Is The Message In This Verse Understandable Enough?
It’s a serious question actually because the feedback I’ve gotten from some suggest that they don’t understand that justifications and excuses mean the same thing here. But actually saying so detracts from the verse, don’t you think? It can't be that obscure?
If Only -
Too old, too young, too large, too small,
too rich, too poor, too fast, too slow,
too meek, too bold, too short, too tall:
justification knows them all.
Disdaining self initiative,
security in excuses,
fortified by kindred failings,
lets justifications prevail.
Not fed, under read, can’t be said,
has gone, takes too long, might be wrong,
no calls, hits the wall, tears might fall:
justification knows them all.
Embracing justifications
accompanies those descending.
Curtailing justifications
gives flight to the soul ascending.
The metaphor would be rendered obsolete and the works of poets from Eliot to Stevens to Thomas to Spender and Plath would be mocked if the Victorian mentality was defining the perimeters of modern verse.