We know that writers can transform their characters <br />from zeros to heroes, but not always themselves. <br />When I write nice little poems, it's because <br />I enjoy them and want others to enjoy them. <br />The talent, gift or boon each writer receives is one thing. <br />The hard graft is ours, to put aside the negatives, <br />to reach beyond ourselves, all the past mistakes, <br />sorrows, trained and restrained thoughts and get busy... <br /> <br />I didn't write hundreds of poems without honesty, <br />but I chose to write the ideas, not always the truths. <br />I've written about butterflies as well as vampires. <br />I believe we can stretch our writing muscles... <br />The first problem is obvious, to those that become aware... <br />We let ourselves continue to write negatively, <br />yet we can change, we can think it through... <br />we can make a stand, stop ourselves continuing. <br /> <br />We can ask ourselves, where's the profit in the negatives? <br />No use thinking of eloquent poisonous paragraphs. <br />Oscar Wilde was clever, but how could he then be nice? <br />His witty ideas were his genius, but not his best friend. <br />The world is full of nice poems, but ours will always be ours. <br />What legacy will we leave behind when we've gone? <br />What comfort did we pass on before we passed on? <br /> <br />What could God tell us of what we have written so far, <br />Enough to say that He was truly proud of something? <br />Was He ever asked to spare some insight, some joy? <br />Was He ever asked about our measure of truth? <br />Was He ever asked to lighten our load along the way? <br />But even now, even at this late stage, this very day, <br />I can say, with God's help... It's not too late to change... <br /> <br /> <br />Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2013.<br /><br />Denis Martindale<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/what-legacy-will-we-leave-behind/
