Monday, December 3, 2018

LAYERS


Today‘s poem is a thought provoking treat written by the very talented poet. . . David L Byrn (1934-2018). Mr. Byrn was a native Arizonan, who wrote over 1700 poems, has won numerous awards for his creations. He, also, had an impressive professional education career. This obituary lists his numerous achievements. . . .
  

I came across this poem in a signed copy of his book entitled “Gathering the Faded Days”.  It appears to be a self-published, staple bound edition that is not currently in print. A Google search for poems by this author yielded only a used copy of one of his books containing children’s poems.

I was very moved by the underlining thought of this poem and I’m presenting it here for your enjoyment and as a tribute to this talented poet.

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Beneath the surface of everyday me
There are layers and layers you cannot see
Veneers of darkness, mirrors of light
Coatings of pleasure, corners of fright

Look at me closely, the layers won’t show
My words and my actions will not let you know
Sheets of rejoicing, slabs of despair
Coverings frail and elusive as air

Layers applied with a soft, gentle touch
Tender reminders of lovers and such
Layers forged harshly and pounded to stay
Beaten with hammers and hidden away

Layers from infancy, bitter and sweet
Layers that childhood insisted I meet
Layers acquired by the passage of years
Layers of misunderstandings, of fears

Layers on layers to satisfy needs
Laid against layers of passions and greeds
Layers and layers of loving and trust
Laid over layers of remnants and dust

Layers and layers and layers . . . . .
You see . . . . .
If you don’t know my layers
How can you know me?
 
 STUFF:

 How do you follow a poem like that? Just a thought . . . . As we go through life, every event, every experience, every person we meet, changes us in some way. At any given time we are the product of our inherited genes as tweaked by all the above modifiers. Tomorrow, we will be a slightly different person. 

After you have read the above poem, you WILL be a slightly different person.