Resignation, Number One
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,
I DREAMT OF WRITING LIKE CAMUS.
THINKING LIKE SARTRE,
LIVING LIKE HEMINGWAY,
AND ALL IN GOD'S CONSTANT GRACE.
I THOUGHT I SUFFERED INDIA'S HUNGER
AND AMERICA'S AFFLUENCE,
BUT ACTUALLY,
I WAS CAREFREE--AND CARELESS.
NOW, THOUGH STILL A YOUNG MAN
(31 is an odd age, but safe)
I WANT LESS, MUCH LESS--
FAME, FORTUNE, KNOWLEDGE, PASSION,
EVEN HOPE...
IF THE WORLD IS INDEED DOOMED,
I WILL LOVE IT TILL ITS LAST DAY--
AND IF THE WORLD IS GOD BLESSED,
I WILL STILL LOVE IT TILL ITS LAST DAY.
IF I CANNOT CREATE LIKE A GIANT, THEN
I WILL WRITE WITH A SMALLER HAND
AND UTTER NOISES IN A LOWER TONE.
(This poem was written in the late 1970's)
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