The Proposal by Mark Spencer

For many years I've wandered
Upon this planet Earth.

And I've witnessed many things,
Since the day of my birth.

But nothing could prepare me
For what now lay in store.

How I could be so swept away,
To such a distant shore.

I had but to hear your voice,
And look into your eyes.

All that I knew there crumbled,
Nevermore to arise.

These thoughts of you consume me,
You take my breath away.

And I fear that I may die,
Should I wait another day.

My world is now a canvas,
And you now paint my life.

But the picture won't be finished
Until you are my wife.

So accept this ring I offer,
With all I promise thee.

Say yes to my proposal
My love, grow old with me.

lasohnda harris (12.229.199.53) -- Thursday, February 27 2003, 04:37 am

OH how beauitful
did that person say yeah they should

Mark Spencer (205.188.208.170) -- Thursday, March 6 2003, 03:41 pm

I Doubt It.
Thank you Lasohnda for commenting on this poem. From the response this poem got, I doubt she would say yes. Though I do appreciate that you believe that she should. You appear to be the only one this poem touched, as it was also with THE VOWS, the sequel to this poem. My humorous poems get some response along with a hand full of others. But for the most part, I don't get many readers. I'm sure if I wrote something that made me out to be some broken and battered soul crying out for help and advise, I might receive more comments. But that's just not me. At least it hasn't been for a very long time. It was me, back before my NDE, but that was long ago. I've learn a lot of things since that day, profound and spiritual things. Many of my poems are created from parables revealed to me in prayer. Though many people don't like life lessons in the poems they read. Some people become accustomed to they're misery. To prove my point, pick 12 names randomly and read their poems. If all twelve aren't writing about some kind of pain or loss they're dealing with, I'm sure, at least 10 are. Try it. Pain, emptiness, anger, despair, resentment, loss, sacrifice, misery and righteous indignation can become a comfort zone. Misery breeds company. I'm not in pain or misery, so I don't get as much company as someone who is. fewer people can relate to what I write about. I'm just a reluctant servant of God, trying to do my part.

Mark

Our Gang (64.65.103.12) -- Thursday, March 6 2003, 07:57 pm

you are read!!
Everyone in my office reads your work at breaktime. Maybe people don't comment because you don't seem like your spirit needs a life. Believe Us.. You are exceptional. Never stop writing.

Martin Vann (67.28.88.149) -- Thursday, March 6 2003, 09:31 pm

I'm part of the above gang, whoever they are.
Mark,

I read your work as does the "gang," above. Your work is always so inclusive, sometimes I don't feel worthy or capable of any intelligent comment and that is my fault.

Your work is widely read and appreciated and you are among the favorites of us all, we need to let you know that because it is the truth! We read, we believe and God knows, we need the messages that you share.

For me, it was not my way to leave a reply that {maked me feel like I'm just being polite, but, I'm past that quirk of mine.) You provide us with a wonderous gift of thought and inner peace, just saying "thank you" doesn't seem to fit. However, again, you have shared another lesson with me here. What lesson, do you ask?

The one that reminds me of how meaningful and deeply, simple words like, "Thank You," can be felt.

Thank You
MartinV

Mark Spencer (205.188.208.170) -- Thursday, March 6 2003, 11:37 pm

My curse.
My biggest curse is loving the human race. If I can help just one of them to understand that they are so much more than the sum of their parts, I have done well. It does not, however, make me happy. Not when so many more are still burdened my misery and pain. The past is a pattern that many fall into. It is a stumbling block that causes them to repeat the pattern over and over again. You cannot walk your path unburdened if you are always looking at where you've been. It breaks my heart to see my brothers and sisters in pain. I wish I could help to lighten their load, but only they can ultimately do that for themselves. I can offer poems like THE PATH, I COULD HAVE BEEN, THE VISITOR, MY DAUGHTER'S FRIEND, SUICIDE and GAMES as guidebooks and argument against making certain mistakes. I can write poems like VIAGRA, DIRTY DAN McGUIRE and FATHER TIME to distract them from their troubles for a moment. I write poems like this one, THE VOWS, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, THE CHOICE and THE PROMISE to give hope to those who have given up on love. I wish I could do more, but in the end, they have to choose for themselves. To turn their eyes toward where they're going, or spend the rest of their journey looking back at their mistakes and painful past. Doomed to repeat those mistakes and painful experiences. Poetry is a way of expressing your feelings, hopes and desires. Poems are tears, cried by the soul. Tears of laughter, of joy, of pain and of sorrow. It saddens me to see so many poets here writing about the same pain over and over again. Giving a broken relationship more tears than it deserves, until the next one comes along. If you never let go of the past, you are cursed to project it into your future, forever repeating that painful pattern. You are God's children. When you hurt he feels it. If I can help, I will. I just need to know from time to time, that I'm not talking to the wall. Thanks to lasohnda, Our Gang and Martin. God Bless you and all who read this.

Mark

Lori Ann Day (198.81.26.109) -- Friday, March 7 2003, 02:57 am

"They do! We all do!"
I think that if you read between the lines on some of the pain and misery writings, you will see the lessons to be learned without someone pointing them out. I believe that many of us post them here so that others will recognize their own mistakes, and not repeat the pattern. Also, we write down what we've learned from past history so that we are not destined to repeat it. If you don't learn from the past, you are doomed to repeat it in the future. I know that when most American's write, they like to point everything out, but I am more inclined to let the reader read between the lines, and glean his own treasure by letting him or her discover the lessons to be learned. We are all like little children, and it is a joy to not be told, but to think we've learned something on our own. Surely, if I have learned the lesson(s) from my own experience, so will you by reading it.

Mark, I think that people who are in pain and misery get more responses because everyone likes to try and help each other, the way you want to help. Like you said, you are not screaming out for help, so people aren't going to run to you in the same way as they do to others. Maybe misery breeds help and encouragement. Your work is still appreciated and loved. It's funny, between all the responses from others and yours, you've gotten more response than your poem is long.

I do think that tears bring healing, and cleansing, and that if we truly look at our past, we don't repeat the same mistakes. I know that I am not fooled in the same ways, but with pride comes the fall, and I can always trip over something new that I have never thought of.

Mark, maybe "she" hasn't been asked to read your poem, or doesn't know that it is for her. To me, it sounds like everyone loves you, and that the whole "gang" would marry you! They'd have to be crazy not to. Being everyone else responded, I guess I too will interrupt on what sounds like a very beautiful private and sacred moment between two people in love. I myself have never received such a beautiful proposal, and she is very blessed.

Kim Hall (209.107.68.193) -- Tuesday, September 16 2003, 09:48 pm

The proposal
YES, YES, YES :)

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