Don’t surrender. Don’t trade disorder for an
engraved bronze plaque.
Don’t cross the street to avoid a cold. We’re
all contagious.
Don’t clean up. That tangled collection is the
sum of you.
Don’t change your tone. Be proud. We only
hear the very quiet and the very loud.
Don’t lose your keys. Other actors in this
vast caged play will need them.
Don’t join the flock, happily singing along.
Because they’re always right, they’re always
wrong.
Don’t sleep all the time. Sometimes be awake
at night alone. Morning needs no help. It always
gets here on its own.
Be thoughtful. Be full of thoughts. Feel each one
draw and disappear. You’re the only one they’ve got.
24 responses so far ↓
holly22473 // August 23, 2008 at 12:51 am |
“Don’t clean up. That tangled collection is the sum of you” Yes! That one really hit me…it metaphorically says SO much. They’re all good, though…all of them. I like to do those kinds of poems too, without hopefully hogging room, I’d like to reply with this one: a different approach, but it reminded me of what you are doing–
Instructions
Kick long notes into
the night.
Pray, question with a
violet violence.
Open your blossom.
Hug your inner
JackintheBox,
your ovary planet,
your queen bee,
your energy fish,
your mighty night opal—
nathan1313 // August 23, 2008 at 1:18 am |
Holly thank you so much for this poem. It’s so beautiful. So much energy and music. “violet violence” and “mighty night opal” thank you.
holly22473 // August 23, 2008 at 1:53 am |
You are of course, welcome, thank you so much for sharing all of your magical words with us! I don’t feel half the poet you are, but we all have our own “thing” going on eh? And it’s fun to share it!
The Mad Celt // August 23, 2008 at 2:27 am |
A wise old man. i dig it.
Crafty Green Poet // August 23, 2008 at 8:09 am |
This is great, I like how all the pieces of advice, play on each other and build up into the whole.
lissa // August 23, 2008 at 6:10 pm |
love the contagious line and the one about only hearing the very quiet or very loud.
Trinath // August 23, 2008 at 7:16 pm |
“Don’t cross the street to avoid a cold. We’re
all contagious.
Don’t clean up. That tangled collection is the
sum of you.”
Good metaphors in simple words . That is what is remarkable !
Jade // August 24, 2008 at 2:56 am |
cool piece – don’t sell out, especially to fear.
johemmant // August 24, 2008 at 9:10 am |
Many wonderful things here but the last two lines caught me most…..wow. Another really strong piece of work.
nathan1313 // August 24, 2008 at 1:00 pm |
Thanks very much everybody. I’m really happy you all read this one.
Meander // August 24, 2008 at 4:51 pm |
this is wonderful stuff. a novel could be written about each theme. you are wise indeed. i will be back to read more of you.
nathan1313 // August 24, 2008 at 5:04 pm |
Thank you Meander. I really appreciate that.
mary a. kaufman // August 24, 2008 at 8:14 pm |
“Be full of thoughts. You’re the only one they’ve got.
I like that. Proof of how truly important I am to the “me” that dwells inside the brain within my skull. Thank you. Mary from Meander With Me.
White Rose // August 24, 2008 at 8:47 pm |
This is wonderful! Loved this!
“Be thoughtful. Be full of thoughts. Feel each one
draw and disappear. You’re the only one they’ve got.”
So true!
ravenswingpoetry // August 24, 2008 at 9:33 pm |
“Don’t clean up. That tangled collection is the sum of you.”
This is my favorite line. This whole poem in fact says to me that it’s okay to be broken, it’s okay to be imperfect, it’s okay to be different, it’s okay not to have answers. In short, it’s okay to be human and whatever it is we are, even – and especially – a hot mess.
Thank you for writing this, Nathan. I think this could be an anthem, almost.
-Nicole
nathan1313 // August 24, 2008 at 10:01 pm |
Thank you Mary, White Rose, Nicole. You all have great things to say and I thank you.
christine // August 25, 2008 at 12:28 am |
I welcome these strings of advice, a poetic listing of an uncommon way of looking at life. The poem reminds me of aphorisms carved in wood, or on a plaque found in the woods.
nathan1313 // August 25, 2008 at 1:13 am |
What a wonderful imagistic way to talk about this. Thank you christine.
paisley // August 25, 2008 at 11:07 am |
definite words of wisdom… inside many of which i was able to find myself
nathan1313 // August 25, 2008 at 11:12 am |
Thank you for reading this Jodi.
Julie // August 25, 2008 at 12:58 pm |
Of course, I love all the advice (and the entire poem), but I have to say the clean up one hit home with me, too. I look around at my office and…yeeesh. But so right…that tangled collection, all those piles, all that mess, is me.
But my FAVORITE bit of advice is the very first…”Don’t surrender. Don’t trade disorder for an/engraved bronze plaque.” Yes! I would love to frame those words and put them on my wall. Such wise (and encouraging) words.
nathan1313 // August 25, 2008 at 1:02 pm |
Thanks Julie. I like hearing about your office. It comforts me that I’m not the only one. I kind of like the mess, you know? It’s that cliche about the messy person who knows where everything is — that’s me.
Michelle // December 20, 2008 at 6:23 pm |
This is one of my favourites among your work, Nathan. I think it’s brilliant.
nathan1313 // December 21, 2008 at 3:59 am |
Wow, thanks Michelle.