Poetry: Sonnet – Do Nothing

New Poetry by Scottish Writer DS Coremans #FoDiByLi

Monday 20 September 2021

Triolet – I Want It All

I want it all,

but have to wait.

I must start small

but I want it all.

I cannot fall

right out the gate.

I want it all,

but have to wait.

2021©DSCoremans

Sonnet – Do Nothing

Sometimes it is better to do nothing,
than try and fail to do everything;
and with each new addition, adjusting
to a life which has been filled. With something

which consumes energy but does not bring
any lasting happiness or meaning.
Acquiring and callous consuming,
this our lasting legacy. Presuming

that anything survives this reckless course
is neither presumable nor certain;
though survival may be considered worse
when we see what is behind the curtain.

Living blind to all that is around you;
waiting for a life unlived to be through.

2019©DSCoremans

Photo by Derek Liang on Unsplash

Diamante – Everything or Nothing

Everything.

Busy; too much,

tiring. Consuming, taxing,

takes your time. Your time taken;

confusing, teasing, controlling.

Not enough; bored.

Nothing.

2021©DSCoremans

Author’s Note:

Staying busy is my default setting.

I admit that busy is better than the days where consumed with depression, I exiled myself to the confines of my bed. Choosing to close my eyes to the world and willing myself further forward to a time where perhaps I’d have the energy to cope; there is still that part of me that recognises ‘busy doing nothing’ filling your days bouncing from task to task, is just as destructive.

I admit that I could have used my time over a long and isolated summer to be a little more focused, but I have allowed myself to jump from task to task, starting new projects and letting them fall by the wayside, while circling back round to old projects and in some cases finishing things that will allow me to keep growing.

Just as important as working hard however has been the rest I have taken as and when I can and when I have needed it and I hope this is a habit I can take forward into a second academic year taking place online while caring full-time. 

Busy is good, but so is balance.

“A busy life is filled with tremendous emptiness.” 

Debasish Mridha
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

The main poem ‘Do Nothing’ is like a lament for the rest we should have taken while trying to do too much. Downtime is not wasted time, and it is often what is required to finish something strong.

Written in 2019 ‘Do Nothing’ was created when I initially was trying to channel the often overwhelming feeling of academic inadequacy. With so many deadlines and assignments all requiring attention at once it can often feel like there is too much to do, but the best thing to do in this situation is often to rest. It is in rest that we can better assess the situation for the most pressing need, or find the one thing we most want to work on above all others. Working smart, not hard and doing one thing well instead of trying and failing to do everything.

The companions seem to parallel this feeling, creating an energy of anticipation. Channelling that desire to do everything while feeling that we are not managing to do anything.

Surviving instead of thriving. 

DSC

20/09/2021


Cinquain – Thrive or Survive

Doing

all that you must

to thrive more than survive

takes a whole lifetime of practice

to learn.

2021©DSCoremans
Florida, USA (September 2008) ©DSCoremans

Recent Poetry from #FoDiByLi


Happy Writing. Stay Safe. Stay Distracted.

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