In the beginningMy life was chaos
An amniotic
Explosion
Into a maelstrom
Of needs and desires;
I demanded to know
To grow, to determine
My own destiny;
And buffered by
Frameworks of friends
And of family
I learned over time
To be an adult.
I found in the middle
My life was predestined
To be an experience
Of unending education;
Of searching for
Meaning in marriage
And children;
Of searching for
Status in persons,
Professions;
Of learning that time
Is no friend of mine
Passing too quickly
Before I was ready.
To move to the end
To become an old man
Where life is chaotic
As body and soul
Fail now to function
As in the beginning;
Where what was
Important is now merely
Childish and meaning
Is found
In the love of a spouse
And family and friends;
Where you finally learn
That everything ends.
In the beginning?
No one knows...
[This is one of my favorite poems, initially published in 2006. Copyright 2006 and 2009 by Jacob Anson. All rights reserved. Image © 2009 by Jacob Anson and its licensors.]
5 comments:
How true. Very nice, Jacob!
This is so beautiful and so true. I'm going through some of these thoughts now; it hits home. Very talented my friend.
Thank you so much, EG and Nancy...not often I get any comments on this blog (of course, I don't post that often) so your remarks are much appreciated!
so many people are still wandering to find answers for these questions... and
"Where you finally learn
That everything ends.
In the beginning?
No one knows..."
is the answer i think...
good work..
This is so true, Lowell. In the beginning, I didn’t know how my lifetime is limited, in the middle, I didn’t care how much my life is left. Now that I’m alarmed how little time is left with my mother, I came to think how my final stage would be. Indeed, the things finally we find consolation with before departing must be affection from the loved ones.
Time is fleeting. While I’ve been involved in family matters and occasional posting and commenting, this year is going to end. The distinctive feature of this year to me was “coming and going”, that is, babies and the very old parents. It’s like new buds appear very close to the withered older blooms still clinging to the stem with its own beauty, like cosmos flowers. I’ve had such a delight with grandchildren and aged mother nearby. Last week, my mother was found lying on the floor, but thanks to my brother’s early detection, she is okay now though frail. She also started perceiving or seeing something that is not there in the real world (like the late loved dog all drenched in the room, etc.) My brother decided “final care at home” and my sister and I are commuting to Kobe in turn more often than before. I hope her dream will come true to die in her sleep at home. While watching over her, I think of my life from now on.
In the same way, more or less, I understand your prayers and thoughts toward your loved ones. I feel happy whenever I hear good news from you, knowing life is filled with both pleasures and pains.
I really appreciate your friendship and kind words, Lowell, and I feel so honored to be encouraged by such a photographer like you with the wonderful mastery of photographing. I have enjoyed heartfelt interactions with you, visiting your blogs or being visited throughout the year. We are different in many respects but also have many in common. Wish you a peaceful Christmas and a healthy New Year full of smiles.
Yoko
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