Do Not Lay the Burden
Do Not Lay the Burden
Do not lay the burden
of your happiness
on me,
that wild full flower
of unguarded content.
The power you give me
to use as I choose
will be remembered only
for its cruelty.
Cynthia Buell Thomas
Comments
Funny that I should happen across this as I was leaving you a comment on your profile page. Today I was reading and reflecting on writings by Lao Tzu from the Tao Te Ching, and one in particular was about not looking to others for your fulfillment etc...
Your poem essentially has the same message with the added consequences of surrendering that power to another.
Very thought provoking...
I've mulled this one over some. Think I half agree with Cate - it is human nature to seek happiness in others. Like it or not therefore we all have the potential to be hurt and to hurt. I guess just how much we so depends on how the pain is administered. A really super poem Cynthia. I am not good at discussing structure - just know that it makes us think.
Someone once said this same thing to me before hurting me deeply. It`s easy to say we are not resposible for the happiness of others but in essence, really, we are. We may not want that resposibility, but it comes with the territory of being human.
A very clever and thought provoking gem Cynthia.
Cate xx
<Deleted User> (8634)
Wed 26th Aug 2009 20:18
I like this poem Cynthia - it is reflective and expresses things I believe in. We are all responsible for our own happiness - we just have to find the way.
i like this poem
steve mellor
Wed 26th Aug 2009 15:16
ok Cynthia
Beautiful back.
This is the old story of saying bucket-loads in a thimble.
I know some people may use 'unguarded comment' as a weapon, but I can only hope that it isn't so for the great majority
Steve M.
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<Deleted User> (13947)
Mon 31st Aug 2015 22:33
I have a hard time being responsible for my own happiness. To have another's placed in my hands seems like a test I'm surely going to fail. I love the universalness (probably just made that up) of this. Yet another one I'm glad I found while wandering around.