Monday 12 December 2011

Change

Image by Mostafa Habibi
The boat,
the means of escape
is there. 
He could easily
step aboard,
cast off, set sail
and once afloat,
be free, unburdened. 
Does he? 
No.

He could go
yet always procrastinates,
always finds a ‘but’,
an ‘I can’t’
or ‘I’d better wait’
and buries himself
deeper
in the sand. 
He could go,
could leave the land,
but won’t cast off the burden
of his self-made anchor,
his self-made shackle.

He will stay stuck,
he does not want
the uncertainty
that change might bring. 
He will stay stuck,
remain the landsman
while gazing
longingly out to sea,
wondering,
“What if… …”

With thanks to Tess at  Magpie Tales for the inspiration.

Anna :o]

26 comments:

Frances Garrood said...

I just love this take on the picture, Anna. And as an expert procrastinator, can totally identify with it!

Berowne said...

"Buries himself deeper in the sand..." The life story of so many. Well done.

Isabel Doyle said...

Oh Anna - so insightful and authentic. We don't need supernatural grimness as the real kind is always close to hand.

Well done

Carrie Van Horn said...

So much truth in this....lovely writing! :-)

Tess Kincaid said...

Sometimes we all stay a little stuck...

anthonynorth said...

A great truth in this for so many. Excellent.

Brian Miller said...

i do not ever want to be this man...but i know many...the fear of change is great and there is always an excuse...

Anonymous said...

Hard to get away if not in actual pain. Well-expressed. K.

Ann Grenier said...

Ah yes, so perfectly true of so many of us as others have said. Good Magpie, with such an easy flow, Anna.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thank you for your kind comments folks.

Sometimes it appears easier to stay stuck than to effect change. I am a great procrastinater - but only about little insignificant thinks - like housework!

Hopefully I will always have the strength to fight things I regard as wrong.

Anna :o]

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Erm... that should be things!

Other Mary said...

Oh my, you've got the human condition there perfectly.
'He could go,
could leave the land,
but won’t cast off the burden
of his self-made anchor,

...but instead he looks longingly at the sea, and great last line. Wow!

susan m hinckley said...

I'm the world's biggest procrastinator,and only wish I didn't understand this piece so well. Maybe I should print it out and put it on my fridge. Well done!

Lolamouse said...

Seems you and I had the same idea on this prompt! Maybe we're both our own worst obstacles!

Mary said...

Excellent! Some people are stuck by their own doing and, unfortunately, will stay there. Well expressed.

Susie Clevenger said...

We are caught in our own glue of fear of change...wonderfully written poem

jabblog said...

True of so many of us - familiarity is to be preferred to adventure or uncertainty. Nice write:-)

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Yhank you for your kind comments folks.

I am at present using blogs as a means of procrastination - there are other things I should be doing!

Anna :o]

Friko said...

a perfect description of the picture of a procrastinator.
digging him/herself ever deeper into the sand.

Perfect.

Misterio Vida said...

well i think procrastination is in human nature...we all do this... postponing different things... like i will need to buy something and would go to the shop and then say okay i will come back..for no reason... marvelous poem with a great them :) real hypercryptical :)

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thank you so much Friko and Israr for your kind comments.

Anna :o]

Tarang Sinha said...

"He does not want the uncertainty that change might bring." You captured the fear that lies within.

Beautiful composition:)

Laura Maria said...

The best response to this prompt that I've read so far! I think this holding back of oneself is a universal failing. Great writing.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thanks for your much appreciated comments Tarang and Laura.

Anna :o]

Anonymous said...

Incredible work,
Happy Holidays….
if you write Haiku, welcome sharing with us,
1 to 3 or more are welcome.
no theme.


hope to see you share.

Hyde Park Poetry Palace said...

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Hope all is well,
Glad to land on your island that showcase fabulous poetry talent, way to go!!!

Welcome join us by submitting a free verse or a poem of your choice today,

Cheers.

Happy New Year!
Bless You.

xoxox