Poetry Contests Online at The Poetic Link

This Poem was Submitted By: Thomas H. Smihula On Date: 2006-03-15 14:41:14 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

To Listen to Music While Reading this Poem, just Click Here!

Click Here To add this poem to your "Voting Possibilities" list!

Soul Searching

Ever find yourself within a dark closet Nether a sound to interfere with thought Allowing the mind, to catch up in time Continually finding yourself standing in one spot holding a visionary compass knowing each direction all have the same beginning, yet each point a different ending Although the directions may parallel one another each path has a different value associated with it the search for meaning is relentless till the end As one approach’s an end to the journey realization is found no turning back time only moves forward Fulfillment an unknown to reap plenty still the goal for wants are necessities Sensitivity at its strongest yearning at it greatest moment until the wind subsides Dawn begins its steady climb showing light for the mind yet I find myself in a desert of dreams Dusk a final chapter, for this body blending into the sand in a desert of souls…

This Poem was Critiqued By: Lora Silvey On Date: 2006-04-05 10:06:17
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.79487
Thomas, Ah, this must be where you get your name, spirit, for it is full of spirit, philosophy and carries the memories of celestial essences. When standing on that threshold of awareness we seem to be caught between the knowing and the believing which tends to lead to confusion of a kind and the soul searching. Yes, the dreams can shed light, give insight and we are truly all one of a much larger quanitity, of the cosmos. Excellant how you've captured the journey that one takes in finding one's self and the revelations that follow. I enjoyed your well thought out poem, did stumble a bit with the grammatical structure in stanza two, probably just this readers way of reading that hindered me. Thank you for contemplative piece. Best always, Lora

This Poem was Critiqued By: Mary J Coffman On Date: 2006-03-30 08:07:09
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Thomas, This is an excellent write, my friend! There are so many layers here, so much going on. Where to start... Hmmmmm.... "Ever find yourself within a dark closet Nether a sound to interfere with thought Allowing the mind, to catch up in time" I think we have ALL been here at one time or another in our lives. So, you've captured us right at the very beginning! We can ALL relate to this in some way. This first stanza actually 'puts you there', once again. I could actually feel myself drifting in that peaceful silence.... Love the use of the word "Nether." Excellent choice here. Give it a kind of 'fairy-tale feel.' "Continually finding yourself standing in one spot holding a visionary compass knowing each direction all have the same beginning, yet each point a different ending" Oh yes...where to go, which way do I turn? Decisions, decisions... This stanza drips with confusion, and even a little frustration, as we try to decide which of life's paths we shouldtake. "Visionary compass," fantastic! Well done. "Although the directions may parallel one another each path has a different value associated with it the search for meaning is relentless till the end" I think this stanza illustrates the constant desire to define ourselves and/or our lives. And, this quest doen't end, it an ongoing search through to our journey's end. Profoundly stated. And as we read on... does it really end, or is it the beginning of a new road to travel? "As one approach’s an end to the journey realization is found no turning back time only moves forward" Wow! I say that because we both kind of touched on the same subject this month! Kinda creepy, huh... LOL! I love this stanza. The stark realization that at the end of our journey, our judgement awaits. Too late to change things now, there's no going back... The last line carries such power, as well. "Fulfillment an unknown to reap plenty still the goal for wants are necessities Sensitivity at its strongest yearning at it greatest moment until the wind subsides Dawn begins its steady climb showing light for the mind yet I find myself in a desert of dreams Dusk a final chapter, for this body blending into the sand in a desert of souls…" Smooth transistion from the quatrains to the tercets. Very interesting. I love it! In rereading it, the transition is so smooth the difference is unnoticible. Wonderfully done!! Like how you address the different aspects of the human spirit in each tercet; ie: 'fulfillment, sensitivity, dawn (the beginning of life/learning), and dusk (our final journey)'. The desert metaphor is great! The last tercet is my fav..."blending into the sand, in a desert of souls..." Perfectly worded and executed. Like the elipse, too. I don't use them very often, but here they fit well, and give just the right effect to the ending of this poem...leaving it open to the beginning of the next journey... Oh my, look at all those elipses I just used...LOL! :) Forgive me if I've rambled a bit here. I really enjoyed this offering! Thanks for sharing, Thomas. What a nice start to my morning *smile* Always, Mary

This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2006-03-27 17:15:07
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Thomas this is a beautiful journey in which I allowed my thoughts to just flow with your words.....life is a journey we travel on each day and indeed we need not know how the end is to take place or when but someday we shall return and be one with the universe as our soul lives on forever. I wrote a poem once which felt familiar as I read yours in which I was on my own journey in search of the Lord....... I would not consider this a critique and you need not score me higher then a one. I just wanted you to know I stopped by, found this one, read it, enjoyed it from start to finish and it tugged at my soul. Good job my friend, nice word flow, emotions, images all created with the flare of your pen. Never stop putting your emotions on paper and sharing them with the world. It is a much nicer place with you in it. God Bless, Claire

This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2006-03-19 17:50:01
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.90000
Thomas, I'll bet people have told you, you think too much. If so, they told me too. poo.... You think just right! Someones gotta think in this old world! I know your thought.... After much living, you can finally see without all the emotion clouding the way. You see the paths you took, the choices you made/good and bad. But always you grew and learned. The pain or sorrow, were worth the price...to grow and know. Otherwise how would you get enlightened? Isn't life a kick? And then we wonder, was it all a dream as it seems? Maybe so..... I think of blending into a pool of sky. We're all as one.....actually. What affects one, affects all........ Love your stuff, you think as I. Dellena

Poetry Contests Online at The Poetic Link

Click HERE to return to ThePoeticLink.com Database Page!