“On The Ground”

One day,
My mother did say,
You need to learn to climb the ladder,
Step by step,
Instead of skipping all of them,
And going strait to the top,
In some way,
I said I don’t understand,
What it is you’re saying,
She replied,
You always want to go strait to the top,
She speaks as she snaps her fingers,
You don’t want to do the work,
That each step,
Will make you work in that way,
You want to with only one step,
Make it to the top with this,
Plus you’ll miss all the fun,
That each step brings,
My little one,
Step by step,
She did say..
I understand what you say,
How can you make it any other way,
And what is it that makes you say,
This to me this day?
She says,
For I know you boy,
You are mine,
I know your ploy,
You want to be that star,
That sits up afar,
Your hard headedness,
Of your dreams,
You want it to be a being,
But you don’t want,
To learn other work,
And take it day by day,
So to stay afloat,
Until you become that star,
That you dream of,
That sits so high and afar..
Mother I did reply,
What is it I am doing,
In these days,
I’m doing my work,
I’ve put the star away,
I care not for such a thing,
I’m simply doing what my heart is saying,
I do wish that it would match your ways,
And that includes my dad,
and friends,
and family,
That I have these days..
Then tell me my son,
Why aren’t you out working?
Do you think you should get your money for free?
Why must you work so hard at being different,
And live off of doing nothing?
I know you don’t understand,
My mother what is in my heart and head,
She holts me and says,
Again what makes you so different,
Than any other man?
I said,
I do not know,
I never thought this so,
For why would I want to be so different,
As you have mentioned?
I don’t know she replies,
This is what I ask of you,
I said you got me,
And that be true,
But as it comes,
To me and my working,
I do as my heart commands,
Every day,
I’m working believe me this day..
Money,
Fame,
I shall not have,
To have my own family has become dead,
So there for my ploy,
Is to do what my heart commands,
It is where I get my joy,
For each is made for something,
And me,
It is my art to share,
And as of you,
My dad says too,
That I could make a killing,
A great living,
Of the art that comes about,
From the gift that is given to me,
But one must see,
That it didn’t take me any work,
To learn this gift,
It was given freely to me,
You see,
So to those who will enjoy my art,
They will receive it for free,
As it was freely given to me..
And as it comes to the ladder that you did speak,
Why would I want to be on top?
In the sky do you see those stars out there,
They look as if their close together,
But in all actuality,
Their billions of miles apart,
So why in Heaven,
Earth,
Or hell,
Would I want to be a star?
Now I may have said it as a kid,
But have you ever seen me make any effort,
Or progress to this?
No I’m sure should be your answer,
I will always be poor,
But happy doing my occupation,
Fame and fortune,
Have become dead in me,
Amongst a hole lot of other things,
And the ladder to me,
Does not exist,
For I now fallowing my heart,
And it abolishes it,
There is no measuring stick for me,
To say I’ve made it,
I’m a success,
Because no matter what,
It doesn’t exist,
And if the ladder was put back in me,
And I began to climb this thing,
There would be no end to it,
It continues on, and on,
And I would concentrate on becoming a success,
While I’d be missing this,
Life,
Life that is,
So please except this,
Young, and maybe ignorant man,
But I’m already a success,
For I’m doing what my hart commands,
So in all truth,
Maybe not to you,
I’ve climbed that ladder,
And fell back to the ground,
To realize that there is nothing up there,
But its all down here,
On the ground..

Ryan Brady OReilly
01/10/2002