Hidden Layers

It's one of the laziest metaphors. And one I dislike the most.
See, lots of things have hidden meanings and layers, right?
And, like, onions have layers too, you know?
So, "it was layered like an onion".
So if I'm seeking to explain something deep and interesting and profound.
Maybe, I should do that thing some justice.


This world contains many wonders, not all of which are hidden
Though there is of course delight in finding secrets once forbidden

When you enter a new city you enter into new sights and sounds, It
hits you like a blast, your senses are overloaded, pounded
Welcome to the surface. To first impressions.
If this place is a teacher you're learning your first lessons

Take a trip on the transport give an ode to each road
The steps taken each day by those who call the city their abode

Then take a step down take a step in take another step deeper
Going to the places where this new place happens to keeps the
Things it puts on show, the history and attractions
Split the city into pieces and learn all its factions

But take a walk down any street in any city you will witness
People practising their passion, running a local business

Let's go inner again, lets meet the people inside
of the buildings, those residents that reside
In the city, and the city dwells in their personality
And then each person goes deeper than you will likely ever see

Then you meet those you call family, those you call friends
And you uncover more layers and you hope it never ends



Do you see now? Why I dislike the onion analogy so much?
See, each layer of an onion is just more onion.
The true hidden layers, the ones worth exploring?
They are so much more than that. So much more.
Don't do injustice to reality with lazy metaphors.
Instead, mirror it, and sink that next layer deeper.

The Vow

Dear Lord

I make this vow, as thanks for the Agape* you have shown me

To try to give back some love in exchange for you having known me

So, in the name of You I take Jesus as my witness

To try to involve my faith in all of my business

To not take worship lightly, yet not to consider it a chore

To be satisfied with my blessings, not always asking for more

To by proud of my faith and not hide it in shame

And accept, as a Christian, every act that I do is done in your name

I will take you in richer and poorer, in sickness and in health

Knowing that the relationship we hold is beyond medicine and wealth

I am needy - I need comfort, care, and forgiveness

I know if I am only bold enough to ask - you will give this

I will try my best to be faithful, and try my best to not stray

And that when I falter I ask you to help me back to live in your way

For my ashes are your ashes, my dust will be your dust

My words in this vow seek to sanctify this trust

As I lift up my passion and lift up my heart

My life is your life and in death we shall not part

I admit to believing these words as I'm saying them now

So in your name, Lord, I seal this vow

Amen

*Greek for the love between God and man. Not the English, agape, meaning opened wide. This would give the poem a different meaning.

-

Matthew 5:34-37 New International Version (NIV)

34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[a]

-

With the above in mind, this poem is not to be taken as an actual oath. It is written to try to prioritise in my head that which I hold dear, rather than as a literal declaration. It was written to be symbolic of the vow taken at a wedding, hence a lot of the imagery.

Success

Let me sit you down. Let me be a little blunt.
Let me take you aside and put up no front.
What
makes
a successful life?
What would you say is reason enough for a meaningful stuff we claim to pursue does it seem honest and true
And look. I'm me and you're you through and through
We have different goals in life and different things we want to do
Guided by a mixture of morals and philosophy and fear and ambition
That widen our scope or limit our ambition

I remember, when I was much younger
Leaving school with a burning passion and hunger
Another young man, whom I don't know if I would call a friend
Left me a message at our journey's end
He wished me what he would say to be wishes of success
Even though it contained a future I didn't wish to possess
And nothing against him, he was only being polite
But, how many of us do that, each day and night?

We think our own path through life is surely the right one
That if we achieve it everyone will nod and say "nice one"
I've had friends who take paths I would only go down under duress
Yet, for them they seem happy. So, I just wish them the best
Even if I think they may be causing the planet some harm
Even if their goal causes me anger, I must stay calm
Because I have no right. They're achieving happiness
They take their route and I'll take mine I guess

It just made me think, how much of what I want to achieve
Is down to what success I think other people will perceive?

I hope it's some percentage between one hundred and zero
I like my friends. I value who they are and what they know
At the same time, we have different paths and places we want to go
So, I hope the success I achieve is at least somewhat my own
I hope the path is uncertain, at least somewhat unknown
I hope to make other people smile, and live a little longer
I hope my path can make me smarter and stronger
I don't wish for money or status, just enough to get by
So that, when I finally take the journey to the sky
When asked what I did, I hope I can say nothing less
Than to say I felt my life a success

Taste

You know that thing you think is awesome?
The one that blows your mind, every time?
Yeah. I tried it.
And I think it's alright. Like, not bad, not at all! Just, well, alright.

Here's what that doesn't mean - that it's any different to before.
It's still the awesome thing that makes you smile
Just a little bit, every time it crosses your mind.

It simply means that, on this thing, we have a different taste.

And I'll embrace the chance to let you try again.
Help me sit in your shoes
And I will gladly follow your instructions on how to to your laces.

But part of what makes our experience personal
     is that it is personal.
We all see things in different ways.

Maybe I would have enjoyed it if I were sixteen
    And still full of energy and anger
Maybe if I were a different gender. Or height. Or, well, not me.
Often, I get confused as to why I don't enjoy something as much as I think I should have.

Just, don't force it. I've yet to meet someone with whom I don't share any passions.
We will find that thing.
And on that thing we will share joy and excitement and beauty and memories.

But this one?
This is yours. And don't let that be taken away from you.

The lifeblood pumps

It's a conspiracy. But that doesn't make it any less true.
Just because it's only known to a select few
It defies all logic and knowledge and reason
Hey! Did you know the Earth's orbit isn't what causes the seasons?

I know I sound like a madman, and that I may well be
But please take a few seconds and listen to me
My statement is dramatic enough it may have given you pause
Now listen as I tell you the actual cause

There are pumps. They go way deep below the ground.
Below where oil and dinosaurs are found
They gather the heat of Earth's molten blood
And pump it slowly through the seas and the mud

The process it starts as quite a slow thing
Around the time you may know commonly as spring
The energy it imparts can prove of great worth
As it allows plants to grow and animals to give birth

It quickens, intensifies, and reaches it's peak around July
But this is science - this energy can't just instantly die
Instead it is pumped back, and the pipes tumble and Fall
Being sent back to the core of molten halls

There it is rejuvenated, with oxygen and other things
The pumps of this lifeblood, they squeal and sing
The surface is cold, the cycle will begin again from the start
And know you know the inner workings of our own planet's heart

I made this poem in collaboration with my cousin Farai. Our topic was "The change of the season", and I was inspired by her use of a heart to show the different parts of the year to write this year.