I try to keep true to my nature and, therefore, always presented flush left on the page. Thank you for your kind comment, Rick.