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Tuesday 18 September 2012

the gods and us

When we were gods
we danced with gods,

danced on the waves,
held hands with gods,

we walked with gods
and talked with gods.

When we were gods
we thought as gods

we fought as gods
and slept with gods.

When we were gods
We kept our gods

beyond harm's way;
hung out with gods,

wrung all we could
from all our gods.

When we became
more truly man

the gods hung on,
clung to the past -

for gods outlast
the thoughts we have.

Now movie stars
or sporting names,

cardboard cut-outs,
video games,

consumer things -
but mind the strings -

we love them now
as in the past.

Guise after guise
they've tried on us.

Possessions have
possessed our souls.
......................
Written for the Tess Kincaid (Willow) prompt at The Mag - to whom I am indebted for the image.




25 comments:

Shadow said...

Outstanding Dave! Your interpretation of changes in society is spot on!

kaykuala said...

Your verse has a notable ring to it, Dave! It goes clock-work! In God we trust!

Hank

Brian Miller said...

this is great dave....wicked flow through that opening section, but in this i think you capture our society well...and our journey to man hood and perhaps our attempts to get back through artificial means....

Silent Otto said...

This is awesome , Dave,vand it begs the question, why did we disacrd them in the first place ? . I think we had to move on from worshipping them objectively , and learn how to embody them, and monotheism perhaps was a necessaary step on the way , which has now outlived its used by date , becoming unsatisfactory to many , bravo .

Silent Otto said...

Question is , will we destroy ourselves bedore we have made the change , i think we live at a critical juncture. Wow.

Mary said...

Fascinating flow in this poem, Dave; from one kind of god to another. Kudos.

jabblog said...

I like the progression in this and the last two lines are just perfect - what a damnation of modern man.

haricot said...

We could live more simply and could think more naturaly... and sometimes we could hold a festival like Gods did...but without any sacrifice, I hope.

Other Mary said...

Wow - you really hit the nail on the head (that's a folksy American way of saying spot on). And you meter and rhyme have the reader sailing along, unsuspectingly to that final couplet. Bravo Dave!

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Excellent, superb, brilliant, a masterpiece Dave!

Anna :o]

Leovi said...

Nice poem, delicious. Entering the world of DalĂ­.
Saludos.

Helen said...

I recently read this Oscar Wilde quote ... 'those whom the gods love grow young' ~ here's to everlasting love from all the gods.

Tommaso Gervasutti said...

Great David, gods and memory, the past, I have my own "gods" in a poem that could appear in Orbis several years ago. Icannot now but put in the blog.

Ann Grenier said...

A wonderful poem Dave. The whole truth in a few flowing lines. I loved your conversation below, with your art folder as well. Ah,memories...

Trellissimo said...

All too true, I'm afraid... Nice Mag.:)

Brother Ollie said...

I really admire the style of this one DK. Thanks for visiting both of my blogs today.

Berowne said...

A truly originall take on the prompt - thanks.

Linda said...

Superb, Dave!

21 Wits said...

Sadly it's all very true, and nicely written!

Cloudia said...

what an enjoyable, meaningful and successful ride!



Aloha from Honolulu
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Elephant's Child said...

Ouch. You have created another painful truth. Thank you.

Ella said...

Sad it is true! I loved the flow of your words~ Well Done, as always ;D

Dave King said...

Shadow
Thanks so much for this. Great to have!

Hank
Like it! Thanks very much!

Brian
Wow, that's a pretty good summary of what I had in mind - so, very satisfying from my point of view. Thanks a lot.

Kutamun
Yes, indeed, I can go with that: having to move on from worshipping tham objectively seems a very incisive perception to me, and yes, also to the outliving of the use by date. Thanks so much!
As to your final question, I think that's the million dollar conundrum!

Mary
Which I accept as deity to deity! Thanks for.

jabblog
Yes, maybe I should now try to think about his blessing and rehabilitation...

haricot
yes - definitely without living sacrifice!

Other Mary
Thanks for this - it's usually my thunb I hit!

hyperCRYPTICal
Thanks so much. Good to know you thought this.

Leovi
Ah, yes. Thanks so much!

Helen
I'll go for that - I sure could do with some!

Tommaso
Thanks. Shall be along to read.

Ann
Thank you so much and a warm welcome. It's really good to hear what folk think.

Trellismo
Thanks a lot.

Old Ollie
Enjoyed my visits. Thanks for yours.

Berowne
Thank you for saying so.

Linda
Much thanks.

Karen
Hi, welcome and thank you for your kind words.

Cloudia
Thanks for this. Very much appreciated.

The Elephant's Child
Gues I ought to try to find some anaesthetic! Thanks though.

Ella
Warm gretings to you. Thanks for your kind comment.


Carl said...

Wonderful Dave! That's one of your top 5 posts!

Tess Kincaid said...

Mind the strings...indeed...nicely done, Dave...