The Reasons Mine To Keep



Do I grasp for understanding,
—or is knowing quite enough

Or deem then that important,
—if the difference smooth or rough

Do I understand a mountain,
—or the bear that lives within

Or just know that they belong there,
—and the mystery that it brings

Do I understand the Ocean,
—or the waves that break so high

Or just hear their thunder crashing,
—and not need to wonder why

Do I understand what time is,
—or just its symbols and what they mean

Or understand a life laid down in battle,
—for those unseen

Do I understand a memory,
—or just smile whenever it calls

Or understand tomorrow,
—when today my life befalls

Do I understand the anger,
—or just control it when it barks

Or understand the danger,
—sometimes lurking in the dark

Do I understand the words I write,
—when the Muse shakes me from my sleep

Or understand the excuses loaned,
—with the reasons mine to keep

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2016)
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Submitted by KurtPhilipBehm on June 07, 2016

Modified on March 05, 2023

49 sec read
39

Quick analysis:

Scheme AB XB CX XX CD AD XE XE XF XF GX GX XH XH X
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 912
Words 164
Stanzas 15
Stanza Lengths 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1

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    "The Reasons Mine To Keep" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/44825/the-reasons-mine-to-keep>.

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