I have long been bothered by the phrase:
“You are only acting like a wild animal.”
I have often wondered in my own right,
Many people act like a savage cannibal.
Would there still remain quietly within,
The element of pure animal to be found?
To be free of desire and its attendant sin,
Not thrown on shore, as driftwood aground.
If I looked within myself, what would I see?
A modern-day animal I can classify as me.
Give me the majestic nobility of an eagle,
Who soars aloft with its vision expansive.
Dress me in the white feathers of a dove,
Image of peace that coos as though pensive.
The butterfly is enchantment, utterly meek,
In pursuit of nectar, searching for all I seek.
The ant industry, the turtle determination,
Owls exude wisdom, the fox recrimination.
A wood pecker knocks, fluffing its topknot,
The dragonfly slays its enemies, hard fought.
If this signifies the meaning of the animal,
I will take certain pride in imitating them.
Freely give up my present life as cannibal,
The human soul restored as precious gem.
As the word "wild" has become an iconic symbol of the past generations, one can understand it being sent to stand in the corner of the classroom of ignorance. Wild, as you've pointed out with your examples, has many forms, all of which suggest the untamed. Yes!
WE FORGET THAT WE ARE INDEED, JUST THAT. WE'RE ANIMALS WHO FUNCTION ON A HIGHER INTELLECTUAL 'PLANE' BUT, INDEED AS YOU POINT OUT, THERE ARE CERTAIN ABILITIES OF THE LOWER PLANE CREATIONS THAT I WOULD ENJOY HAVING. FOR INSTANCE; IF I COULD CHOOSE TO BE ANOTHER TYPE OF LIVING CREATURE, I WOULD WANT TO BE A FLY. NOW THAT ALONE SHOULD GIVE SOME INSIGHT INTO 'ME'(SMILE). THANKS FOR SHARING, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS
I love the imagery in the second verse! "Dress me in the white feathers of a dove," will stay with me. Of course, I enjoyed the entire poem, John.........as always!
I pretty much go with Ron here. We are all nature's child; just trying to maintain what we have accumulated through the years which tells others who and what we are, even if we must have a fist-fight, or all out war to preserve it.
I think Darwin got it right and the Bible has it all wrong. Certainly animals even at the insect level, seem to possess traits that we, as humans, admire. For the most part in your poem, I believe you got those characteristics well and committed them to verse. I take umbrage with the eagle. Whenever they congregate they fight mercilessly with each other over food and territory. I just saw a picture of American bald eagles having a leisurely time at the dump on Kodiak Island. Their version of McDonald's where they can scrounge for food without having to work very hard for it. Rats on wings.
I like the characters' descriptions. While looking at them by the poet's eyes I've caught myself out thinking of his pertaining to the critters he depicts so precisely and colorfully. So, if he is one of them, who on earth is the poet? Is it true that no man can serve two masters? ;)) Cheers, alex
The songs and art in this book are about our collective emergence after the pandemic and trauma of the last few years - comprised of 5 collections: World as Refuge, Where We Live, In Our Hands, Rhythms of Change and What We See & Sow.
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Love ya!
Jane
Ron
May Your Quill keep on soaring in attitude high ~ blown by aesthetical winds of inspiring sky!
Wise ontological thoughts flow through the edifying lines of "Acting Like An Animal"; an exquisite composition of poetic pphilosophic grand.
Viva the Poet!
In reverent appreciation,
Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU