To see or not to see?, that is the question. Well not exactly and my apologies to Mister Shakespeare for my liberty with his famous quote from Hamlet’s speech. However many people do look and don’t really see, and of course the sayings that “there are none so blind as those who won’t see” and on others who “couldn’t see it if it was right under their nose!” are mostly well known to us.
Are those adages that are much bandied about true, or just old sayings we mention without thinking about what they actually mean? Well you make your own mind up but I will give you my “poetic Guide” to my own thoughts, observations and poems from my continued “Poetic Views of Life” as my first book is called.
Nothing much surprises me, and never really did as I observe life, but obviously my near thirty year career in psychiatry helped me form many of my opinions and views of today, but just take your time out to observe people, things and of course our many gifts of beauty, but for me my main thing is behaviours! To this end I will go to my first poem in this article called appropriately “Witness” and is in my third book, “Reviews of Life in Verse”.
Witness
An innocent bystander can observe
Many “going outs” and “coming ins,”
And whilst not wanting to be involved
May witness an array of sins!
For we are all spectators of life
Though many with blinkered eyes,
Apart from scenes that involve them
Thus they bask under cloudless skies.
Of course until their sunshine is gone
When they will shout for you and me.
But generally they’ll be indifferent
As none are so blind as will not see!
So we can bare witness to our world
Occasionally making comment to seek
Correction or change, but mostly don’t,
For if not our problem we’re loathe to speak.
Though obviously all the worlds wrongs
Cannot be solved by just one voice
That has witnessed man’s injustices,
Though some will make the choice,
To make a growing chorus
So much harder to then ignore,
But for many it’s too much trouble
And through contented sleep they snore!
——-
There are of course many people happy to be witnesses of life events, sports and activities and suchlike which are obviously normal and fine, along with other usual spectator participations, events and happenings Sadly though there are those who almost actively, or even do seek to visit, watch or ogle at others misfortunes, troubles or accidents too. Apart from an almost odd outlook on these occurrences, in the case of accidents, these people often interfere, hold up and impede the emergency services and cause further traffic hold ups and congestion, thus putting more people at risk! Often on news reports we will hear of people ogling or “rubbernecking” as our “American Cousins” call it, so to this end I include my poem “Ghouls” which featured in my first published book….
Ghouls
What do you really want to see?
What do you need to know?
Of peoples misery there to see
So you just have to go,
By the scene to ogle
At unwilling actors who
Are caught up in the scene
With carnage clear to view.
Is there so little in your life?
Maybe a darker side?
That takes you to a tragedy
So you can watch with pride,
That you have never suffered,
And won’t without a doubt.
For surely they deserve this
Their death and grief laid out.
—–
Well hopefully there aren’t too many people like those in the last poem, but I guess it takes all kinds, or as we used to say where I grew up, “Bassetts” (all sorts!) to make the world interesting! Anyway enough of that as I am warming up for probably my biggest dislike of “witness type “ people, casters of first stones or glass house dwellers, (ho ho stones again), but let’s move on to my number one “witness non likes” ! So who are they then Laurie? I can imagine , or hope you ask as I would hope that somebody will soon be reading this. The answer then is my spectators of life who won’t take a chance themselves, but deride the people who try, but have no fear it is all in my next poem called “Game to lose” and is in my second published book, (little secret, there will soon be my fourth book out by this coming November so best catch up with my first three!).
Game to Lose
Your game of life is often played
In front of the watching crowd,
Who see your each and every move
As you stand small, or very proud.
So the fence sitters will only watch
How others cope with their game.
And decrying all those who’ve lost
Whilst jealous of the victors fame.
For if you won’t take a part in life
You can deride and mock at will,
All those who try to do their best
To enjoy life, and so they’ll fulfil.
So that’s why I have strongly felt
It’s far better to have tried and lost.
For if you won’t compete or try
You’ll much later count your cost,
Of just cowardly sitting at the side,
Never taking any risk or chance.
Making you a lonely, boring case,
And not worth a second glance!
But by getting stuck in having a go
It’s just possible you may win out.
And that must be so much better
Than not to know a winners shout.
So our cosy spectators of the world
Will always rue not being brave,
And missed the warmth of joining in
Thus taking a sadness to their grave!
Well that is my little “mini rant” over, but HEY, as a now prolific poetic viewer, (ho ho or witness?) of life I am allowed to expostulate! As ever I hope you have enjoyed my thoughts, poems and hopefully amusing little comments, and of course take great care and mind how you go, for you just never know who is witnessing what you do!
All three of my books :–
Poetic Views of Life
MORE Poetic Views of Life &
Reviews of Life in Verse
Will ensure my donation to the excellent charity I support, promote and donate to, that being Help for Heroes and my books only priced £4. 99 each are all on sale at Amazon, or from me at …………….. lw1800@hotmail.co.uk Or 07967 355236
I can now also write a “Personal Poem” for you, your family, any event or your business too…….
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