The Enlightenment of a Once Lost Soul

The Enlightenment Of A Once Lost Soul,
(A sad tale of life lived,  in three sonnets united)....
 
 
I.
Alas! Can man ever conquer such doom and gloom
walk in the light, a true path forswearing to take
does our wicked world ever give us that much room
allowing life's true dignity for goodness sake?

Did not the mighty Greeks beseech their Gods in vain
while living in a vile and epic blinded state
seeking to remove worldly ills and thus maintain
shallow paradise, as only fools can relate?
 
Lo! This lie our sad and dark world dares repeat
parading its tempting sins as gifted treasures
setting traps, laying golden palaces at our feet
giving us falsified glory beyond measure.
 
Of this, we eat dessert with its poison hidden.
Blinded by desires, lusts, wickedness forbidden.
 
II. 
Another bite of courage perhaps 'tis my last
would it suffice, only time's truth will ever tell
darkness swirled, its heartaches returning from my past
in that suffocation was born another hell.
 
Could life and fantastic hope this curse serve to break
would any amount of valor serve to dismiss
when all of my honor it has forsworn to take
as scurrilous hands crush love's magnificent bliss?
 
Another bite, a heaping helping of regret
what little remained of bravado and elan
gamble on love, upon life, you take what you get
you pay the Pied Piper, learn to live with the pain.
 
What serves man greater than serenity's sweet peace?
Certainly not the red-blood of war's dark release!

III.
In yet another realm, the old poet rejoiced
his pen its resounding victories did so ink
those dear certitudes of romantic gems he voiced
as in gasping compilations of wit, he sinks.

In dawn-glory and day's promise,  he often dwelt
making corrections of accursed nightmares born
baring heart and soul, deep heartbreaking pains he felt
admitting his past follies that his life has torn.

With ink and paper bright new castles he erects
not as fantasy he believes but as hope's touch
set up as an eternal quest to self-reflect
pray its aggrandizements to be not too much!

Pity that past hopes and dreams we can not remake
And as well fulfill those vows we too oft forsake!

Robert J. Lindley, original July 2014, 
edit 2017, 10-16-2020....


Note (1.):
Each of the 3 sonnets is exactly per sonnet
Syllables per line:	
0 12 12 12 12 0 12 12 12 12 0 12 12 12 12 0 12 12
Total number of syllables:168
Total number of words:116

Total syllables= 504
Total words= 348

Note (2.)
This very revealing piece was written originally
as a private poem intended for my children to read
after my mortal passing. It was left as a fragment 
until I started to compose the third sonnet yesterday
and was able to finish it today. Present it today. 

**We are oft no more than blink of the eye
our time a mere wisp, of mark set to die
yet we may think better if we but try
and live to reach well beyond earth and sky**...
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020


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

Date: 10/16/2020 7:56:00 PM
you always write with such class. That last stanza on the bottom - it is really cool!!
Login to Reply
Lindley Avatar
Robert Lindley
Date: 10/17/2020 8:34:00 AM
Thank you my friend. Yes, writing about ones past and the insight gained is both a hazard and a joy. To do so with truth and honesty is the only course a poet can take. Even the good and the bad of it is great fodder for poetry.. God bless..
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter