*NOTE to poet(s) not knowing HTML code I am restricted by the format of this blog template and or the limits of Text/Edit from word.doc to Mac? and the poem will not publish in the original format. It is a five stanza poem and the breaks occur after -out. -Way. -human. – eternal. Hence the hyphens for space and breath.
By Their Sidewalks You Will Know Them
–
Originally there were eleven Commandments
Moses, perhaps confused by the unfamiliar
snow, ice, and sidewalk,
botched one, and left it out.
–
But Buddha said that though Life is Pain,
falling on ice is gratuitous pain
and those who cause it, by neglect,
should never escape the Wheel of Rebirth;
and Lao-Tzu agreed, for those who will not
clear the path will never find the Way.
–
Zoroaster, in the endless war of light
against ice, demanded diligence;
claimed that those who surrender
the public way to the Enemy
have empty souls,
can scarcely be regarded as human.
–
The Prophet, regarding sidewalks and snow,
is silent; but his sura
Sand Drifting Against the Caravanserai Gate
is thought to apply. The condemnation there
is brutal and eternal.
–
Plato counted safe sidewalks as fundamental
to the ideal Republic, noting that those remiss
in this clear duty lacked all character;
and his pupil – perceptive, immortal Aristotle-
further declared, famously, that
lack of character
is destiny.
Timons Esaias is a writer and poet living in Pittsburgh. His short stories, ranging from literary to genre, have been published in fourteen languages. He has had over a hundred poems in print, including Spanish, Swedish and Chinese translations, in such markets as 5AM, Bathtub Gin, Main Street Rag, Willard & Maple, Elysian Fields Quarterly: The Literary Journal of Baseball and many others. He has also been a finalist for the British Science Fiction Award, and won the Asimov’s Readers Award. His poetry chapbook, The Influence of Pigeons on Architecture, sold out two editions. He is Adjunct Faculty at Seton Hill University, in the Writing Popular Fiction M.F.A. Program. This poem was originally published in hotmetalpoets.com when it existed.
Too deep for me.
Makes me happy that our sidewalks are clear and clean – thanks to Mike!! I couldn’t handle all those punishments! Seems like an almost normal day today!! Thanks for starting it with something special!!! Did Bill mean the snow was too deep – or the poem??!! Either way, I agree! My mind is mush (like this snow will soon be) — been in the house too long!!!
All tis is great Ruth. It is like your photos and words are a diary of living through these snowy days.
Dorothy
Too wonderful for … words?? 🙂 Changes my attitude on shoveling, altho I am already somewhat aware that I smile and feel satisfaction when I get to the concrete! A bit anxious now, tho, about the snow still on the bushes, bending branches low over the sidewalk leading to my caravanserai gate ……! 🙂
There is a special place in hell
where, frozen in ice, only his rear
exposed to Satan’s teeth, he’ll dwell
whose sidewalk’s untouched while his driveway’s clear.
that is one great photo
joseph
I know the snow is a pain, but it is beautiful. I enjoy the pic very much.
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Reblogged this on Ruth E Hendricks Photography and commented:
Reblogging Timons’ poem in this season of snow and ice to acknowledge the ongoing obligation to shovel the walks so the path is clear and safe. This is just the beginning of the season. Winter starts in earnest on Saturday December 21 at 12:11 P.M.
I recognize your street. Did you do all that shoveling? Impressive Ruth! I have to say I am always more worried about a lawsuit that becomes “gratuitous pain” but I did enjoy the poem. Merry Christmas to you and yours !
PS. A lot of your friends are quilters : )
Those quilts are the wordpress generated avatars when commenters don’t have one. At least they used to be. Not sure now but will check.
This blog was first posted in Feb 2010 when we had a massive storm.
Hi! Yes I know they are generic avatars! I was kidding because they were all quilts but mine : ) I hope for no massive storms this year!
My friend wrote the poem but I shoveled the walk! Thanks Sylvia
I’m suitably impressed! More power to your elbow. 🙂
This is great Ruthie! Thank you for making me laugh at this crap-tastic weather.
I miss my street beleive it or not, snow and all…Sandra in Seillans, Provence, France
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