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Human Frailty

...Apologies to Heraclitus and W. H. Auden...

We, defeated by the merest things,
in defeat, endure...for now.

No abiding truth in faith:
origins and destinations
we cannot differentiate,
all random, unguided
by any prescient power;
but, not illogical
(there is no illogic.)

We impose all universal order,
influence what subsequently occurs,
to learn, or not, through endless repetition,
endless failure...and we are
but a current iteration,
here for now -- in constant flux,
defeated by the merest things.

Courage and nobility derived
from continued confrontation,
continued endless struggle,
let us show an affirming flame.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Mumo Avatar
July 21, 2015 at 11:35 AM
'The incapacitating and limited ken of man' - one would precisely describe it thus. A real opus by a foremost literary scholar, I have no doubt...7+!
Yates Avatar
April 25, 2015 at 12:44 PM
It is a process.
Cooper Avatar
April 7, 2015 at 7:57 PM
This is pretty deep... :) I'll have to read it a few more times I think. Super interesting, keep it up!
Brown Avatar
April 6, 2015 at 7:51 PM
Excellent piece, Leo.
Pinet Avatar
March 9, 2015 at 5:07 PM
Nice flow of words attracting the reader with their complicity of purpose, resulting in a pleasant sounding poem ending on a spiritual note. Emile. #7
Dietrich Avatar
January 5, 2015 at 10:54 PM
A deep one, Leo. You are a "thinking" poet!
Austin Avatar
December 31, 2014 at 9:26 AM
Somewhere the flame, the light is burning for us. Let us hope. Happy New Year. Love, daver
Lamoureux Avatar
October 29, 2014 at 8:44 AM
I believe our fragility is one of our strength for it creates an urgency to accomplish something within this abbreviated existance. It also causes us to search for meaning beyond this existance therefore we reach past our temporary towards the hand of God.
Walker  Avatar
July 20, 2014 at 10:14 PM
Larry, defining the human character you did well... Enjoyed. Verlena
Merritt Avatar
July 14, 2014 at 12:18 PM
My favorite part is the third paragraph, which sums up this human tragic comedy quite nicely. I hope you entered this in the new free verse contest, and wish you well to a win if you did !
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