A Tiny Grain of Sand, poetry by R William Standish at Spillwords.com

A Tiny Grain of Sand

written by: R William Standish

Look at me, look at me, look at me
A tiny grain of sand on a beach without a sea
Surrounded by millions of billions that look just like me

A desert as far as I can ever see

I’m just a little grain living in an endless sea of sand
I can travel yet I have no feet I have no hands
Am I trapped here without a purpose planned

I move through my world at others command

The breeze has found me and places me at the stone lion’s feet
I can see three Pyramids of might stand proud backed in summer’s heat
The winds swirl me in circles up up up I go I dance in nature’s heartbeat

As I am lifted, a short distance I have drifted wind-assisted new grains are here to meet

There are other grains brought to me by the distant winds hand
They speak of an oasis from this distant land
I now know there is more to the grains more to the sand

Their tales unfold and inspire me the shape of their edges speaks of travels unplanned

Look closer, closer and then closer still
From a distance, we look the same and on the outside always will
I take a place in the sand and a search for a purpose to fulfill

My future hides from me but wants to be part of something bigger would be a thrill

Equality in appearance a moving carpet rebel as one might
Individuals disguised in plain sight
We reflect an outward appearance projected by the light

One grain represents the impression of all is our fight

Sands of the Sahara is all I know as home
I’ve seen unbelievable sights from my place on the ground civilizations grown
I have seen mankind advance suffer loss and disappear and are left alone

Their meetings can be violent blood spills we receive them as the overthrown

A force or reason unseen brought them here they carry mistrust
Their hands create images of their worship made from us
they will disappear over time without care monuments return to dust

We witness their decline and secrets entrust

Water is the only visitor for us here it tickles
thunder and lightning signal their arrival drops form rivers as it trickles
The force of its power tries to shape us carves our prickles

Transformed in our way unlike the idols we surround so simple yet fickle

The invisible hand of wind sweeps, a breeze of fingers it creeps from the sky
It comes for some but not all this time, refusals denied, I don’t know why
Some are left to watch them go do they look back do they try

Our land paints a new picture everyday grains turn to dust carried into the sky

Where do they go when they are out of sight
Is the landscape is forever changed as they are taken away day and night
The sand is forever shifting winds grows strong and too hard to fight

I see them carried away without wings I finally take flight

Caught on a wind and carried to the sky the limits of which impossible to show
I have never before seen the size of this mighty lion or this many buildings bellow
The beach beneath me as far as I can see continues to grow

Over the top of the pyramids higher and higher and higher I go

From here I see the desert that for so long I called home
I am on a journey controlled by the wind I feel so alone
There are others here with me I see them and feel strong

I wonder if the ones on the ground will know that I have gone

For the first time ever I look past the clouds
I look down on the birds a river the crowds
Higher still higher I hope for more if I am allowed

For the first time, I see what I was a part of and of that I am proud

Up here I see stars where only astronauts play
The sky has no end I see night and see the day
Have others seen these same things was their journey this way

I am scared and excited unable to return so here I must stay

Far below me, the horizon curves the land away rivers feed the oceans
The land moves from beneath me below blue water in my heart warm emotions
Everything to be seen at once but not a part of the grounds commotion

Peace is found isolated in this cloud from dirt to sand to dust all promotions

I visit the places beyond all dreams where raindrops are born and will eventually fall
Each looks alike as we did from the ground a journey their own and a place for them all
Their pathway seems clear, create a cloud to fall as rain or as snow freed by the wind their downfall

Are they so different from us our desert becomes their sky do we give life as we trade places below

3000 miles of my journey elapsed
The distance means nothing as endless time has passed
How much longer will the wind that carries us last

A new future awaits and doesn’t care about the past

Millions of trillions of us taken, removed from the sand
As long as time began a grain is all that I am lifted above the rest I fly, I can
Like those that surround me, I escape the desert’s hand

From a land unforgiving across an ocean of life to deliver myself and be part and more than I am

Not all of us will reach the approaching shore
Some will join the clouds and rain and some the ocean floor
A new beginning to be revealed at this time is what the journey is for

Each and every raindrop every grain of sand overlooked by how were seen yet worth so much more

Creatures of the deep I can see the secret world you keep
I see how the rain brings back what you need as you sleep
I envy the rain as I look at the lakes and rivers deep

Their sacrifice from the sky from delivered to the trees to the grass creep

Up close I Look at the clouds and see where raindrops live
They drift around the world bring change to the weather filter the air like a sieve
The wind pushes them from hiding and fuels the ground below feeds the land and the life it gives

like socks for the sky creating electrical charge allow thunder and lightning to be collaborative

The wind turns gentle and releases its hold on me
A world away from a land that I lived from where my trip began replaced so easily
Seeing things, I could never prepare for, is this what I really lived for I don’t believe what I see

From a barren dry desert landscape to an Eden set free

Breeze weakens, the wind release me a new path of life waits to be found
Your horizon of the sand is my past, out of view is my future we separate without a sound
The invisible hand that carries me past the waters of blue weakens as I look around

Sights I see are unimaginable life in forms indescribable abound as I am welcomed to the ground

I take my place, make my new home in their soil
This life and growth never seen in my time, surrounds me unspoiled
The wind my necessary savior, I continue here anew from their toil

From a desolate beginning, I am humble, in the presence of this new tranquility I recoil

I find others have arrived before me, look at what they have done
From such a simple beginning in a sea of sand where life is so hard for everyone
No one would ever think that from a land thought dead so much life could ever come

I bring what little I was to this place because from me life begun

I Envy the water the life it gives it covers so much like the land from my past
I envy the wind powering ships that sail the lakes and oceans so vast
I envy the birds as they own every sky they live on the winds and hunt so fast

I envy the clouds I envy the trees I envy the world’s true creations I’ll never surpass

A mere speck of dirt a grain of sand my value means little after all I see
Embarrassed by my insignificance lost with my idea of my identity
I am braver now my fears are gone I have gone so far I can stand alone I face my destiny

What I envy the most is the chance to achieve everything I was meant to be

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

I was inspired by the idea of not knowing what happens next, and why we are here, so perhaps this poem can attempt to explain it. Regardless of how small or insignificant you may feel it is possible to have a longer-lasting and greater impact that is far greater than anything you would ever have considered.

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R William Standish

R. William Standish is an aspiring and emerging writer of poetry and non-fiction. Taking his life experience from almost two decades in Toronto Canada’s film and television world. The extensive experience has placed him in the line of fire, literally taking fire from planes, helicopters, Navy Seals, terrorists and tanks and on many occasions and inside incredible explosions and crashes of all types. As a DOP has done commercials as well as his own web series, which also gave him the chance to write, produce, direct and edit his proposed program, “Inspect the Un-Inspected”. R. William has most recent success with having several poems and fiction works published on Story Mirror, Terror House Magazine, Fleas On A Dog, as well as Three Line Poetry and All Poetry, and of course SpillWords. R. William has self-published two short works of inspirational quotes as well as his first book of poetry on Amazon. Some current submission speaks from the voice of an advocator for human rights and that of Indigenous people. A strong message is contained to demonstrate human injustices even when the intent was honorable. “Inspiration often comes from the pain of comedy.” A student of the arts he is very focused on all his creative endeavors and his photography as well.

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