Paul Willason Poet Free verse

The Quest For Perfection

Today,
somewhere in this world,
without fuss or a funerary
prayer, a lifeform 
has gone extinct.
It probably passed unnoticed,
its last lonely moment spent 
bleeding beneath a log 
or gasping in a shallow pond 
with its gills clogged with silt
or sliding down the gullet
of a predator.
How brutal the path is,
the sheer waste,
the cruel experimentation
whether mindful or mindless 
by something hidden
from us as it pursues
its pointless quest
for perfection.

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sara Etgen-Baker August 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM a captivating read, Paul. I agree. Perfection is pointless...could be mankind's downfall. Your poem was poignant in that regard. Paul Willason August 21, 2025 at 6:15 AM Thanks Sara for jumping into this poem...in some respects a bit confronting. Value your comments. Regards Paul

David Kavanagh August 18, 2025 at 12:08 PM It takes a true poet to think like this Paul, You know, sometimes I ponder if the universe only ever had one mission, to try create perfection or a god, regardless of what we call suffering or a pointless quest, this one I wrote a few years back might be of interest, cheers David https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/opposable_thumbs_1337053 Paul Willason August 21, 2025 at 6:11 AM Thanks David. For me, the question seems always to lack a satisfactory answer if one even hints at a purpose...mysteries like this fuel poetry. Do like your poem ...so well stated...share the same thoughts. You have a real talent for wresting these perennial complexities to the page and prompt the internal voice to utter..."why didn't I think of that". Cheers my friend.

Deb M August 18, 2025 at 2:50 AM Beautifully said my friend and yes perfection is a pointless quest at the cost of harming/killing lifeform along the way….your words left me feeling sad Paul….Debx Paul Willason August 21, 2025 at 5:56 AM Hi Deb, Not the most joyful of poems...but it looks into the mouth of one of the most challenging questions...still unanswered. Really appreciate you stepping into this one. Take care, Paul