The Budding Soul

The shadows from his younger days shake his resolve, 
and make a mockery of time 'til time be lost 
to moments of bewilderment, ne'er to evolve, 
they bounce and bluster errantly, much to his cost. 

Shades and silences, outbursts of ungoverned rage, 
cruelty breeds rancor, e'en in the meek at heart, 
kept and restricted, like a creature in a cage, 
no literature for him, gentility or art. 

Dissimulation, trickery and guile he plies 
as tools to engineer self-preservation, 
he tells quaint versions of the truth, and bald-faced lies, 
so to avoid the whip and recrimination. 

Childhood is the birthplace of hope and mirth
not fear and perturbation for the budding soul, 
a testament to love where supplicants may dwell; 

not tyranny or willfulness, a wayward goal. 
Shun darkness, disillusionment from God's green earth, 
cast demons, evil thinkers to the depths of hell!    

Last Modified: January 09, 2016 at 07:20 pm
© bickerstaffe - all rights reserved 

Author Notes


...the first three verses:      abab rhyming
   the next two together:   abcbac rhyming
   a form used frequently by W.H. Auden
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Legend Avatar
January 10, 2016 at 8:36 AM
great poem
Bickerstaffe Avatar
January 10, 2016 at 10:06 AM
Many thanks! Best wishes, Keith
Sage Avatar
January 10, 2016 at 6:20 AM
excellent write Keith
Bickerstaffe Avatar
January 10, 2016 at 6:34 AM
Many thanks!
Lariviere Avatar
January 10, 2016 at 12:19 AM
love the different forms
Bickerstaffe Avatar
January 10, 2016 at 5:35 AM
Thanks so much Etienne! Best wishes, Keith
Vaso Avatar
January 9, 2016 at 7:09 PM
Sometimes I am at a loss for words, then again thats cause you took them all! Love the forms and the prose here! Sent you a soup mail! Cheers.
Bickerstaffe Avatar
January 9, 2016 at 7:42 PM
Thanks Art! I got your Soup mail and responded... let me know what I must do. Keith
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace