DOES A TREE LOOK TO
THE SEED IT ONCE WAS
I have never met the myth,
the person with eyes
in the back of their head.
It seems to me
It seems to me
that if one is always looking back,
living in past frames of the photographs
thinking, “it was better or bitter then,”
living in past frames of the photographs
thinking, “it was better or bitter then,”
they tend to trip on walkway cracks.
Not only can they not a future see
when distracted by past torment
Not only can they not a future see
when distracted by past torment
or awe moments stuck in memory,
it becomes harder to be.
To be in the where here devotion,
the place of feet standing
at this moment in forward motion.
Memory is a fine thing
Memory is a fine thing
often smiles mixed with
chagrin it brings.
Yet for far too many
the past is still alive
not a temporary glance back
but an anchor holding hurts unforgiven.
I will for myself live today,
I know I lived back when,
I will for myself live today,
I know I lived back when,
life was both better and worse
I was both blessed and cursed.
But today is the day of live life
But today is the day of live life
chained or free of past memory.
This day is where one can conquer all strife
left over from an unsolved emotional cloud.
The future is not guaranteed;
The future is not guaranteed;
not to you not to me,
but it is under construction
on this day only. Live now,
not back in the then or when.
© M Durfee
© M Durfee
8.3.2016
I relive certain flashbulb memories pretty often, the more pleasant ones. Other than that, I seldom really look back. there's too much to do in the now, and tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteSpot on Charles--I took no camera with me as I traveled in my present so only the truly memorable moments have become traceable. I am busy enough now, perhaps not as busy as I once was but enough to keep me grounded.
DeleteTrue words, and I am long over cryin over "spilled milk", meouwpoppa ... but if I feel like cryin I will cry a lot ... and if I feel like smiling I will smilea lot and if I feel like laughin I will laugh a lot ... and if I feel like kickin sum one in da shin bone or where da sun don't shine, I will dat do 2 at times ... Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteMeowmomma everything you wrote is active participation in the now, the intensity of the feelings are the variables but they are all being experienced now without too much looking back. If by the by you are going to plant your foot in someone;s ass twice will you use both feet or just one twice? ;-)
Deletewe can not live forward, any more than we can live back. too many are consumed by both to appreciate what this day has to bring us. it is not easy, but it is all that we have.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Brian other than I can put the lumber in place today to construct tomorrow when it becomes today, but only if I am actively participating in the now.
DeleteLife under construction, breathing now.
ReplyDeleteI specially can relate to people living on the past, with grudges and hurts unforgiven, weighing like an anchor.
Have a good week Mark!
Grace I love that you realize the word construction coupled with under is an active verb. Look up "the new Detroit jail" to read about what I think most people are stuck with. A 1/3 construction stalled and argued over while costing them in the present more than they can afford to be.
DeleteI think it was one of the Marx's that said the past weighs like a nightmare upon the brains of the living... Good poem, Mark.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head Jeff, the past people tend to look back upon is the "unforgiven" portion. If most would forgive themselves they'd instantly move forward.
DeleteSometimes easier said than done.
ReplyDeletejean I'll be the first to admit that it takes practice, much practice and discipline to not look back for more than a glance. But it can be done.
DeleteMark, don't look back-we aren't going that way. I try...sigh...xo
ReplyDeleteEveryone looks back and wonders what could have been done different or asks who is to blame for this or that--it's not looking back I am railing against Jodi--just staying back. Moving forward in the now makes the yesterdays easier to carry.
DeleteThis makes me think of the arc I currently have going in Suzie's House. Walter is so fixated on a wrong in the past that it draws his attention over and over. He trips over the cracks in the sidewalk because he can't even see them around the jungle in his head.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a major flaw, not in looking back but becoming fixated on the "what was" Alice. At some point we all do it then further down the road we look back at the time of fixation and realize it was the worst of times.
DeleteI guess it depends on how deep and abiding the fixation. I think glancing back can be a way of checking if you're going the right direction, but getting fixated is just a waste of time.
DeleteHell yeah! Now is only here, well, nOw! How can you reach to your dream, if your eyes stray off-target. Yesterday does have its place, but it should be put away and used as reference, not be in the forefront of every day.
ReplyDelete..and this is why we always seem to be reading the same stars my dearest friend.
Delete