We Trudge Poem by Seamus O' Brian
We Trudge
we trudge across this trackless void
toward the mountains which never move
shoulder to shoulder, billions of souls
flow as the ocean's tide across a vast plain
toward the mountains which never move.
marching in families, parents with children,
toddling babes and skeletal elders,
moving as one, row upon row,
column after column, endlessly,
toward the mountains which never move.
Larger groups, banding together
slogging along, nations and tribes,
bound by language and bound by sameness
of food and thought and dress,
toward the mountains which never move.
day upon day, year after year
through storm and heat
we make our way across the plain,
and as we slog along, we kill
spilling the blood of those beside us
because they are not the same as us
because of baubles we find along the way
we kill and we kill and we kill
and we march on killing wondering
if there might be peace beyond
the mountains which never move.
Your poem is an allegory in epic terms of the while history of humankind, but not in terms of a narrative rather a procession toward an elusive goal. The MOUNTAINS THAT NEVER MOVE are not so much a destination which make us aware of what is intractable in our destiny and eludes our ability to overcome it. But even there human ingenuity prevails as people wonder might be on the other side - perhaps new fields ripe for occupation by people, a new beginning, a fresh start with the same hopes and dreams that make us human. Great Epic poem! !
Daniel, as always, your insightful and deeply reflective comments add layers of additional contemplation. Always an enjoyable adventure having poetry probed by a keen poetic mind as yours. Thanks again, my friend.
Very powerful image of mankind trudging - all the same, really, but killing ach other for our differences. The restless sea of mankind that cannot be tamed. And yet it will be tamed. (Revelation 21: 1-5) - the sea is no more.
Yes, at the point beyond every effort of mankind, there lies the hope of ultimate peace, when the sea is no more. Thanks, Laurie!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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7/24/2025 9:13:37 PM # 1.0.0
I love this one Seamus even in war they need to have an end goal and if reaching beyond the mountains that never move, which I adore that line, its something to keep them focus and something to work towards and achieve. A beautful powerful write and it reads wonderfully ;) Annette