Poetry From The Heart: Optimistic Defiance

Monday, December 10, 2012

Optimistic Defiance

If you think I could be disheartened, then think again,

‘Cause I’ve had happiness and I know what is pain.

If you think I could be belittled, then think once more,

‘Cause people like you have criticized me before.

If you try to discourage me, you’re trying in vain,

‘Cause I’ve seen the sunshine and I’ve also felt the rain.

If you think you can crush me, you won’t succeed,

‘Cause as long as I’m right, I’m strong indeed.

No great oppression shall drive me insane,

‘Cause I’m used to being hurt and I won’t complain.

I wonder if you’d survive if you were I;

Well, if I were you I would at least try.

Eric Anthony Trott

9^th July 1994

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What Poetry means to me

Whenever in life I am confronted with situations that overwhelm me and I find myself at a loss for words to adequately express my thoughts and emotions, I look deep within and it seems my soul starts to speak in a language of its own: a language of verse and rhyme that articulates my feelings beyond what I might have expressed by conscious effort. I imagine that poetry, like any form of art, is a communication of the soul and between souls. Someone once said, “A picture paints a thousand words.” Well, if that is true, then I guess a heartfelt poem can express what ten thousand words can, in just a hundred.

As a young man, I had great dreams of the future. Having already seen so much go horribly wrong with me and all around, I thought dreaming of better things was the way to make life better. But there was always the fear of what ill might suddenly happen. This fear was like a dark shadow that followed me wherever I went.

Now, looking back at the dreams I once had for my life, I realize that many of them never saw the light of day because I did not have a real hope on which to build them. I had very little to hope in and no one to even encourage me to hope. So, whenever I dreamed of good things, the dark lurking shadow was also there.

Opinions

In the current time and age, we are from all directions bombarded constantly with all kinds of ideas, ideologies and notions. Every person seems to have something to say about something or someone and is trying to make their voice heard above the noise. There are some who can shout louder than the rest and some who don’t stand a chance.

Whether politicians, religious leaders or social-activists, entrepreneurs or real-estate salespersons or someone you meet on the train, they all have a view and want you to hear it. What they have to say can be often hostile, unfriendly or plain intrusive to say the least. And even if not directed at us, we can at times find ourselves in the crossfire of opinions by virtue of our own personal stands or views.

Just thinking about this can be overwhelming. I wonder, should I too say something? If I do, will it only contribute to the already cacophonous commotion? Will I even be heard above it? Or, should I stay quiet instead and pray that wisdom will ultimately prevail, and that harmony and sanity will one day return to the world we live in?

More than meets the eye

There is truly more to life than meets the eye: You look around you and there is such a lot to experience and to observe that even a million lifetimes could not take it all in. And behind all that, is so much that the casual eye does not or cannot see, like what entails a day’s work for those countless people who make our lives comfortable: What are the stories, the joys and the sorrows of these unseen but so important souls? And how much do we take for granted all that we ought to be so grateful for?

Poetry From The Heart

Blessed indeed are those whose purpose in life inspires others to pursue theirs.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Optimistic Defiance

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