From Bare Despair Prepare Rare Future Fair Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

Strangers in strange lands where nature's maps
are daily altered: who can tell, perhaps
utopian dreams may one day be fulfilled -
what wishes we project with one 'perhaps'!

But that 'perhaps' with other minds must be
shared or entrusted till eternity
when bell and tale are told, both drum and gong,
before too long all meet their destiny.

Another week ticks off its finite hours,
last leaves weak fall, distressed are hedgerows, bowers,
no rainbow reign, polluted heaven spans
streams as polluted, mole in burrow cowers.

Today tomorrow's fears must count the cost,
of vested interests, while, with fingers crossed,
fire, freeze turn topsy-turvy, climates change,
strategic opportunities are lost.

Most die bewildered, having pushed lie luck,
perceive dice loaded, - chicken lacking pluck.
When life is balanced, weighed behind blind mind,
game years were wasted, eggnog came unstuck.

And so the well laid plans of mice and men
turn sour, devour their children, - in suspen-
sion stays spoke that can't stay fate's wheel, wry jest
unspeaking which unspoken rolls... Amen!

More time to spare may lead to pastures green
obscured by clouds, unlit by moon serene,
or desert dune oasis hide where rest
may not prove mirage, harvest joy to glean.

I saw myself in wa[l]king dream beside
a river which flowed out to meet time's tide,
fresh waves to salt waved greetings as they passed
to ice-free ocean, plankton pushed aside.

A watershed, which never tears shall show,
approaches and one knows not where to go,
wide world won't wait while weighing arbitrage
with options harsh displacing comfort's glow.

New cock may crow, fiends' jeers turn cheers from friends,
phantom mime timer trickles, makes amends,
for false pretence whose stings show one still feels,
may heal hurt, harm injury within which ever rends
the spirit from external casing show
skeletal which nobody cares to know,
for here today, tomorrow atoms spread
around fresh food chain, pride from high brought low.

So soul must sink when candle, burned both ends,
no wick retains to feed the flame which sends
light for a moment, highlighting the dark
behind beyond til epilogue appends
a testament scenario reprieved
from papers left behind - part to deceive
and part as explanation for a gest
about which we suggest too few shall grieve.

Subprime takes prime time working overtime,
as credit cards to debit dards turn, climb
precedes a fall unlooked for - pendulum
swings weigh past tipping point, primeval slime
not dust to dust replaces Eden's rhyme,
mankind's equation out of kilter, mime
instead of deeds proactive, selfless, fair,
concludes Man's play, applauseless p[h]antomime.

Some seek settle credit overdue,
some, senseless, seek solutions from the blue -
accounts drawn down close race's case, no trace
remains, shell shocked, locked out, no overview.

Rise from despair, surprise may fate prepare,
chance choice gives voice to future prospects fair,
wheel turns, life spurns temptations lethal that
stitch winding sheet from which return is rare.

The trick, if trick there be, is see the light
between effect and cause, nor wrong, nor right,
but timing's of the essence as each day
plays in its way new part, departure bright.

Dark disappointment past events might cause
may cease today, turn retrograde and pause
to offer breathing space for weaving joy
while poison ivy wreaths good luck withdraws.

Dark reasons for a season may hold sway,
yet light through black-hole shines to pave the way
for happiness - whatever that may mean
to who must first slake thirst, salve sores which weigh
upon the conscience - fact or fiction play -
it matters not: if pain's perceived today
to morrow may blunt edge of sting sharp, keen,
that wounds the soul that seeks clean getaway...


previous title Rubaiyat of Despair
3 October 2005 revised 26 August 2007
rewritten and expanded 12 January 2010
'most die' stanza rewritten 21 May 2021

Rubaiyat of Despair

Strangers in strange lands where nature's maps
are daily altered: who can tell, perhaps
utopian dreams may one day be fulfilled, -
what wishes we project with one « perhaps »!

But that « perhaps » to other minds must be
entrusted through steps to eternity,
both bell and tale are told, both drum and gong
before too long will welcome destiny.

Another week ticks off its finite hours,
last leaves weak fall, distressed are hedgerows, bowers,
no rainbow reign polluted heavens' spans, -
as rain in hurry can unleash its powers.

Today tomorrow fears must count the cost,
of vested interests, we, with fingers crossed,
find fire and freeze turned topsy-turvy as
strategic opportunities are lost.

Most are bewildered, having pushed their luck,
they find dice loaded, - chicken lacking pluck.
When all is balanced, weighed within the mind,
game years behind were wasted, came unstuck.

And so the well laid plans of mice and men
turn sour, devour their children, - in suspen-
sion stays the spoke that may not stay the wheel
unspeaking which unspoken rolls... Amen!

I saw myself in wa[l]king dream beside
a river which flowed out to meet time's tide,
fresh waves to salt waved greetings as they passed
to ice-free ocean, plankton pushed aside.

A watershed, which never tears shall show,
approaches and one knows not where to go,
wide world won't wait while weighing arbitrage
with options harsh displacing comfort's glow.

Soon cock may crow to cheers of phantom friends,
with timer trickled none need make amends,
or further false pretence with insult rare
to cover injury within which rends

the spirit from external casing show
skeletal which nobody needs to know,
for here today, tomorrow atoms spread
along a food chain soon from high brought low.

So soul must sink when candle, burned both ends,
no wick retains to feed the flame which sends
light for a moment, highlighting the dark
behind beyond til epilogue appends

a testament scenario reprieved
from papers left behind - part to deceive
and part as explanation for a gest
about which we suggest too few will grieve.

Subprime takes prime time working overtime,
as credit cards to debit dards turn, climb
precedes a fall unlooked for - pendulum
swings weigh past tipping point, primeval slime

not dust to dust replaces Eden's rhyme,
mankind's equation out of kilter, mime
instead of deeds proactive, selfless, fair,
concludes Man's play, applauseless p[h]antomime.

Its time to settle credit overdue
no sense to seek solutions from the blue -
accounts drawn down close race's case, no trace
remains, shell shocked, locked out, no overview.


3 October 2005 revised 26 August 2007

after Edward Fitzgerald Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

© Jonathan Robin



after Edward Fitzgerald Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

© Jonathan Robin 3 October 2005 revised 26 August 2007