Unfathomably Ephemeral
inspirational stream, poem, thoughts on the dream versus the real life.
From birth to gravel, we all have a dream, a vision of life
often portrayed fantastically on small and big screen
dismissed—as the fallacy, beyond the grit—grime of reality
but still, we have that dream, a vision of a life, we want
the picket fence, 2.4 children, the city job, island life
as we push through the lows, the highs, and sometimes
sometimes, we pause, standstill stranded, the dream—
diminishes and feels like just that—a fantastical vision
an ungraspable reality, unreachable actuality
but
even if that is the case
often, so very often, the reality—we live and breathe
we fight and celebrate—the real dream, the real golden
vision of a life. Our life. not the idealised version
in the vaults of our mind, from birth to gravel
but the actuality grounded in reality
and though, at times it's tough and far too much to bear
the experience—untouchable, unfathomable
rich in lessons, dense in the good and the bad
the light that shines and cracks across the sky at dawn
the dark that shadows and consumes all in its pathway
the loving but troubled marriage, the children with their woes, the career that came with the migraines and bureaucracy—skewed formation—
envisionment
red tape, do this, do that, meet the deadline, meet the idealised, idolised pigeonholed cookie-cutter shape for your body, life, everything
too single to mingle, too attached to detach from reality and live the dream, lonely but happy, joy with difficulties is guess what
joy—it's still joy
life with death—is still life, love with loss—is still love
joy with difficulties, a lifetime of difficulties and a lifetime of joy—is still—
joy
everything is ephemeral
nothing is finite and nothing is set in stone, unchangeable
hard thought brightness, not all-too-easy cloudiness, is remembrance-worthy
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: Something a bit more upbeat and inspirational. It is self-explanatory, I feel.
Here is an awesome song that I drew some inspiration for this poem from. Not necessarily directly, but this song bangs around in my head a lot.
Here are some other things:
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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Comments (14)
Really, really liked this one. Everything is ephemeral but that's so hard to fully grasp. Great poem!
Amazing work, my friend 💙 There are ups and downs to everything in life. Beautiful reflection!
Oh very well done, Paul. This captures the line of tension that we all walk and choosing to celebrate the side of joy and love
Such a lovely reflection on life, Paul! Your stream of consciousness poems are so thought-provoking.
Such a cool take on life’s ups and downs! Dreams might feel far away, but the real stuff — the struggles and joys — that’s where the magic happens. Joy through it all, even with the bumps. Love it!✨
This is a remarkably deep and beautifully crafted piece. You've truly captured the entire essence of life in your poem! ✨👏
This is breathtaking in its raw honesty and hope, Paul. My eyes are wet with the simple joy of reading something I can label without fear of contradiction as true, good and wise. I believe I have shared with you that little wins feel so much bigger as I have aged. I find I have as much joy celebrating the wins of those I call friend as my own. I loved the entire poem but here are my favs: joy with difficulties is guess what joy—it's still joy life with death—is still life, love with loss—is still love I know this has been a tough year for you and I hope that 2025 gives you more wins and less heartache than 2024 did. 2022 & 2023 were a couple of my worst years in a long time and 2024 has been such a joy in comparison that I wish the same for you!
Hey Sir Paul, what dies 2.4 children mean? 😅😅 Your poem was so profound and I absolutely loved it!
You still never cease to impress ❤️
nothing is set in stone--- nice reflections of life's changes.
very inspiring. especially liked nothing is finite and nothing is set in stone, unchangeable
Too single to mingle, too attached to detach - oh, I love this!! Great work!
I love this! Beautiful! ✨
So true… “joy—it's still joy life with death—is still life, love with loss—is still love joy with difficulties, a lifetime of difficulties and a lifetime of joy—is still— joy” Seeking the bright in the dark.