Sketch for a Theory of Persistent Passions iv

the fulfillment of desire occurs
when one attains satisfaction through experience
which can sometimes be elusive
since desire is transmuted as soon as it’s secured

but some things never change
the desire burns now as much as it did then
for woman, world, wonder… passion
pen, paper, idea… everything

so in the mind’s eye it is clear
purpose is a force so strong
and difficult to outgrow
even as the years pile on

but because culture is a social organism
ideas can become germs that disrupt its structure
still, who doesn’t want to be as the maidenhair tree
and live forever in stone

to conquer eternity
or maybe not go as far as that
besides, conquest implies conflict
and just because a man can’t give birth doesn’t mean he should couvade

but should he continue to pen
pray he never uses a ruse and the poems are more perspicuous
so that value is created out of nature’s good
the way Chesebrough made Vaseline

so that whatever the endeavour
he’ll always do as best he can
 

© Heath Muchena, 2016

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