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Even in today’s world, there are more things that would make a man happy than sad---all easy to get and free. But there are people whose default mode is to feel sorry, virtually a defect mode. This ghazal dwells on this irony.
___________________
On crest or in valley, they’d feel sorry,
Take them to place any, they’d feel sorry.
Take them even to the Eden Garden,
Looking wan and weary, they’d feel sorry.
Those intent on feeling forever blue,
On days sanguine sunny would feel sorry.
Those in love with their dreary history,
Turn things cheery, teary to feel sorry.
Let Fate bestow a lucky break, I’d stake
My last silver penny, they’d feel sorry.
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Satire | 29.08.2026 | fate, happy, irony, sad/sorry, satire, Ghazal
Are we on the same page
In the big black book of life
What would your words say
Would they cause relief or strife
Are you an onyx optimist heart
With views worn on white sleeve
Rather are you pink pessimistic shark
Waiting to take a bite of cocoa me
Can we grow towards a center
Perhaps merging in our violet view
Could cooperation create splinter
Embedding in thick skin like bad news
What is it about the opal opposites
Do they indigo in the soul attract
Can we build truce with rock and stick
And merge in a communal lime laugh
I admire your passion and dedication
You’ve a right to have such a stance
Join me in a cranberry celebration
Where unique ideas rise and dance
Where's the confidence in life
You're facing a controversial world
Of changes, chaos and upheavals
But an optimist will see a chance in difficulty
A pessimist will see difficulty in a chance
You have to try to live better
God only helps those who help themselves
Only trials, perseverance and efforts
Will accomplish something
A little accomplishment means
A little confidence
Let's the confidence piles up
And you'll have eureka at last
What ere were warm, inviting open doors,
To this man maudlin and defeated kind,
Unsure, frightened, his dog-tail tucked behind,
He now finds shut, keys lost at far off shores.
Asked of voyage, on adverse winds he whines,
Given a choice from a pair of evils,
He chooses both— he who to doubt inclines,
One sure can’t go wrong with his choice of ills.
Here’s him— lion’s gait with vigour and vim,
He minds no doors getting shut on his face
And looks a sure shot like a tennis ace,
Belief in him bouncing like rising cream,
All odds-against ciphered, game on a deuce,
And a shot that turns all don’ts unto dos!
_____________________________________________
Poet’s note: “To a pessimist, his opportunities look like difficulties.
To an optimist, the difficulties are like opportunities.”
I think it was Harry Truman who said this.
This Sonnet takes off from what he said.
Sonnets | 10.09.2012, revised April 2022 |
Pessimist or optimist
I opt for the latter of the two
So much sadness
in a pessimist’s life
forever contemplating
the darker side of things
hopelessness
and loneliness
manifesting
into your very being
Much joy
comes to the optimist
always noticing
the brighter side of things
encouraging
reassuring
supportive
of every new beginning
Pessimist or optimist
I opt for the latter of the two
to him
there's no s u n
in the sky;
c l o u d s
above him
gray...
day to day,
season to season
to the whole world
alabaster white
to him,
hope is
a mere illusion,
a boat
with all of life
aboard,
s u b m e r g i n g
in the sea,
but...
to the rest
of us
it's a boat
afloat
smooth-sailing
o v e r
the rising tides.
Pessimist or optimist
I opt for the latter of the two
So much sadness
in a pessimist’s life
forever contemplating
the dark side of things
hopelessness
and loneliness
manifesting
into your very being
Much joy
comes to the optimist
always noticing
the bright side of things
encouraging
reassuring
supportive
of every new beginning
Pessimist or optimist
I opt for the latter of the two
how dare they try to pawn off
their ugliness on me
cast to the winds
without a care
their dark assumptions
and vile opinions
hypocrites and villains
often in sheep’s clothing
I close the door on
all that’s gloom and doom
sarcastic and destructive
how dare they rain
on my parade
AP: 3rd place 2022
An optimist and pessimist were sitting in the park,
Their outlooks as divergent as the light is to the dark.
“I think this will be over soon,” the optimist declared.
The pessimist just looked at her as if she were impaired.
“Our lives will never ever be the ones we used to lead,”
The pessimist asserted, but her buddy disagreed.
“You’ll see, before you know it, all will be just like before,”
The optimist responded, a believer to the core.
Their argument continued, each convinced that she was right,
Not seeing any grays at all between the black and white.
Yet time will tell whose thoughts pan out, for now the world’s a mess
And I don’t see it going back. (My side? Well, take a guess!)
Time and fate have mocked us all,
be we great or be we small.
The same temptations Jesus thwarted
the Church, I fear, has ofttimes courted.
Luther preached before the throne:
"The just shall live by faith alone."
Yet ""freedom" in a peasant's ears
filled great lords with dread and fears.
"Workers, unite!" was Karl Marx's plea.
The aftermath is plain to see.
A pacifist brought forth the bomb,
a paradox God save us from.
Man's fate, which lies beyond our ken,
must be:
(for optimists:) to fail and strive again.
(for pessimists:) to strive and fail again.
pessimism
Due to the forecast, foreboding fellas have cancelled the parade.
Despite the weather, bring umbrellas, join us as we promenade.
optimism
April 7, 2020
Sponsor:Jenish Somadas - Let the Pens Flow, Antonyms contest
(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
The pessimist argued that all women are whores,
He spoke with a tear, with a unconcealed pain.
The optimist listen to him with a hidden fain,
He rubbed his hands with a wish to explore!
I’m as certain about this, as anyone can be
Disaster awaits me, just wait and see
I’m not a worrier; well not any more… But!
You never know what knocks at your door
A positive outlook is all I need
The kind of thinking that’s guaranteed
To see me through the toughest of day’s… But!
Disaster can strike in so many ways
Things will be alright on the day?
Well maybe sometimes, don’t quote me, ok
No sense worrying, it may never happen … But!
Maybe it will, what do you reckon?
Be optimistic see the bright side of life
Pessimists worry, about all the gloom and strife
Life can be richer, balanced between the two… But!
I’m not sure. What about you?
Philip Royle copyright © 2012
THE REALISTIC PESSIMIST
Is it about life or death?
Is it about death or birth?
If it is about death, and not life or birth,
So be it
You either love or hate
You can choose to hate or date
If you choose to hate, and not love or date,
So be it
Is it about success or failure?
Is it about failure or progress?
If it is about failure, and not success or progress,
So be it.
Is it about winning or losing?
Is it about losing or victory?
If it is about losing, and not winning or victory,
So be it
Is it about food in excess or famine?
Is it about famine or eating?
If it is about famine, and not food in excess or eating,
So be it
Is it about commending or condemning?
Is it about condemning or extolling?
If it is about condemning, and not commending or extolling,
So be it
Is it about freedom or slavery?
Is it about slavery or liberty?
If it is about slavery, and not freedom or liberty,
so be it.
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