Still Water

by BOB GALLO   Feb 9, 2024


Beauty and youth
have no choice
but to be a trade-off
for experience and wisdom,

green,
for the colour of amber,
silver
for the black gold.

Universe
is the even scales of transmutation to opposite.
Youth is the currency of experience.
Black is the coal of our locomotion,
if we don’t burn,
like still water
we turn stale,
and decayed.

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  • 2 months ago

    by Obscure

    The contrast between burning and stagnating creates a vivid mental image, which I really appreciate. Whether we intend to change or not, we cannot stay the same forever. I feel that this poem invites us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice as we age.

    • 2 months ago

      by BOB GALLO

      Thank you so much for reading and connecting. It is right and, on the money, your takes on this, yet it is not a “sacrifice” as it is a “trade-off.” It is compulsory yet it is the only trade available to sanity. You call it sacrifice because you are still young and hesitant to let go, because time still is giving you space, for you have some merchandise left.
      When we no more are young, time doesn't need us anymore because we have nothing to trade with.
      By then we must have leaned our true nature which is wisdom, not youth. Youth is only a born with asset. The asset by definition, or better by nature is far from the nature.

      Thanks again.