The thirteenth day of NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo 2020 has the prompt objective of writing a non-apology for things stolen.  This is a close as I have for the concept.  It’s akin, I believe to something said that I read once but have no real claim on.  Issac Newton on being asked about his thoughts and preceptions once said something like if he appeared to be a giant, it was simply because he was standing on the shoulders of giants.   In that my poetry and stories and even my music owes much to those who came before me, while having not 1/1000th of the talent and abilities of Newton, believe that would be true for me as well.  At least to the degree that if I have phrased something nicely or done well with one or another of things, themes, concepts, and so on, it’s merely and truly because I have opened my mind, heart and so to what the universe has to offer to the extent that it speaks to me and then set it out into place with my own refinement and sometimes utterly getting it both wrong and right simultaneously.

The Stolen Presence of Both Past and Present
by Michael Doyle

If at times, my splash of words
     Appear to speak somewhat eloquently
As these move, shimmer and dance
     Across the page ever so lightly

Then speaking in the humble truth
     And letting it be spoken plainly
That since the earliest days of my youth
     I have learned much from before me

Stretching back across all of history
     Stealing all of its best thoughts
Exploring each in their full mystery
      Along with its shoulds and oughts

From the observations and ethics
      Of the likes of persons as Aristotle
To the random add-ons and notions
      Of today, each approached in full throttle

Taking as I have from this all
     Such as that I can and do claim
Doing my best to each lesson recall
     Be it turn out to be brilliance or lame

(c) April 13, 2020  Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved