John Lawless Poet Free verse

Weakness

Weakness
 
It is said that he was weak because he would not
conform, could not subjugate his will, would not
let them imprison his mind, cage his spirit.  Weak
because he stood alone and not with the milling
mob.  Weak, because he would not speak the
words they desired to hear.  Weak, because he
smiled when others wept, laughed when others
wailed, stood tall when others bent beneath the
 toil of life.
 
They prayed for him to come to his senses and
become as they.  He, though he didn’t pray as
they, desired the same for them.  He knew that
there was no strength in the coalition of the crowd,
no truth in the mumbling of old truths, no love
in the demands of unconditional love.
 
He appreciated their prayers, they did not so
much appreciate his.  He would listen as the
sound of the choir filtered through the air and
caressed the trees and wonder why the
vibration stopped when the hymn ended,
why the sermon stopped when the preacher’s
voice stopped echoing in the apse.
 
He would sing the song in silence as he walked
the village roads, roll the preacher’s words over
in his mind, smile at soaring hawks and old
barn cats, straighten a fence, remove a stone,
bid good-day to those who thought him weak.
He was not rich nor was he poor, neither wise
nor foolish, he just was.  And so he shared his
weakness with all who thought themselves
strong, his loneliness with the friendless,
his thoughts with those who sought to teach him,
his spirit with those who allowed their spirit to be
caged.
 
It is said that he was weak by those who never
dared to share his weakness.
 
John G. Lawless//10/15/2014
Submitted to Verlena Walker contest
My shortcomings are overwhelming; however, my strengths are defeating them!

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Verlena S. Walker November 19, 2014 at 12:48 AM 2nd Place win John is high marks... Congratulations! Verlena

Dr.Ram Mehta November 12, 2014 at 4:41 AM ery powerful piece, congrats on the win

Brenda Meier-Hans November 10, 2014 at 4:30 PM This poem really touched me for some reason. I love those last two lines very much. A 7 and a fav. Beautiful poem. John Lawless November 10, 2014 at 4:50 PM Thank you Brenda for your comment and support. Your input is always appreciated.

Nette Onclaud October 16, 2014 at 1:02 PM such a strong write.. this mirrors a triumphant will over what one might call a weakness, which in truth, is a strength coming from peace... i like, john..huggs John Lawless November 10, 2014 at 4:49 PM Thank you bette for your generous praise. I have often seen people "mistake the gentle for the weak".