t. reflexion

Aug 26, 2008 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

LEVELS ONE TO FOUR

It is good to work and save But not from hand to mouth To work as a common man Is really hard a story to tell Working at a level so low as ours With earnings gone on food and rents What do we have to show the world? When all is drained away from us Pity the upright common man Whose hope is in all he can do Be it hard or menial work Call it a strive to survive This war of hand and mouth Is a struggle on how to be a man.

— t. reflexion, Aug 26, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Country/Region: NGA

Favorite Poets: Inspired by an article in an old manuscript , It reads:, AXIOMS OF PERFECTION, In the physical order – In the realization of the dream of beauty, In the moral order – In the realization of the dream of love, In the intellectual order – In the realization of dream of poetry, In the spiritual order – In the realization of the dream of the mystics

Critiques

DarkinAZ

17 years 9 months ago

..

DarkinAZ

17 years 9 months ago

Nice...

this tells the tale of the common mans struggle to get by, tells it very well. I do not understand the title though? Sincerely, Mark

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

Levels

Thank you Mark for reading and commenting on 'Levels One To Four'. In my country, those with First School Leaving Certificates are placed on level one in the public and private sectors. They are mostly cleaners, labourers and messengers. Level two and three are the next levels of growth for the common man. Where level three also known as G.4 include those who couldn't obtain their Secondary school certificates, level four include those who are bright enough to obtain certificates(SSC), but may not have the means to further their education. Salaries at this levels are so small and can hadly satisfy anybody. Pick anybody at these levels of income and you will see pity. I don't know if I have answered your question, if yes what do you think of the logic behind the poem. Best wishes.

DarkinAZ

17 years 9 months ago

Now, I understand completely...

The logic now, makes sense. I figured it was a cultural thing I was not understanding, and I was correct. Thank you much for explaining this to me. Good write my friend, Mark

Barbara Writes

17 years 9 months ago

This is very touching

Smiles:) Barbara close to my heart as times are hard and get harder. your poem speaks volumes here very good write

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

Appreciation

Thank you Barbara for reading and for the insight. Best wishes for peace profound.

akabeks

17 years 9 months ago

plenty wahala for the common man

the elites and politicians should be blamed for most of the problems common man face all over the world...man no die, man no rotten.life goes on... akabeks

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

Real wahala

Thank you akabeks. You understand this situation very well. 'Man die go, another man born', you know. Cheers!

Linda Moses

17 years 9 months ago

T

This is plight becoming very common for a lot of people everywhere. You expressed it well, this war of hand and of mouth

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

Linda

Thank you very much. I will include 'of' to read 'and of mouth', a cue from your comment. To answer 'How are you' I sighted somewhere, I will say, I dey kamkpe. Meaning I am well. Best wishes.

sophie kant

17 years 9 months ago

a little insight?

loved the poem:) i'm asking the same question as DarkinAZ...what's the story behind the title? peace, Soph~

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

Sophie

Thank you for stopping by to read and comment. Take a look at my answer to Mark's question, I hope you will get what the poet tries to say. Best wishes.

easylife_2

17 years 9 months ago

Very good write

again as always.I especially like the last three lines,they speak volumes.Thanks

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

You know...

You know what I mean my good friend. Thank you for liking it. Best wishes for peace profound.

weirdelf

17 years 9 months ago

There is a certain brilliance

in the way you use languague simply and directly that evokes empathy and compassion that a fist-pounding rant could never do. (a small technical hint: after the last line put an enter then a space to give your reader a breathing space before the "level of feedback" box) cheers, Jess

t. reflexion

17 years 9 months ago

'Long time no see..'

I haven't head from you for sometime but I know you are there for us in the Neopoet family. I missed you. Thank you for the reading, the comment and the hint. Thank you for being there my dear friend. Best wishes.

weirdelf

17 years 9 months ago

I'm usually lurking about

but sometimes I read such a surfeit of poetry I am incapable of commenting. My apologies to all my dear friends, I do try to get back to them when I can. cheers, Jess