A Four Thousand Poem Reflection Poem by Terence George Craddock

an idea occurred from a flippant remark
based on belief knowing own inquisitive mind
abilities character passion determination

frivolous trivial remarks can breed
serious consequences requiring
momentous intellectual substance

extremely important achievements
highly significant crucial decisions
effecting life future course of events

may be born in seed insignificant
thoughts while walking leaving
a workplace after clocked in hours

are expended in routine mundane day
mind shift is executing difficult tasks
thus it was I pondered instinct knew said

for listeners an impossible statement

claiming I could write a hundred poems
in a month upon reflection a thousand
in a year if full time writing had time

discussion topic was invasive poetic abilities
three decades thirty years no sustained writing
flooded my mind with artistic poetic streams

this statement was met with incredulous
looks from two stunned male Australian
teachers unwilling to believe kiwis can

write articulate words literary profound
but in time fever of insanity grew because
the kiwi knew he could write now would

artistic attempt to time sign out from teaching
to write for an attempted entire year passed
eventually finally as a few first days writing

expanding into a first week a few weeks
a month three six nine months writ then
a year stolen into writ frantic three years

writing writing writing all poetry poetry
like an insane demented demon time driven
possessed trying to leave literary legacy

all time written was but tip of titanic ice berg
so much remained in vast an ocean of tide words
exhausted time mind could not explore surge swim

curiosity curious wanted to know what poet
thought was capable of writing in mind games
desiring to seek out meaning in pitch mind

always effort failed to write but a slice portion
of ever run away thoughts creativity poetry
ever dances away from focus definition minds

there was no patron sponsor to take my brief
missed High Renaissance by hundreds of years
Medici not interested was not an artist Italian

time gap not erased never written past cobwebs

sacrifices made now post 4000 poems written
in expatriate Jakarta Indonesia what is was
accomplished achieved realized in three years?

artistic words weep waterfall cascading visions

summing up values time weighing effort what is
accomplished achieved realized in three years?
material assets clothe lives creativity infuses artists

'That's an interesting question to ask after writ 4000
poetic pieces but I place no literary value on my own
work disinterested lack forensic investigative skills

to try to seal achieve a token unapprised dollar value
not read evaluated assessed therefore it is continuous
giving which has everything nothing to do with quality'

so little said so little said in thirty years
of original creativity poetry not written
unknown words haunt never written lines

ghost echoes splinter inner eye visions
diamond glittering radiant hypnotic facets
clarity cut sparkles rare brilliance flawless


Terence George Craddock (Afterglows Echoes Of Starlight)
Copyright © Terence George Craddock