The weeks unwind, the months spool out,
The years unfold, and I (not well-behaved)
Endure each blasted day unto the end
With flinty, strident hope that I’ll be saved.
Saved from endless death, for sure, but also
Saved from other things: the twisted
Reasonings of men that elevate some above
Some others—chauvinist, unloving, tightfisted.
I’m getting old, am I not? But the calendar’s
an equal opportunity marauder,
And you’re as ancién as the regime
You hail from. We both tremble, we both dodder.
I’m glad I gave my lengthy speeches and
Appeared to violate the rules. I scorned
You when you shut my mouth with arcane
Dodges and excuses: “She was warned!”
Yes, I was warned. You gave your explanations.
You won that round. But time? It won’t be resisted.
We’ll both endure unto the end, but your end
will come first. That’s why, nevertheless, I persisted.
Love it!
thank you, Jason.
Beautiful
thanks, Heather. I was trying to find a link between the admonition to “endure unto the end” (which has always made me feel exhausted) and “persisting” — I needed more time than I had to figure out how to do it, but then the kids came home from school, and . . . you know the rest.
Well done. I’ll keep this in my notebook.
Love to see what else is in that notebook!
Oh, wow, Emily. This is so powerful. Persistence as resistance calls to me, and your words echo feelings I didn’t know I had.
Persistence is exhausting; buoying each other up is necessary. xoxo
Wonderfully wondrous! Feels like my life, too.
Thank you, Linda!
This is excellent, EmilyHB!
thank you, Ziff! one of these days I’m actually going to learn how to write a proper poem!
I love this so much! It’s hopeful, beautiful, and powerful. It makes me feel like persisting is worth it.
PS – keeping this in my folder of favorite poetry!
Emily U, thanks for your comments! The older I get, the more I enjoy the challenge and rewards of reading poetry. Honestly, I wish I hadn’t been so intimidated by it when I was younger.
Breathtaking.
Thank you, Mindy.