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The Perpetual Pessimist

(as published in Switch Poetry/Prose magazine - 2017)

       what apparition takes joy in
the patient anticipation of pain or,
is it just me,          who at the height of elation
still glances for... prowling shadows
      disguised with smiles;
Cheshire cats of our own invention, yet
           beautiful in their gate - or
                      is it gloating

perpetual probabilities ; confident chameleons
         who morph undetected even
in our gaze, because            they are we

a game never won - evolution where
          the prey's fate is
                        inevitable and
self inflicted

the kittens will wait to be fed on the doorstep,
                and we will feed them

Copyright © Craig Cornish | Year Posted 2018

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Daniel Turner Date: 5/16/2018 7:17:00 PM I have found that optimism generates hope and hope is a fool's paradise. I am not a pessimist nor am I an optimist, i consider myself a realist. i do love your poem and I see congratulations are in order. Thank you for sharing it with us, Craig:) I have become one of your biggest fans. Login to Reply

Frederic Parker Date: 5/16/2018 6:23:00 PM not sure if this is learned or something people are born with, to think that there is always a dark cloud lingering over the horizon no matter how bright the day...I'm sure not everyone would feed the kittens...I'm the guy who would watch to see what happens before moving on to see if I could help someone...does fear create pessimism or does pessimism create fear? Login to Reply

Rhoda Tripp Date: 5/16/2018 3:35:00 PM I've read this one elsewhere, and it never gets old...that ending! Too frickin cool! Login to Reply Craig Cornish Date: 5/16/2018 4:03:00 PM Thanks Rhoda!

Andrea Dietrich Date: 5/16/2018 2:58:00 PM wow, very deep. I think I heard of this magazine before. Congrats for it being published. Glad you liked my poetic "reading" I only have 3 or 4 like that because it was such a complicated thing for me to get done. I too am a pessimist. But I am more of an optimistic pessimist. Though troubles beset me (right now, LOTS of bad stuff going on), I just kind of remain calm and hopeful. but I know in my childhood, I felt a strong melancholy always on me. Maybe you felt that too? Login to Reply Craig Cornish Date: 5/16/2018 3:28:00 PM Hi AD---actually, I am an undying optimist and something tells me you are one as well. That isn't saying bad times don't getcha down but that, as you alluded, there is hope - a light in the distance, not darkness.---Anyhow, you should read more, you do it very well.

Laura Leiser Date: 5/16/2018 2:51:00 PM Pessimists described as confident chameleons and Cheshire cats of our own invention... brilliant observations in your most excellent free verse poem, Craig! I love free verse; my favorite form of poetry! Congrats on your well deserved publication :) Login to Reply Craig Cornish Date: 5/16/2018 3:32:00 PM Thanks very much Laura. I actually love most forms because it is nice to have different options to express ourselves and some, as you know, work better for different poets. The nicest thing about free verse is that it gives us more room to fly when we need or want to.