The Burden of Being


All day the wind
has tormented the trees,
causing branches to whip
and bend. There is an anger
let loose, loud in its haste
to rip and destroy 
what is vulnerable.

Spider webs woven last night
are torn, flowers are plucked
of petals and the wind chime
has been strangled
by its own chord, choked 
of its sound. But nothing
is intended.

It is I who have interpreted 
the scene and set language
the task to frame nature
in human terms, give
the mechanics of a clock
the power to decide the tick
of its own time.

All is mindless motion,
unfolding to laws deaf
to the pleas of mercy, revenge
or want. Even the cry
of a hungry child dissipates
in the distances of space.
It is us who bear the burden,

weighted with a sense
of right and wrong, bound
by compassion, torn by
doubt and despair, we, born
into the tumult of evolution,
are endowed with the gift 
to transcend our station 
through love, dissolving
into the infinite.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Bowring Avatar
May 17, 2024 at 9:59 AM
Dear Paul, another wonderfully written poem from your talented pen full of astute observations as always. Love how you describe the wrath of the wind destroying fragility and then continue with your own deep contemplations,’ It is us who bears the burden weighted with a sense of right and wrong’. How true! We are part of life’s existence and have a great responsibility to uphold. If only everyone thought the same then we would be in a much better and safer world. Always enjoy, admire your
Willason Avatar
May 18, 2024 at 2:00 AM
Thankyou so much Christina for your generous comments...quite overwhelmed. Honored that you found the poem meaningful and thought provoking...your feedback very much appreciated and has made my weekend even more enjoyable. Take care...
Bowring Avatar
May 17, 2024 at 10:00 AM
thoughtful, intelligent thoughts so wonderfully expressed in your amazing poems dear Paul. Thank you for sharing, Have a wonderful weekend :)
Kavanagh  Avatar
May 16, 2024 at 10:52 AM
Beautiful descriptive poetry Paul, and I totally get the picture you paint, if we weren’t around to observe these natural phenomena, they would be meaningless, so leads me to the ultimate conclusion, sentient consciousness creates reality, what a burden to bear, but also a gift and a great topic to ponder through poetry, Top poem, cheers David
Willason Avatar
May 16, 2024 at 10:33 PM
Thankyou David for your engaging comments. Do agree with your conclusion...played around with that idea for some time and it increasingly makes more sense. We are participants in the act of creation, collapsing reality into the now through observation, share in the responsibility for its existence. Value your comments and profound thoughts my friend.
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