poem

movingfinger

If I fail at life
At least the world
Will still be
Beautiful
Birds will fly
And leaves will grow
Even if I am on
Some street corner
handing out
Free poetry
And condoms
Remembering rags
As clothes
And the people that
Wore them
But at least
The world
Will still be
Beautiful

If I fail at life
The sky will
Still surprise me,
As stars
Emerge in an
Red-turned-violet
Expanse.
If I fail at life
And die
Old and lonely
At least I will
Help to fertilize
Some of this
Loveliness,
And I know
That whatever
Grows atop my grave
Will be
More beautiful
Than me

FinsburyParkCarrots

The bit about handing out free poetry and condoms was my favourite. I'm thinking, might the poem read more easily if the line-beginnings weren't in caps?

LeaderOfMen

I dont understand how you can grow old and still be considered a failure at life. If you survive that long you must have done something right.

??

pearlmutt

I liked this poem a whole lot. It just seems to be what I think on a lot of days. We do grow old; we do fail. It's okay.

the free poetry and condoms part is my favorite too.

Did you do caps at the beginning because you did it in a program that automatically gives new lines caps? I ask because that happens to me all the time.

Being Enlightened

I agree, the "handing out free poetry and condoms" line is great! I also liked "remembering rags as clothes and the people who wore them"--this speaks to me because when I was a tyke, my widdle binky was not a blanket, as many youngins were, but a piece of one of my Mom's old nighties that I loved to snuggle up against. Awhile ago I rediscovered it and memories of her came flooding back so, I really understand how rags can remind you of people.

I also love the ending! Only I disagree a little--whatever grows atop your grave will be AS beautiful as you!