I Shall Know
by ArsPoet2789ica (Member) - published: September 26, 2008
Word Count: 179 Word Bytes: 1092 Viewed: 642 times
Category - The Write Off
© Copyright by ArsPoet2789ica

(7 votes)

Rating	Rated by

10	Chrispian

10	drsoos

9	johnjohndoe

8	Penelope

9	Rogan

8	TheRealKarmaTse..

9	windchime

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Alone here,
surrounded by fear
and uncertainty
And a haze
like static on a screen…
Where am I?
Suddenly out of nowhere
appears a shadow without a face-
He says, “You shall know.”

“I’m lost,” I admit in desperation.
“Come with me; I’ve traveled every constellation.”
I cringe; how can I trust an invisible face?
But he places his hand on my shoulder,
and his touch feels real.
I have to ask him, “Do you truly exist?”
All he answers is, “You shall know.”

He takes my hand and urges me to take a step.
“I can’t see the ground below me.”
“Take a step, and you shall know,” he assures me.
The haze begins to clear when I let myself walk,
and then I see that I’m on Heaven’s bridge.
A smile appears on the shadow man’s face,
a smile I used to know.
“I hate to say this, but I told you so!” he teases, just like the man I used to know.
“Now will you follow me?”
“Yes,” I say, “I wish again to know.”

------
"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."-Jeremiah 33:3, King James Version

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."-Psalm 119:105, New Living Translation

The present and future are not about who you were in the past-rather, they are about who you are and who you will become.

"Writing is truly glorious in that an author can put on paper the words that fear denies the voice to speak."-from my short story, "Set Free"

"...What you feel is what you are;
What you are is beautiful..."
-from "Slide" by the Goo Goo Dolls

Life surprises you! And I'm talking about the good stuff, because a bad surprise is not a surprise at all, it is just shock and horror. All of these good surprises, they are rewards, and the things that happen to remind you that you matter and that you should make yourself faithful so that you can be deserving of all of life's good surprises. Every wonderful surprise in life is a chance to flourish, so grab life by the horns-but don't ride, steer instead: life's horns are life's joystick. You can handle it, because your life's horns are made especially for you. If you don't give up, all of this will hold true and life will continue to surprise you.

Aubri, a. k. a. "Leopard Lady"

Comments

The following comments are for "I Shall Know"
by ArsPoet2789ica

shadows from the miry depths of the unconsious
i sometimes see shadows without faces... when i was younger a recuring 'dream' or 'vision' happened often, with me waking paralyzed and immobile (except my eyes) one shadow on each side, and an especially interesting one at the foot of my bed... sometimes pressing their weight on me, i gasping for air...

i found later this is a normal symptom of sleep paralysis... some sort of f-ed up thing that affects a small portion of the population...

doesnt bother so much any more, but i must sleep nonetheless... thanks for the closer of the night.

( Posted by: ghostpoisonsturgeon [Member] On: September 27, 2008 )

"I shall know" re: Write-Off
Though I like the simple story telling style of this...it to me is too obvious and leaves little to the imagination, and then the ending, with it's religious implications (my interpretation, though you may not have intended it, that is what I read into it) of "follow me" as in follow me in the disciples of Christ. Inspirational I must say, but it had a sermon like feel to it that left me cold and bored. But the good news is that just like Viper's poem, I did not vomit, and that is always a good sign. I hate things that make me vomit and this most certainly did not make me vomit. Yet, I have to say that Viper's write was in my opinion superior in style, form, use of imagery and metaphor, etc., than your piece here. I gave him the the higher rating, but this piece here I would say is not bad, not bad at all. Just not my favorite of the two in having to choose between the two.

Best Wishes,
Lena

( Posted by: TheRealKarmaTseringLhamo [Admin] On: September 27, 2008 )

I wonder...
Viper writes of an alien-alike encounter, but this was something closer to home, more human, more easily recognisable, as somebody struggling with doubt and faith and eventually rewarded- not for having blind faith, which would have made this poem dull- but for constantly seeking, constantly questioning and never giving up… of course, this could apply as much to a person as it could to any higher power, but in this case I think poem deals with the latter…

the connection between the two poems seems to have to do with a relationship with something/ someone not physically there, with doubt in that entity but eventual surrender to it… hummm… bet I’m not even close… no matter…

Viper’s poem is still my favourite, because I prefer my poetry with more meat, language-wise, that’s just my personal preference. this does, however, tell a story, which I like, and touches common ground familiar and accessible to most.

( Posted by: AuldMiseryGuts [Member] On: September 28, 2008 )

you had already known
You had already known. You just had to prove it. You trusted your heart, not the shadow, and your heart was telling the truth. As hearts usually do.

Brilliant.

( Posted by: waelnawara [Member] On: September 28, 2008 )

Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment on my poem.

ghostpoisonsturgeon: The way you describe the 'sleep paralysis' would make for a thrilling poem if you find a way to put it into verse. I'm glad I could give you your last literary hurrah of the night!

Penelope: I like how you gathered from my poem different ideas from the rest. And my signature has become a dumping ground for interesting quotes I find, or say myself. I should make a Microsoft Word file for that, and hopefully will before long.

Lena: Reading your comment, I realized that my Christian faith managed to find its way into this poem without my paying attention to it. But it feels good to know that the light of God doesn't necessarily require that I consciously flip the switch on.

Desvelado: That's so awesome that you've rediscovered God. He certainly has His mysterious ways of getting in touch with people. And I'm glad that you're safe after that close encounter with injury.

Shannon: When I read Viper9's poem, it seemed like his would be an orange if mine were an apple. I expected it, though, and, yes, I had the intention of keeping the mystery while I made the story behind the poem something that people can relate to despite its other-worldliness.

waelnawara: It's great to see a new face here. And thank you very much for your encouraging words!

-ArsPoet2789ica

( Posted by: ArsPoet2789ica [Member] On: September 28, 2008 )

Aubri's write-off entry
"a smile I used to know" is the line that does it for me in this poem. The line that creates the "aha" moment for me as your reader. This is where the poem affirms that, cosmically, things like time and identity are neither truths nor realities.

It can't be easy putting into words what could/should be mindread, but you did it with a very good narrative offering. You gave this a simple setting, divested it of any pretense, and I applaud you for that.

I also like that you showed knowledge as absolute in this. There has been much bellyaching debate over whether knowledge is relative or absolute. I like that somebody made up her mind...

Thank you for the poem that gets my vote as the better of the two.

Lucie

( Posted by: windchime [Member] On: September 29, 2008 )

A Familair Grace
Makes me think of the movie "What Dreams May Come" when messengers were sent in forms familiar and comforting to the one being led.

Calm and soothing
very nice.

( Posted by: TAMMYHENDRIX [Member] On: September 29, 2008 )

Thanks for commenting! (#2)
Thanks for all of your input and insight!

Lucie: You share such great insight that stands out among the rest! I love it when people can both read my poem for what it literally is and read between the lines.

Tammy: I'm glad my poem was relaxing for you. The zen effect is always a good thing!

Rogan: It was my pleasure to participate in this write-off you hosted. I'd love to do it again sometime.
The masses do seem to separate religion from extraterrestrial life. However, I believe that extraterrestrial life includes God and the angels and demons, for they are living in their own realms (Heaven and hell). Many experiences I've had throughout my life led me to believe in God as the guide of life and angels as His assistants. The reference to extraterrestrial life is just so heavily associated with the little green men that most people don't seem to think beyond that assumption. Thanks for your kind words!

-Aubri, ArsPoet2789ica

( Posted by: ArsPoet2789ica [Member] On: October 6, 2008 )

Comparing Xizflax and Heavenly Host
I think and feel this as a literal leap of faith. It flows like a brook, babbling(sensibly).

To compare this to Viper's piece is.. Beauty and the Bestial. I canno doot Cap'n!

{8#Y#
s

( Posted by: drsoos [Member] On: October 12, 2008 )

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