Tired Eyes, Tired Hands, Tired Souls

The day is long, and the earth is wide
Time churns and cuts a neat swath throughout
Standing at the precipice are hunched figures,
their backs bent under the heaviest burden:
Happiness
Beautiful, terrifying, life affirming happiness
Despite their broken forms their faces are the same
They're smiling

It looks wrong
Hollow

It looks right
Fulfilling, bursting forth

Duplicities teem and seep from every crevice
That another is here is no surprise
It's how we stay safe,
stay “happy”
And the longer we try the more we feel it
Crushing down

But we're happy, right?
Of course!
Impossible!
No worse for wear we smile
At each other, and to ourselves
And at the endless procession of time

Because after everything else in this long day, this wide world
What better thing is there to work so hard for?
Reach into the sky, the earth, friends, family, and ourselves
Reach into the universe around, because it's everywhere
And pluck from it the most delicious morsels
Bend your back and stiffen your joints
Tighten your muscles and wrinkle your skin
All in one lifelong odyssey

And then when it's all done
With tired eyes
Tired hands
Tired souls
We rest
For the long day ends
And the wide earth grows
And time cuts out a piece for each of us

What will you fill the hole with?

I'd rep this if I could. How profound. What sparked the inspiration for this one?

To be honest I just sat down and knew I had to write something, so I forced it out like an after-chinese poop. I appreciate your comments as always and I'll let you know when I edit it, because I feel this thing needs it.

...great. curious to see what of this needs editing.

Wow. That was touching, and asked a question we all ask ourselves. Excellent poem.

I would love to hear this presented in spoken word.

Wish granted!

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Gv1ELTrmrw

Jokes aside (please do not click the link above unless you want to hear someone being castrated), is it all right Jerry, if you could explain what this poem means. I think it is about the meaning of life.

Personally, I think I figured out the meaning of life. I am glad that you have as well Jerry, taking for granted that I think your poem means what I think it means.

Put pseudo-simplistically it is most certainly A meaning of life. We're on a giant terrestrial planet flying through space and we hold the odd accolade of being the only race smart enough to kill each other with fission. Approaching motivations in a brutally simplistic fashion, everything we do is with the end goal of experiencing what would be called "happiness", right? Maybe for ourselves, maybe for friends and family, maybe for total strangers. Generally speaking a traditionally moral deed makes someone happy, and is the socially encouraged thing to do. We all want to be happy, and we all work for it. We willingly dedicate 40 hours a week or more to attaining happiness. Some people never find it, but that's because they think that there is some obstacle between them and this happiness. There isn't. It's everywhere. Seeing it is a matter of perspective. Every single living thing on this planet can be cause to smile if only people could dial back the tunnel vision.

Hahaha I can't believe I started that explanation with simplistically involved anywhere in the first sentence.

Whoa, there! I didn't expect that coming, but it's a gift I'll accept with gratitude.

I initially questioned why "happy" was quoted (only once at that despite its repetition, though it's a stylistic nitpick on my part). After reading Jerry's thoughts on it, I kind of like his perception of "happiness" as a universally intangible goal that we all seek and interpret in our unique ways. There are people who drag their feet under the weight of their burdens, hissing through clenched teeth that it's all for their happiness "in the long run." Yet, what stands out to me in the piece is that happiness is a choice to experience in the moment. Time won't turn back to help us relive the moments we choose to regret.

I guess one thing I would challenge is the lack of credit towards the pain of adversity. They say happiness can't be understood without knowing sorrow, but do you think it's shallow to advocate a mindset of "happiness" over one of "wholesomeness"?

You're absurdly correct. Wholesomeness is higher than happiness, but I am keeping things to a primal level. If people are this bad at natural impulse imagine how much more we founder when society-based stigmas and acceptances come into play. Perhaps the theme of another poem?

This philosophical progression is bringing tears to my eyes. Truly I am before such knowledgeable and wise minds that would not only understand such concepts, but actively utilize that understanding in order to hopefully benefit their lives in addition to those around them with useful advice. I am right there amongst you! Continue to attempt living the wholesome and fulfilled lifestyle; through that, happiness will come in many ways you would never expect!

Naw... I don't think I have interpreted your poem correctly as to whether the poem is about happiness or about life. I still want to talk about the meaning of life though.

To me the meaning of life comes from a snarling and shrill female geriatric demanding me to work harder and harder and harder without end! I think of writing of a poem depicting that hopefully with little to no symbolism for easier understanding.