Mind and Body Expunged

A strange phenomenon washed over me
and drained my mind and body, 
suctioned out the breath of my life.
I equate to nothing, nor shall I ever be
an entity that anyone can see.
Not physically or mentally, do I exist,
cruelly erased on the whim of a fantasist.

Of less importance am I than a grain of sand.
Without a mind I'll never understand
what's happened to me, It's a tragedy!
There's nothing left of me to sculpt in effigy.

Who has the power to rescind my energy, 
or does it blow upon the wind?
Have others been expunged like me?

Carl Sagan said, "We are but a mote of dust, 
suspended in a sunbeam."
Can this be a nightmare within a dream?
Am I a fleck of dust floating in space? 
Have I been deleted from the human race?

What I once was, I am no more.
My grieving thoughts echo with wailing ring.
Without a soul my self-control does not exist.
Does that make me a puppet on a cosmic string?

A scheme that's left me in the dark!
Give me light, give me light!
Ignite just one minuscule spark.



September 6, 2022
Sans Mind-Body Who Are We Contest
Sponsored by Unseeking Seeker
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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Kauffman Avatar
September 27, 2022 at 10:49 AM
Back with congratulations on your win Jenna!
Logan Avatar
October 8, 2022 at 12:36 AM
Thanks so much!
Kauffman Avatar
September 8, 2022 at 3:07 PM
Jenna, you have taken this complex philosophy and distilled into a poem of great depth overflowing with great a-ha experiences! Best wishes for the contest. Blessings!
Logan Avatar
September 8, 2022 at 7:34 PM
I’m glad you got so much out of it, Sam. I wasn’t sure anyone would decipher it. Thanks.
Fowler Avatar
September 8, 2022 at 12:59 PM
All brought succinctly to your final stanza - just splendid Jenna! Linda
Logan Avatar
September 8, 2022 at 7:33 PM
Weird as it is, I actually like it. Thanks, Linda.
Baker Avatar
September 6, 2022 at 5:15 PM
Creative and interesting entry, Jenna. Very engaging train of thoughts. Thanks for sharing through your poetry, my friend. Bill
Logan Avatar
September 6, 2022 at 9:17 PM
Thank you, Bill. I wasn't sure where this was going, but you're right in that it's interesting.
Kavanagh  Avatar
September 6, 2022 at 1:43 PM
Really is incomprehensible to describe what we are without mind and body, but you did a great job here Jenna, I love the style and approach taken, most people don’t like pondering oblivion, sometimes people do get these strange experiences you describe below, and you captured the moment with a brilliant poem, I think the Seeker will enjoy this one immensely, I sure did, cheers David
Logan Avatar
September 6, 2022 at 9:16 PM
I would tend to think we'd be reduced to nothing. I'd written more lines before realizing the max was 30, so I had to delete quite a few. Maybe I'll use them on some other write. Thanks for your supportive thoughts, David.
Hankins Avatar
September 6, 2022 at 10:44 AM
Well, what can I say about this one? Good luck in the contest, Jenna. I do like the Sagan quote. I have often opined that in terms of the cosmos, a single individual is less substance than a microbe!
Logan Avatar
September 6, 2022 at 10:58 AM
I'd like to say it was an out of body experience, written when I was out of my mind, but I fear I was in full control of my faculties. At least I think I was. Twilight Zone material? Thanks, Milt.
Parker Avatar
September 6, 2022 at 9:44 AM
Vivid and suffocating...quite the gut punch, Miss Jenna.
Logan Avatar
September 6, 2022 at 9:54 AM
I felt as though I was getting lost in the beyond while penning this one. Thank you, Mr. Arlo.
Cunningham Avatar
September 6, 2022 at 8:39 AM
A very thought provoking verse Jenna, I don't think we'll ever really understand the great mysteries of the universe. We are but a grain of sand in the universe. Hope you have a great week ahead. Tom
Logan Avatar
September 6, 2022 at 9:54 AM
My thoughts for this write came from... well, I'm not sure. They don't mirror any I've had before now. lol Thank you, Tom.
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