When I was a lad growing up in the small village of Wakenda, I would sometimes sit on the back porch and watch the stars move across the night sky. I would listen to the tune of the birds and farm animals calling to me every morning. A choir of a hundred different voices singing their praises to a new day. I spent my days doing exactly what I wanted to do. Now I am retired, and we moved to the hills in the Ozarks of Missouri. I sit on the back porch and watch the stars move across the night sky. I listen to the tune of the birds and farm animals calling to me every morning. A choir of a hundred different voices singing their praises to a new day. I spend my days doing exactly what I want to do. Why didn’t I leave well enough alone?
Why did I chase life
through so many wasted years—
just to get back home
If it's not broke!
Why fix it up?
Let it sleep in!
Just being, as is!
If I could only travel back in time
I guess that’s what most of us old folks say
So we could rearrange everything
and have life turn out a different way
I would like things to be the way they were
when we had sharper minds and nimble hands
We were a little more passionate
about love and trying to make our stand
Now that I really think about it all
knowing now what I did not know back then
I think no matter how I’d wish to change
I’d wind up making those same mistakes again
I think I will leave well enough alone
maybe just let my old memories last
Spend time with family making new ones
so they’ll wish to travel back to their past
Everyone stop needing,
can’t you see how I try?
Feels like nothing but stress;
A mask with a wide smile
slow dancing with darkness;
Everyone stop needing!
Popping off those demands,
such an abrasive touch!
It’s driving me insane,
always asking so much;
Everyone stop needing!
Wild goose is what you chase
running down a cyclone;
You’re not there when I ask,
leave well enough alone.
Pandora's Equation
The box was beautiful.
It held everything ugly in one place.
It was meant to be a prison,
to create safety on the outside,
from everything on the inside.
Man can not leave well enough alone.
Woman... failed in paradise.
We were all thrown out, for sin.
The days come and go,
and our lives are shortened
in the grand landscape of forever.
Adam lived over 900 years.
Noah lived nearly...
or more so the same.
Now we believe
we are long in this world
at only 100.
Time is stretching and bending,
like the solar flares...
hitting the earth,
off and on for days at a time.
The heat rises,
the water... evaporates,
and our cry continues.
Myths are real,
based in historic shadows,
hidden just under the surface of the truth.
Atlantis slid off its access
and fell into the sea.
Let that be.
Now for you and me...
we wonder...
at the towers of Babylon,
the mighty giants of the past,
until the last of all of us,
has gone over the edge,
or vanished from their plan.
People often judge each other according to their speech.
Your accent or your dialect it seems sometimes can breach,
The barriers of some protocol causing them to question,
The digits found in your I.Q. or how much education,
Could be lacking in your life or what could be your station.
Should they include you in their clique perhaps repeat Pygmalion?
Of course! That's it! Oh let's begin!
Oh this will be such fun! We'll take her in, teach her to blend,
Remake her head to toe! Refine her speech and then we'll teach,
Her when to speak and how, through us she'll reach a station close to ours.
But when at last the work is done and they see their creation,
And it's time for your debut, a kind of graduation,
You find that all is all in vain, you've done less good than harm;
For underneath you are still you, your speech is half your charm.
Why not leave well enough alone, to thine own self be true;
For nowhere else in all the world is there another YOU.
Solitude is my preferred state
Nothing pleases me
Like my own company
I’m so happy being on my own
I’m never lonely
Just because I’m alone.
I got here single-handed
And that’s how I plan to stay
If you can’t understand it
Then you’d best be on your way.
Don’t try to phone me
I don’t have a phone
No, I’m not lonely,
Just because I’m alone.
The people I get on with best
Are me, myself and I.
I can’t find time for all the rest
No matter how I try
If you think it’s tough
My being on my own
I’m well enough
So leave well enough alone.
Don’t try to own me
I just won’t be owned
And don’t think I’m lonely
Just because I’m alone
Don’t think me rude.
And don’t get irate
It’s just that solitude
Is my preferred state
viciously attacks the truth
can’t leave well enough alone
has no desire to build or create
tells lies more deadly than a knife or gun
never admits to having horns and a tail
filled to the brim with subtext
wants others to do the explaining
will stab you in jest
a master at proving otherwise
finds it feeble to give an apology
will sleep with just about anything
will bury you for free
Instant friends,
We hit it off so well
Mutual encouragement
Lives starting to gel
In an instant gone
As quickly as it started
Reasons why unknown
Left in waters unchartered
(Chorus)
Can you drop me a hint?
Can you offer a smidgen?
Was it something I said?
Could it be my religion?
Something I should’ve done,
Or anything I can do
To know the reasons
For losing you?
Good if we could talk
Suss out issues ensconced
I’ve tried to reach out
But received no response
Finally thought it best
To leave well enough alone
So hard to accept
A friendship turned to stone
(Chorus)
Can you drop me a hint?
Can you offer a smidgen?
Was it something I said?
Could it be my religion?
Something I should’ve done,
Or anything I can do
To know the reasons
For losing you?
4/26/2020
Photo by Mikael Kristenson on Unsplash
As you're starting out this life
Being taught the wrong from right
By those close to you inside the home
But then again adolescence kicks in
Where the troubles all begin
As you start to believe everything you think you know
And you can't just be told
By all those old-fashioned fools
Who are clearly way past their dawn
Soon enough though you'll know
The more row's you hoe in your growth
You should have gone and left your well enough alone
You can fill your silly head
With what you think you know is best
But it is mostly talk with little show
Where one day you're sure to see
We all must pay for our on keep
In the throwing of life's dog a bone
And those that helped to raise you
Know a lot more than you knew
You learn now that you're grown
You finally find you realize
In the wisdom of hindsight
You should have gone and left well enough alone
Tripping, skipping, lipping Lee. I’ve got a wart hog, you’re on my knee!
Spiking, liking, biking me, I’m going to travel, far as you can see.
Hopping, bopping, cropping, key. Fits in a door knob, bigger than me.
Smacking, tracking, fracking, we. You are a he, I am a she.
Shoving, loving, doving, bee. From unknown places, now here with thee.
Wondering, thundering, asundering gee. Leave well enough alone, and I will get you some tea.
Antediluvian shadow lost to time;
A republic ancient and true.
Sister Lemuria and brother Mu,
are ghosts of better times.
Triplets swim the tides and passing whales sigh,
as they pass through ancient remains.
Ghosts wave at orcan traffic and jaywalk through water-laden roads to scattered temple ruins.
They say that water collects and cleanses;
sunken lands are a coveted collectable.
While the, uneducated-educated, deny the past;
history travels the seas;
observes an unfolding future and shakes its head.
Mistakes continuously recycle themselves
when mortals are in control.
Atlantis knows that other continents
will join the collection;
it’s inevitable;
mortals can never leave well-enough alone.
The ghost of you went graciously,
And gratefully I watched it go.
And silently, the solitude
Replaced the face I used to know.
The thought of you evaded me,
The years were knives and time the stone.
Your sharpness softened in my sleep;
The edge of you wore blunt, grew slow.
But that same ghost, eventually,
Returned and made his presence known.
You sat beside me, touched my hand,
Never one to leave well enough alone.
The ghost of you went graciously,
Now, achingly, I watch it go.
And once again I'm seventeen,
And you're the only one who knows.
Typed Out
Written By
Lewis, Y.K
I bang my fingers across my keyboard, typing out my feelings, unable to put pen to hand, due to the residue that I would leave behind.
Shoulda, Coulda, and Woulda bicker amongst themselves saying, I Woulda done this, but Coulda stood in the way of Shoulda. Isn’t that how the story goes. Truth made a statement, saying, “I’m glad you didn’t leave me out”.
All I could do was just stare at the Truth. I took it for what it’s worth. Thinking sometimes, Truth needs to leave, Well Enough alone. Well Enough spoke out saying, “Is that what you really want”? Damn. Truth won again.
To walk in Truth means sometimes walking alone, never having your desires met, because sometimes I want what is not good for me. Instead of having the physical connection I desired. I decided to just bang my fingers across my keyboard instead today, because I’m all typed out.
If someone offered me a crystal ball
so I can know what is in store for me,
the future I’d not want to know at all.
I love my life so what will be - will be.
So I can know what is in store for me,
I don’t need fortunes read. I’m getting by!
I love my life, so what will be – will be.
God knows my fate. On Him I must rely.
I don’t need fortunes read; I’m getting by!
I want to be surprised by each new day.
God knows my fate; on Him I must rely.
Leave well enough alone is what I’d say!
I want to be surprised by each new day.
The future I’d not want to know at all!
Leave well enough alone is what I’d say
if someone offered me a crystal ball.
June 18, 2017 for Eve Roper's Pantoum Form Contest
Theme: What Will Tomorrow Bring
Sub Categories
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