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The Meaning of Life

I stand at the edge of the precipice And ponder the meaning of life -- The greediness, bullying, and prejudice Our world riddled with hate and strife, I think about my reason for being Here in this specific place and time Wondering why so many are unseeing The pleasure of life on earth is sublime. Then, I realize it depends on one’s place One’s religion, one’s politics, one’s race, For many people life is an uphill climb. They spend most of their life fleeing From grime, gross poverty, and crime. Daily they struggle for their very being Sometimes facing down a gun or a knife And many make the ultimate sacrifice. I stand at the edge of the precipice And ponder the meaning of life. submitted to "Life Is" Poetry Contest June 26, 2022 sponsored by Nayda Ivette Negron Flores SECOND PLACE WINNER "Beatitude Rhyming Poem" Poetry Contest sponsored by Beata Augustin written November 8, 2021

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Beata Agustin

Date: 12/28/2021 10:31:00 PM

Congrats. Thanks for sharing this "be-attitude of the heart." God bless you. A blessed New Year to your and your family.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 11/9/2021 7:37:00 AM

"For many people life is an uphill climb. They spend most of their life fleeing From grime, gross poverty, and crime. Daily they struggle for their very being" This is empathetic and tgrue. I remember teaching at a school in Chicago where the children told me they could only go two blocks away from home or they would be killed by a neighboring gang.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/9/2021 9:19:00 AM

Wow, it's almost unbelievable and unbelievably sad that children grow up like this.

Shirley Hawkins

Date: 11/8/2021 5:33:00 PM

It's hard to fathom, isn't it.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/8/2021 8:01:00 PM

Always, but we must keep trying to figure it out, don't you think?

Bill Baker

Date: 11/8/2021 4:46:00 PM

I can identify with a great deal of ponderingthis world we live in and the condition of the inhabitants. I like the way you used the first two line and last two line as bookends to a well written and rhyming poem Milt.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/8/2021 8:04:00 PM

Bill, I really appreciated your read and your thoughtful comment on my poem. Some of my stuff is pretty reflective, touching on things I have "pondered" for a long time. Thanks.

Terry Flood

Date: 11/8/2021 4:44:00 PM

Excellent, thought provoking write, Milt. I have to say I have a ‘shit happens’ mentality so I keep one eye open in the hope I can steer clear of it. Of course for many, there’s so much shit happening that it can’t be avoided. So whilst I rarely ponder ‘purpose’, I do fully appreciate the ‘luck’ which some might call ‘the Grace of God’. Terry

Terry Flood
Date: 11/9/2021 11:27:00 AM

I think I’ve mislead you, Milt. I ponder EVERYTHING. There’s barely a thing I do that I haven’t got mapped out, drawn up or thought through… BUT… I never ponder why I’m here. If any of us could travel back to 150 years, the likelihood of us being born would seem infinitesimal. No, I don’t think we’re born with a purpose… I think we must find or create our own purpose… hmm… I’m making things worse, so I’ll leave it there. Terry

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/8/2021 8:05:00 PM

That surely is an acceptable way to look at things, Terry. I have one of those minds that mulls. LOL

David Kavanagh

Date: 11/8/2021 2:34:00 PM

Brilliant truthful poem Milton, on the precipice of life, and indeed it does all depend on ones place, you have some of the meaning figured out, which is a lot more than most, this poem places a seed in the reader's mind, Cheers David

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/8/2021 3:38:00 PM

Thank you so much, David, for your thoughtful response to my poem.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 11/8/2021 1:06:00 PM

A struggle, a chore for so many. For us here in the USA, for the most part, a privilege.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/8/2021 3:38:00 PM

I think so, Gershon. I am so thankful that I was born in America. Having traveled to various places in the world, I've had a firsthand look, and it is not always pleasant!