The Hermit

Somewhere beyond
The rolling seas,
Above the highest
Timber trees,
Upon a mountain
Capped with snow,
The Hermit sat
And gazed below.
He saw each creature,
All around,
He heard each heartbeat,
Every sound,
And what he saw
Just made him sad,
And what he heard
Just made him mad.
“Why is the earth
So full of hate?
Why do the tears
Never abate?
Where is the joy
To be alive?
Where is the hope
They need to thrive?”
The Hermit turned
Away dismayed,
Back to his cave
He would have strayed,
But as he got
Up to his feet,
His ears tuned in
To something sweet:
Faint peals of laughter,
Pure and bold,
Soft waves of giggling
Uncontrolled,
Excited splashing
In the rain,
And silly songs
Untouched by pain.
So Hermit searched
And found the source,
He twitched a smile
And said, “Of course,
Where children live
Hope will survive;
I trust as long
As they’re alive
The earth is not
Completely lost
When children can
Redeem the cost.”

55 thoughts on “The Hermit

  1. *BIG GRIN* Very nice my dear! Clap clap clapping! πŸ™‚

    1. Aw, glad you liked it. If I can make you smile with my writing, that makes me very happy. πŸ˜€

  2. If I was a hermit (which, to be honest, would be my dream job) I’d find a cave somewhere that children are banned. There’s no point in being a hermit if you can still hear the little sods kicking a football up and down all day.

    1. Rofl. I was thinking of you when I wrote the poem. πŸ˜‰

  3. Excellent piece of writing i really enjoyed reading it

    1. I’m very happy you enjoyed it! πŸ™‚

  4. Really loved this. Best medicine of all – laughter.x

    1. So glad you did! And I totally agree. πŸ™‚

  5. Reblogged this. I’m still thinking about it.x

  6. toad (chris jensen) July 1, 2013 — 5:47 pm

    That is what I will see the children rebuild humanity…

    Sad for use, however there will not be a total loss for Humanity…

    1. Very nicely stated. πŸ™‚

  7. nuclearkumquat July 1, 2013 — 6:22 pm

    This poem is just fantastic! I love it! The simpler rhyme scheme and short, to-the-point lines just make the whole thing feel right!

    1. Much obliged. I would have hated for it to have felt wrong. πŸ˜‰

  8. Reblogged this on Traces of the Soul and commented:
    This IS so beautiful! Hopeful and so true. WI

  9. So beautiful and hopeful:) I am certainly sharing this as well with my colleagues…we are all counsellors for a youth line. WI

    1. I’m deeply flattered and humbled that you think it worthy of sharing. πŸ™‚

  10. Cubby… You are one of the few poets who have inspired tears. Very nicely done.

    1. I had no idea I could do that with my writing. You have no idea what that means to me. Truly touched and honored. πŸ™‚

  11. Reblogged this on The Arkside of Thought by Sahm King and commented:
    My friends, read it and weep… Literally… This poem is, in a phrase, instantly classical. Check it out!

  12. really like it. i am just an amature in this… but i think the way you write kind of resembles my writing. i newly opened a blog so you can check my blog out and give your thoughts . anyway you are better in it, hope i’ll be as good as you πŸ™‚ . great post (y)

    1. I’m glad that you liked it. I am an amateur as well. When it comes to poetry, I think it is very difficult to say anything is necessarily “better” since it is such a personal style and expression of one’s thoughts and feelings. Like any art form, it is entirely subjective. I will definitely check out your blog and leave some feedback for you. πŸ™‚

  13. We have similar tastes, and you are a very good poet.

    1. I’m flattered you think so, especially after reading some of your own writing. πŸ™‚

  14. wow! this poem is just wonderful. the theme and the rhyme is just impressive.

    1. So glad you you enjoyed it. πŸ™‚

  15. Cubby, thanks for liking my latest article. I so love your poem because I’m kind of a hermit myself, but my grand kids make me smile and dance. Loved the poem.

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I don’t know how anyone could not love your last post. It really made me smile. πŸ™‚

      1. Thanks Cubby. We all need a laugh these days and I’m so blessed to know you got a laugh from those pics.

  16. This is such a cool poem. There are many things you can’t do, according to your list, but you can certainly do poetry.

    1. Hehe, well, hopefully it helps balance out my other deficits just a tad. πŸ™‚

  17. Wonderful Team Membership Award is yours. No need for any homework. Unless you can do it in rhyme. I would enjoy that.x

    1. Thank you kindly. Your consideration is very much appreciated, and I am flattered and humbled by the award.

  18. inbetweenthemadness July 17, 2013 — 8:48 am

    How did i miss this one?! This is beautiful, meaningful and i will be adding this page to my favourites to come back and read again.
    You are the Mistress of Rhyme!

    1. Ah, calling me the Mistress of Rhyme is a…well, you know the word. πŸ˜‰

      I’m touched that you liked this one enough to want to come back and reread it. πŸ™‚

      1. inbetweenthemadness July 17, 2013 — 2:55 pm

        It was lovely, really really was. Be proud of that one. πŸ˜€

  19. wow! that brought a smile on my face.:) beautifully written.

    1. So very glad you enjoyed it! πŸ™‚

  20. Really beautiful poem! You are a very talented poet!

    1. I’m very flattered that you would think so and very happy you liked the poem.

  21. Well, I don’t usually like rhyming poetry -often too much effort goes into the form it dries up the force. But the pieces of yours I have read have a natural flow, reminds me of Coleridge a bit, quite effortless…..

    1. That is indeed overly generous praise, to be considered even the hint of a shadow of one of the great poets. I hope one day we will see rhymers again with the caliber of the greats in the literary world, and rhyming will not be viewed as an inferior style of poetry. I liked your poem “Meadowsweet” because it had, for me, a wonderful blend of rhyme and free verse that gave it a unique rhythm. I look forward to reading more of your work. πŸ™‚

  22. Beautiful. Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking my post. Regards. Sandra

    1. Twas my pleasure. Thank you for visiting me here as well. πŸ™‚

  23. Just shared a link to this poem on my facebook page. Told everyone I’ve become a fan of yours which is sooo true. Had to share.

    1. Oh wow, I’m very flattered. Thank you for such an honor. πŸ™‚

  24. loved it. I wish I could also write like this. thumbs up!

    1. So glad you liked it. As long as you enjoy what you write, the process is the same. πŸ™‚

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