The Truth Is Here Somewhere:1: Echo Poem

An Echo Poem Original: This Much I Know – Poem by Lora Colon of PoemHunter Reprinted here with permission. Soon the sun will set in this valley Where I’ve roamed for many a year, So many questions left unanswered, So many answers remain unclear; And others will ask what has been asked before, But this much I know: I’ll ask no more I cannot say that I’ll miss this Earth That censured me at every turn; Too often were tearful lessons laid On a heart that was too slow to learn, And many more tears will flood misery’s shore, But this much I know: I’ll cry no more And as for love that hid from my view – Come, emerge from your hiding place! I’ll no longer seek your charity, Supplication was my heart’s disgrace; Surely, more lonely hearts will plead at your door, But this much I know: I’ll beg no more This frame will dissolve into the soil To nourish the worms and green things, And flowers and birds will take delight, Uncomprehending the gifts death brings; And life will continue the same as before, But this much I know: I’ll be no more Lora Colon February 15, 2017  Echo: A Witness To Your Life – Poem by Brian Johnston All your protests now seem to ring hollow (Whatever you think your intention might be!) Little bravery saying what dead people feel, To tell us that you have discovered what’s real, It is too much to ask me to swallow! For sure not the path that I’m longing to see! Too often religious folk need to be right And they think that they know what they’re doing. First they limit their God, then go down on their knees, You know they’re sincere for they always say “Please!” There’s no way they’d ever slug God in a fight, Undeveloped their sense of wrong doing. How many think they’ve lived in hell most their life? But they never did once think of moving, If your questions unanswered is your life just fate Or was there in fact someone else you might date? Could Hell be escaping home just to be wife? Maybe all that you sought was approving? Yes, the earth censured you, left you crying, Each day that the sun rose in sky overhead, And the gardens, in flower, lived just for your tears, You’re waiting for dance, opportunity sneers, As you sit there and feel like you’re dying But this much I know: Have you crying, not dead! Love hiding from view? I would swear that’s not true, I have seen poets frequently smitten, But Rapunzel in tower won’t let down her hair, Hard dancing with one who lives up in the air! If you were a guy tell me what would you do? I hear windows are lower in Britain! Heads will bow when your pen has gone silent, You’re so not some girl a guy left in a lurch, You have touched tender feelings inside of us all And not just some woman we met at a mall, A smart dresser who never showed talent: But difficult girl, loved by God, not her church. Brian Johnston February 24, 2017 Lora Colon responds to my echo of her poem: First stanza is a bit chiding, On this Earth, rough paths I've often trod, But I believe I'll find eternal rest..... While you are searching the heavens for god Second stanza: somewhat truthful, Most religious folks are hypocrites, Not all, but far too many that I've known, If you're offended, this means the shoe fits. Third stanza makes me gasp for air, Do we control our own destiny? The sick, the starving, all the homeless folks, From these shackles how they long to be free! Fourth stanza confirms my failures, On the journey, I took some wrong turns, Without a map or compass it was hard, But I've often heard this is how one learns Fifth stanza: analytical, Do you know my life better than me? My feet walked on thorns, my eyes drowned in tears, Rather than rebuke, try some empathy Sixth stanza predicts the outcome, When I'm gone, by many I'll be missed, A lonely heart that only knew defeat, And loved by a god that does not exist! But I harbor no ill feelings, I know I have friends who all mean well, I love you all, and just to ease your minds, With my last breath I'll say Gosh, it's been swell! Lora Colon