43 Comments
User's avatar
Dwight Lee Wolter's avatar

Good line that “success comes… by obeying

the subtle whisper of the soul

rather than the clamor

of the world.”

Expand full comment
Aaron O'Shea's avatar

AMEN! Although tough at times, embracing the outcast within is so liberating! 💯

Expand full comment
Frederick Fullerton's avatar

It often takes us decades before we dare to venture out onto our true path. Mine is now as a flaneur who sometimes writes but more often dreams to write more.

Expand full comment
Ken Paul Rosenthal's avatar

Killer lines:

"The soul needs fire, not ease."

"...the wisdom of the blood."

"...obeying the subtle whisper of the soul..."

Expand full comment
D. W. Orr Photo & Poetry's avatar

Erik:

Bravo! You nailed it. One must be a wordsmith rebel, a poet-provocateur.

~ D. W. Orr Photo & Poetry

https://dworr.zenfolio.com/blog

Expand full comment
Kim Nelson's avatar

A great share, Erik! Thank you.

Expand full comment
Natalie Taylor's avatar

This is fantastic, Erik, thank you!

Expand full comment
Mary Engel's avatar

“wisdom of the blood” - priceless • Thanks so much.

Expand full comment
Zuu - Radio Free Amerika's avatar

The road less traveled.. The hero's journey. The spiritual path. The path of the outsider. These references seem to be fading in our culture... A reflection of a society that doesnt prioritize reflection or self discovery. Not a world I'd like to continue to partake in. But I will take my corner of hard earned, fiery, blissful existence and carry it around wherever I go..

Expand full comment
Dwight Lee Wolter's avatar

Speaking only, of course, for myself: my life is not binary-bound. I am not an either/or as much as I am a both/and. As Walt Whitman said, “I contain multitudes.” For example, after a courageous act, I have been known to cower in a corner, fearing the consequences. I am therefore, I guess, a courageous coward. Ha!

Expand full comment
Dwight Lee Wolter's avatar

Hmmm. I have one soul but it is linked to countless others. I once dated a Brasilian (her spelling) woman originally from Lisbon, Portugal. She gave me book of poems by Pessoa. Twas fantastic. With basically two Portuguese speaking countries, is it a stretch to believe many write in a language with a wider reach?

Expand full comment
Sélia B.'s avatar

"I have more souls than one" is a quote by Fernando Pessoa, one of the greatest poets of all times. Not easy for everyone. Read his 'English Poems' book. Despite his being Portuguese he wrote in English almost 100 % of his work.

Expand full comment
Dwight Lee Wolter's avatar

The Book of Disquiet

Expand full comment
Dwight Lee Wolter's avatar

I was raised in Japan until seven years old when we returned to the United States. I took two of my children and one of my grandchildren to Japan for a couple of weeks almost exactly two years ago. Haiku and the pentatonic scale are indelibly impressed on my soul.

Expand full comment
Sélia B.'s avatar

The book of Disquiet means looking at myself in a mirror.If I may suggest you a poem that touched me when I first read it : “Elevation'‘ . Poems are freedom to poets. No metrics. Thanks for your kind answer.

Expand full comment
Dwight Lee Wolter's avatar

A haiku has metrics: 17 syllables in three lines of:

5

7

5

Expand full comment
Sélia B.'s avatar

Japanese, of course. Always neat.

Expand full comment
Brett Howser's avatar

This poem was utterly brilliant Erik. And insightful. And profound. And anarchic! Made my day and it’s barely 10am.

Reminded me of this quote from the French author Virginie Desplentes:

“Don’t delude yourself that a life lived with freedom and in search of experience will be free of damage. Punishments will arrive, but conformity is worse. That’s the whole concept of punk—not doing what you’re told.”

Expand full comment
M Sarki's avatar

Wonderful Erik.

Expand full comment
Jen B. Corbin's avatar

Yes! Choosing the path that is authentically oneself. I couldn’t agree more and said with eloquence. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Dwight Lee Wolter's avatar

Happiness is a byproduct.

Expand full comment
Linda Collison's avatar

“the primal force that called us into existence”

Expand full comment
Deryn van der Tang's avatar

Love this! The 'rebel' in me is in total accord. The creative dance of life that drives you to the final curtain

Expand full comment