A Poem

Hello,

I love poems because among other things they respond to our (man's)inner need which is to live and understand experiences of others and know better of our own experiences. Poetry is central to man's existence. Something which a man is better off for having and spiritually impoverished without.

Poems exist in order to bring us a sense and perception of life as well as to sharpen our contacts with existence. A poet from his/her own store of felt, observed or imagined experiences creates new experiences for the reader which can be appreciated and give the reader a greater awareness and understanding of his world.

Lets share what we can discover from the following poem. More poems to follow.

Feel free to comment.

I Remember When

By Michael Hettich

My father climbed the western mountain
Every day he chopped more
of its peak off so we could have more
daylight to grow our food in, and when he’d
chopped deep enough that in midsummer we had
sun for an extra minute, which
is, of course an exaggeration, he
knew he had done something real, and called us
to watch the sun settle
in the chink and disappear.

Next day the sun had moved, but he kept digging
the same dent, wanting one day a year.
One day, he told us, the mountain would be
chopped in two and there would be
one complete day
hours longer than there’d ever been.

People in the town called him “father” too.
Some volunteered to help, but no,
It was his, his dent and his light; they were lucky
he was willing to share. At night there were new stars.

-When he hit a spring and the water gushed out
a waterfall, flooding the valley, the town,
to form a beautiful lake, deep,
cold, and full of fish found
nowhere else, the animals that lived
wild on his mountain rejoiced and grew
wilder, more passionate. They rejoiced!
We still do.