Legacy (Revisited) Poem by Christopher Tye

Legacy

Looking back at my life and wondering what legacy I am leaving,
The world seems more divided and unjust than when I was young,
I never achieved the creation of the world filled with humour,
No great deeds done or any real achievements achieved.

A legacy of a working isn't much of any note,
Just some insignificant poems and writings,
A life of no importance lived quietly in the shadows,
Always pondering mortality and what's left at the end.

What will my life add to the family tree and history,
In comparison to others who went before very little,
Over five hundred years of predecessors of great legacies,
No great musical, artistic or poetical works left behind by me.

A lifetime lived so mundanely and ordinarily,
Whereas my predecessors fought and died in defence of freedom,
Taught music at universities and conducted proms concerts,
Painted pictures that graced the Royal Academy.

Maybe my legacy is just to be ordinary in a changing world,
While my ancestors did so many great things,
Being court composer to Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I,
Singing operas for a living and writing Newark upon Trent guide books.

Looking at this great legacy of my once great family,
I know I wasn't cut out to be a doctor of music,
As for being skilled enough an artist for a career no chance,
No some of us were destined for ordinary jobs in shops.

My legacy will be a few mediocre second rate poems,
But I hope my gift to the world will be trees,
Trees that I hope will survive for a few centuries,
And in all that time think of all the life they will support.

By Christopher Tye