Kim Morrison Poet Free verse

Keeper of the Torch

Oh keeper of the torch!
Why does the flame dwindle?
My son, I was once a great warrior.
I wear the scars of many battles.
With the sword of justice in one hand
and the shield of truth in the other,
I proudly defended the flame. 
But time has wreaked havoc on my body
and I grow weaker with each passing day.
I can no longer defend the flame.
The shield has fallen from my hand.
Now, I merely stand vigil over the last flicker.
When the sword drops from my hand,
the flame will die as will I.

Oh keeper of the torch!
Can you not keep the flame alive
by passing the sword and shield to another?
This may have been true once, but no longer.
I have been to the edge of the great peak 
in search of a soul equal to the task.
When I looked out over the edge,
I did not see a grand mass of humanity.
I saw stupid creatures wandering aimlessly
with no hope, no reason, and no direction,
like a herd of sheep in need of a shepherd. 





I had a hard time finding this one after all these years. This was the first poem I ever wrote. It was written about twenty-three years ago and I cannot remember what was in my head when I wrote this poem, but it is vastly different from what I normally write.

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S.Zaynab Kamoonpuri October 11, 2013 at 9:04 AM Yor 1st poem and so awesome! Very nice to read. A freeverse dat Lights up readers. With yor fine poetic torch.. Keep up d flame poet. Do pls review my latest too.

Poet Destroyer A July 27, 2013 at 2:13 PM Hello Kim, stopping by to say hi, and check how you're doing :-( haven't seen you around. I am happy to read the first poem you ever wrote. The message is clear, Your keeper of the torch' poem is heavy and you wrote about the faith we should always follow and pass along,,,, always~ LINDA Kim Morrison July 27, 2013 at 5:31 PM I am doing alright PD. I am busy with college classes right now that is why I haven't been up here much lately. It looks like I am going to have to do intermediate algebra again. I am words, not a numbers fellow, so I have always struggled with that nonsense. Worse of all it is time consuming, so I am on math lab when online. Thanks for checking in Kim

Nette Onclaud July 10, 2013 at 11:21 AM undaunting piece that still charms till now, kim... your theme and worplay are timeless.. much delighted!.. SOUPY MAIL...:) huggs

Sara Kendrick July 7, 2013 at 1:59 PM The truth is there are few men and women who could qualify to take up the torch or justice, honesty, Christianity, etc. left in the world today..Enjoyed your work from long ago..Sara

Skat A July 4, 2013 at 10:49 AM KIM, sad, and deep.......enjoyed............ LOVE* SKAT

Karen Anglesey June 29, 2013 at 4:06 PM Kim, I feel the battlefield of life in this. Very powerful imagery within the words. :)

Elaine George June 25, 2013 at 12:38 AM Very profound, Kim. Thank you for honouring me in your last contest. Elaine Kim Morrison June 26, 2013 at 11:33 AM Thank You!

Heather Secrest June 24, 2013 at 3:45 AM I like this one. It is a very good first poem!! Mine was certaintly not this profound. Now we know you had talent from the start! -Heather Kim Morrison June 24, 2013 at 5:15 AM I appreciate the positive comment on this one thank You Heather. After typing it on a very old typewriter, I must have put it in a box and forgotten all about it.