Look up miserable wretch
for one day you will be
wonderful and beautiful
a pleasant thing to see.
But today you are low
today you are base.
Today you gnash your teeth
and cut your plastic face.
Pain is your coat
despair your walking stick.
You stumble on with both
afraid to lose your grip.
But you walk toward rest
where you’ll throw down both of these
and allow the hands of death
to rock your soul to sleep.
Do not sleep along the way
the night is dark and cold.
Do not eat or drink or taste
the things you cannot hold.
Only carry on in misery
knowing one day it will end.
But do not lose hope
without it you will perish
miles still from far off home
asleep yet without rest.
Let faint lights
in the northern face
fill your eyes
do not look away.
Stumble on miserable wretch
for one day you will die
and be allowed to rest
never more to scream or cry.
This one comes after a bit of personal realization. It may seem a bit depressing (who would've thought...) and pessimistic, but for me it's actually comforting.
There are two main aspects of the poem: the "journey" our narrator is taking, as well as the two titles they give themself, miserable wretch and beautiful. From the beginning, we see that the narrator understands the end of the journey, they know that currently they are wretched as well as that one day they will be "wonderful and beautiful // a pleasant thing to see." This is followed by delving deeper into the acknowledgment of that wretchedness. But note that the narrator uses "today" to introduce the wretchedness. This solidifies that they know it's temporary.
As we follow on to the rest of the poem, the narrator ends optimistically, keeping up their hope. This is the struggle most of us are in: we cannot fully get rid of the bad parts of who we are. I heard something interesting recently. The basics of it is that it isn't about eliminating hurt, struggles, or temptations; it's about eliminating doubt. If we can keep faith that one day we will be taken out of ourselves, even through the worst of our struggles, I think we're doing pretty good.
And when we do stumble, there is grace. Without it, we wouldn't make it far. So whatever you're struggling with, know that one day it will end. And if you haven't yet, go to the One who will help you have peace about who you are and the things you face.
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