Clutching simple notions
when at first this all began,
in hopes of being more in life
I turned another man,
dissembling everything around,
those theories preconceived,
passed to me from experts,
those who struggle to believe
.
Avoiding all resentments,
the kind’s my parents had,
I wanted something grander
to facilitate my plan,
embracing everything in sight,
those glimmering ideals,
I found myself adrift alone
with crocodiles and seals
.
At first the seals were welcoming
while nibbling on my hand,
a friendly way of getting near
to conjugate their plan,
little did I know that day
the chaos they would wreak,
when a seal connived a crocodile
to chew upon my cheek
.
I watched in abject horror
as the crocodile swam near
my friendly little lump of flesh
betrayed me now I feared
for all their cute and token smiles
and all those barks of hope
I discovered its deceitful plan
was cowardly in scope
.
At once I saw the irony
of what this life could bring
and how the seals and crocodiles
could gnaw and smash and sting,
allowing for how scared I was
I grinned and clenched my teeth
as the bloodshot eyes of crocodile
assessed my tasty meat
.
Crying out courageously
I rejected this demise
and spit upon its ugly head
between its beady eyes
for all the dread this moment brought
I realized one thing
that nothing could deter my call
or blessings I would bring
.
Above the skies got indistinct
and thunder rumbled deeply,
apparently my fervent prayer
had shifted things completely
straight away the croc turned tail
with seal in equal dread
it seemed my blatant bravery
had rendered fear quite dead….
.
© richard lloyd cederberg
2023
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This piece was born during a hike Michele and I took up to the long-abandoned Stonewall Gold Mine.
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                              Stonewall Mine