Pale Skin (poem) by Danae Wilkin on AuthorsDen

Pale Skin
by Danae Wilkin → (All Poetry by Danae Wilkin)
Sunday, April 11, 2021 Rated "PG13" by the Author.

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Upon rewatching Lean's Lawrence of Arabia, I was left wondering, as I struggled to sleep, is a great life a good life, or is it something else completely? Sure we are limited by the way we look, but will it define us ultimately?

What Constitutes a Good Life? It may be a famous life, or an adventurous life…a life full of glory, but is that a good life? Pale skin There are things we cannot help Things we did not choose Some advantageous Others not And reversed depending Upon the company Does race determine worth Determine what we may be What we may do? Do we hide it If we can? Are we crucified to this rock Whipped and beaten To serve the pleasure of others And not only the dark But the light in a dark world? Did one T.E. Lawrence Turn from idealist to blood lust After an encounter with a Turk Thinking him light-eyed Arab For a night of his broken body? Did it turn him forever From the desert sunrise into a bleak void Like the quicksand that sucked down a boy Who once worshipped him? He was only a man after all As he bled through his tunic, His later uniform And tried to deny What had happened But he mowed them down The Turks who retreated Bloody and battered Little fight left On the way to Damascus His hands bathed in red Smiling in anguish Long having since lost his compass Does one violation beget another For all eternity A blood feud Whether stretched in desert or oasis Forest or badland? Can we ride the motorcycle of escape Run from regret Or will the innocent obstacles always come And send us flying? There is no glory Where there is peace There is no goodness Where there is blood There is only pain And its embrace

Reviewed by Andy Turner

Reviewed on April 30, 2021

My Nation with France has blood and guilt on its hands.
The US forces have to read his book to understand the nation and culture.
Had Britain listened and not just drawn a line of segregation, how different peoples lives would be.

Indeed, after everything, he died on his bike, if he had not?

Hmm, I dread to think how massively high your IQ is.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on April 12, 2021

Lawrence was an adventurer, the ultimate risk taker, and certainly was a standout in his time because of his eyes and skin in the Middle Eastern desert where he befriended the Arabs. But it was his brashness that stood out among other men that may have happened through that region from time to time like Marco Polo. Ultimately, that led to his early demise.

Recently, another brash man of a different color and eyes, wrecked his car at twice the speed of what required for Mulholland Drive. Tiger Woods, instead of leading Bedouins to war, has conquered Western golf, light skinned women, and sold Buicks to Chinese.

You have captured the mystique of Lawrence of Arabia so beautifully in this analysis of his life. But you have to give Peter O'Toole credit for those amazing pale blue eyes and Omar Sharif for their equally brilliant performances bringing the tale of Lawrence to life.

Ron

Reviewed by E Phillips

I believe that life comes at us from a thousand different directions. Only a fool learns nothing from each confrontation. But only a few have made an impact on me. Socrates started it with his observation that the unexamined life is not worth living. Galileo said "You have a brain, use it." George Linneaus Banks gave me a bit of guidance with his beautiful poem "What I live for." But Horace Mann ripped at my guts with his challenge "Be ashamed to die until you have done something worthwhile for humanity." Yes, and I read your words very carefully because they simply ooze wisdom and love. I also try to find meaning from the TV series "How the Universe Works." I trust friendships like yours and Odin's.

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

Reviewed on April 11, 2021

Would that mainstream reviewers of fine films addressed Lawrence of Arabia with a smattering of courage to allow poetic language to describe the essence of the film as you have, rather than the traditional praises or condemnations ala media language. You�ve deftly given the reader a poetic reason to watch or re-watch this masterpiece, for today�s films are far removed from the depth and human understanding and lesson inherent in Lawrence. Bravo!