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Oh, the carefree days of youth, 
secure and always close to home.
Aware of all the shades of truth,
in disregard my mind would roam.
 
Then one last look at precious stuff,
rushing from my home afire.
Knew not the meaning of enough;
acquisition was my heart's desire.
 
Pleasure that dominion brings,
I’d lost the will to see.
I never really owned my things
instead they all owned me.
 
Then parted cloak from unspoiled eyes—
I hadn't known were closed—
a world in its etheric guise—
I saw but never had supposed.
 
Isn’t it a thing of worth,
to orphan all that would benight?
Assuming mantle of rebirth,
to seek unfettered realms of light.
 
I’ve settled somewhat in my years—
midst life’s approaching gloam.
Reaching now to dry my tears—
of joy, you see, I'm going home.

Copyright © Mark Peterson | Year Posted 2015

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Roy Jerden Date: 8/17/2015 3:24:00 PM Excellent poem Mark! I looked up the general idea, a philosophy called Minimalism, practiced most famously by the Buddha, of course. One small suggestion is to shorten the last line a bit to improve the meter. Cheers, Roy Login to Reply Mark Peterson Date: 8/22/2015 1:28:00 PM Some are capable of asceticism, but I think it's much easier, if born into it. Nevertheless, I find contentment and satisfaction in doing with less. As well, it liberates the mind and enlivens the spirit.

Roy Jerden Date: 8/17/2015 3:19:00 PM “Those that much covet are with gain so fond, For what they have not, that which they possess They scatter and unloose it from their bond, And so, by hoping more, they have but less; Or, gaining more, the profit of excess Is but to surfeit, and such griefs sustain, That they prove bankrupt in this poor-rich gain.” ? William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece Login to Reply Mark Peterson Date: 8/22/2015 1:26:00 PM Roy, won't you consider moving here. There's a nice little place we could sit mornings, and I could revel in all you know and how you express it. Thanks much. (I'm not getting reliable notification from PS on comments posted; happened onto your by chance).

Robert Lindley Date: 7/22/2015 4:02:00 PM ALL GREAT in this jewel my friend. Message is inspiring, rhyme, flow and deeper underlying values. A7 but deserves even higher. Login to Reply Mark Peterson Date: 8/22/2015 1:23:00 PM Thanks so much my friend. I'm glad you enjoyed so much about my poem.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 7/12/2015 5:43:00 PM wow, this one is most profound. The ending just makes it all the better!! That is a talent, ending a good poem the right way, or it won't be that good!!! Login to Reply Mark Peterson Date: 7/12/2015 6:05:00 PM Thanks so much for stopping by to read this one. I always treasure your comments. I also appreciated your friending me on Facebook. I'm trying hard to engage, but I had two giant astronomy posters to produce, and that took up so much time. They're on sale at Costco, so stop and take a look. Gosh, you are so active everywhere, I shouldn't even say anything at all about being busy.

S.Zaynab Kamoonpuri Date: 3/16/2015 3:01:00 PM A sublime poem in aweinspiring message. Although i dislike rapacity and prodigality and hoarding ascetism would be another hard extreme. Yet there is beauty in simplicity so i find yor poem soo appealing. Great to read u again. Login to Reply Mark Peterson Date: 3/18/2015 7:47:00 PM Sublime, articulate response S. z. Fun to read and see you hear again.

Monterey Sirak Date: 2/25/2015 8:30:00 AM I read somewhere that happiness isn't getting everything we want, it is being content with what we have. Login to Reply Mark Peterson Date: 2/25/2015 9:43:00 AM Thank you so much Monterey for your thoughtful remarks. Indeed, I think we suffer from bad definitions of such things as 'enough,' 'freedom' and the like. Thankfully I've lived long enough to see through most of life's illusions and have succeeded in being deliberately poor!