by Gerard Donnelly Smith

Poetry

"Poems are rough notations for the music that we are."
—Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207-1273)

(Swans - January 2, 2006)  
No matter which road, trod or untrodden,
whichever metaphor you have chosen
to describe your purpose and fate,
whether you are enlightened or saved,
believe in rebirth or have faith you're reborn,
even if nothing matters more or less to you,
the line begins and the line ends
with crying and with laughter.

No matter how deep the roots in sand or rock,
whichever simile you have chosen
to embed your tenacious or fleeting life within,
whether you are a rose with thorns or without,
believe that everything moves like water,
even if steam does rise from a melting pond,
the poem's end was within its beginning
with or without your understanding.

No matter when desire first found you empty,
whichever figures you may have crafted
to give flesh to your wild and ecstatic thoughts,
whether you litter the floor with notes or crumbled paper,
believe that every draft brings you one draft closer,
even if words cannot hold all your intended meanings,
this book was finished before you began
with or without your ever having touched the pen.

If you find our poetry valuable -- you won't find it anywhere else
(except if it's been stolen from Swans) -- then, please consider
helping Swans financially.

Internal Resources

Poetry

America the 'beautiful'

About the Author

Gerard Donnelly Smith on Swans (with bio).

Legalese

Please, feel free to insert a link to this work on your Web site or to disseminate its URL on your favorite lists, quoting the first paragraph or providing a summary. However, please DO NOT steal, scavenge, or repost this work on the Web or any electronic media. Inlining, mirroring, and framing are expressly prohibited. Pulp re-publishing is welcome -- please contact the publisher. This material is copyrighted, © Gerard Donnelly Smith 2006. All rights reserved.

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