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Burn after Reading

Final Instructions

By Randy Wayne Jellison-KnockPublished 8 months ago 1 min read
Burn after Reading
Photo by Yaoqi on Unsplash

Surrendering the advantages of birthright,

all too often to those more deserving

but who would otherwise have been denied.

Resented by those still clinging to theirs.

Not belonging with those for whom they are surrendered.

Effecting a difference by not claiming one,

by fading from remembrance,

evanescing, praying it is not for naught.

~

Praying...?

~

In the beginning was the Word,

& the Word, once it was spoken,

became everything.

But once it was read,

became both more…,

…& less.

~

This calling

not to be called.

~

It's the little things pulling us back from the edge,*

as if the things which have drawn us so close

are not ultimately little things themselves.

For what are the things of past & present

but those which lure us forward,

even should they mean the end?

~

The end…?

~

If there was one thing

I would want tattooed

somewhere upon my being

it would simply be,

~

“Burn after reading.”

~

*This line inspired by Paul Stewart’s “It’s the Little Things” on Vocal Media.

https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/it-s-the-little-things-yy17m905a5%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="14azzlx-P">.css-14azzlx-P{font-family:Droid Serif,Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:1.1875rem;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.01em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.01em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.01em;letter-spacing:0.01em;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;margin-top:32px;}

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About the Creator

Randy Wayne Jellison-Knock

Retired Ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church having served for a total of 30 years in Missouri, South Dakota & Kansas.

Born in Watertown, SD on 9/26/1959. Married to Sandra Jellison-Knock on 1/24/1986. One son, Keenan, deceased.

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Comments (7)

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  • Antoni De'Leon8 months ago

    Burn after reading has been said in a movie or a book or something. Still it is a classic saying. So should I burn you after reading this. Um, am unsure. sending the gasoline.

  • Mother Combs8 months ago

    I absolutely love this so much, Brother! This would be an epic tattoo for me. This, and the one letting EMT's know I have a pace/fib installed lol

  • So does that mean we have to cremate you? Lol. Jokes aside, your poem is so beautiful!

  • Lamar Wiggins8 months ago

    -Burn after reading- Love it! It's almost like a self-destruct warning. Excellent entry!!! Full of the type of wisdom I fully embrace.

  • John Cox8 months ago

    Reminds me of Socrates retelling the myth of Thoth’s invention of writing. Something ineffable is lost with the death of the oral tradition. Fascinating take, Randy!

  • Love this line. It's the little things pulling us back from the edge,*

  • Judey Kalchik 8 months ago

    Read it through twice. Call to action. Call to reflection. And a H/T to Brother Paul

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