James Moore | + Follow Poet |
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Stages of Accomplishment

When I was young I didn’t think 
In terms of accomplishment 
I guess my ego wasn’t developed enough
To have the perspective and appreciation
To consider it all worthwhile, but
I also think those childhood achievements 
Pleased my parents more than myself.

By the time I was done with school
What I accomplished were the simply things
I did just living a life
And following my own path.

For a while there I was inordinately proud
Of the house and home I built,
Then the arduous spiritual practices
Which took ages to accomplish 
And replaced ordinary pride
With the sublime pride of the Deity.

Then eventually and thankfully 
Came a family to raise 
And career to pursue, 
All of which seemed 
Like a worthwhile accomplishment 
Then and now.

Then came retirement 
And the creation and accumulation, 
If not accomplishment, of ten thousand things
Climbing routes, paintings and poems,
Gardens, orchards and long hikes;
The culmination of a gentlemanly life of leisure.

Now when much of that too
Has lost its charm
Accomplishments are measured more simply
Daily and immediately,
By the feeding of dogs on schedule
And the scooping of their poop,
By watching the arboretum thrive and grow,
Keeping it watered and mowed.

Eventually I know there will come a time
When the charms of even these simple pleasures
Will lose their hold
And I will be left with just accomplishing 
Another morning
Another day
Another night
Another breath…

Until even the karma
Of that bit of accomplishment
Is exhausted
And I will have at last
Achieved the goal of this life;
To go in peace, without a trace.

(4/22/25)

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