Arlene Corwin Poetry

A Prophet Almost Never  Profits  (In His Own Home Town) 

Friends have a view of you

That’s partly/seldom/never true.

Take a man and wife:

Seldom on each other’s wavelength.

Keep evolving.

Don’t expect applause;

Expectoration maybe (sadly).

Character and person what it is, you can’t

Require anyone to understand.

Keep evolving.

No one knows but you – perhaps a chosen few,

The depth of insight you impart.

You’re not a braggart.

Keep evolving.

Laugh, live, giving all you can.

Need no recognition,

Recognition the illusion!

History and legend

Tell the fatal end of

Jesuses and Joans of Arc,

Inventors, artists, scientists…

The lists go on.

So, misinterpreted, wise, good,

Relax and keep on getting better,

Without one small letter

Of desire for validation 

Or a single commendation. 

Friends you grew with, 

Kin you played with,

Neighbours living right next door

Will always house a poor and limited 

Idea of you, since all idea

Is mere

Projection.

Keep evolving.

Learn this precept and relax.

Cut the bands with thinking’s axe.

Stretching, changing, giving out

The best you’re got,

And like the laughing Buddha,

In your secret philosophic hall,

Call to lips a prophet’s ha, ha, ha! 

And go on being prophet.

A Prophet Almost Never Profits… 11.21.2018 Circling Round Reality;To The Child Mystic II; Definitely Didactic II; Arlene Nover Corwin