What gets me is the under current of resilience running through the poem. Even when things seem hopeless, there's this stubborn refusal to give up. It's like the speaker is saying, "Yeah, life sucks sometimes, but I'm not going down without a fight." And that line about pride being a drug? Man, that's so true. Even when everything else is falling apart, pride can be that thing that keeps you going. It's not all sunshine and rainbows; sometimes it's just one struggle after another. But even in the darkest moments, there's still that flicker of hope, that stubborn determination to keep walking down that road, no matter how endless it seems.
I’m inclined to add: that because there are so many ways, there are so many opportunities to practice compassion, generosity, and patience, both with others and with ourselves.
There is an old Buddhist saying that “those who fall to the ground stand up by the ground.” And we can also fall to the sky and stand up by the sky, fall to the ground but stand up by the sky, and fall to the sky but stand up by the ground. Every instant offers an opportunity for exploration and growth.
One of the things poetry does that I love is use fresh language to convey something. The incredible depth of Despair’s perspective in this is impressive!
What gets me is the under current of resilience running through the poem. Even when things seem hopeless, there's this stubborn refusal to give up. It's like the speaker is saying, "Yeah, life sucks sometimes, but I'm not going down without a fight." And that line about pride being a drug? Man, that's so true. Even when everything else is falling apart, pride can be that thing that keeps you going. It's not all sunshine and rainbows; sometimes it's just one struggle after another. But even in the darkest moments, there's still that flicker of hope, that stubborn determination to keep walking down that road, no matter how endless it seems.
I’m inclined to add: that because there are so many ways, there are so many opportunities to practice compassion, generosity, and patience, both with others and with ourselves.
There is an old Buddhist saying that “those who fall to the ground stand up by the ground.” And we can also fall to the sky and stand up by the sky, fall to the ground but stand up by the sky, and fall to the sky but stand up by the ground. Every instant offers an opportunity for exploration and growth.
Thank you for the poem this morning.
I am reminded of Richard Rohr's Falling Upward
and how our failings can be the foundation for
our ongoing spiritual growth.
so many ways to lose faith / I've tried them all
stood out and struck me.
One of the things poetry does that I love is use fresh language to convey something. The incredible depth of Despair’s perspective in this is impressive!
So true!
Just bought his book - it’s my forever indulgence.
Haunting imagery. Lerner's brutal honesty hits hard, but the fight for a sliver of hope is inspiring.
Moving, haunting, brilliant…..Lerner is masterful!!
Poetry will save the world. And we should all be adding ours to the fray, lest our souls feel unwelcome in these strange new days.
Lerner is the best. Thank you 🙏
Wow! 🙏
Thanks Poetic Outlaws for publishing the Late David Lerner's memorable poem. Dave Pi
Wow
Was he considered one of the Beat poets?
No, he was one the barbarian poets out of San Fran
amazing
Woah ! Deep introspection but engagingly optimistic at the end . Really good work
Absurd existence
Philosophy of Change
Change brings pain—again and again.
Pain brings suffering—uttering, muttering
Suffering brings tolerance—with much endurance.
Tolerance brings thinking—and good ideas linking.
Thinking brings knowledge—saves going to college.
Knowledge brings understanding—sensibility expanding.
Understanding brings wisdom—and where it comes from.
And wisdom makes life bearable—happily declarable!