TOOTH AND NAIL



By now the tea was a faint shadow of warm pleasantness, and the filter was like a swamp algae-animal swimming in it. The young man who could survive the cold in shivering annihilation was growing weaker, and secretly realised that perhaps every shelter could be a trap? - For with him went despair and restlessness, and there is no final escape, no way out.

Now Existence is stagnant. Molar teeth and wisdom teeth are like glass bells, and the selfishness of common self-pity is mine alone, - it preserves everything inside. For unconsciously in all breathes and eats the thirsty and insatiable instinct for acceptance: I let troubles into the house like a pipe: but to take care of troubles - who can? Who? Indeed, the saying could be true: He who dares wins?

And every human thinker - if there are still any under the clouds of executioners, and in great confusion such - is burnt out, killed by the grinding workman-o'-thee, the years that have been like cockroaches! - No man here is worthy of cheap pity. Nor is unselfish forgiveness now handed out as a bagful on the Icy Street; the precarious breadwinner, like a cheap crust of bread, still simmers in the sewers' effluent till he reaches the reservoirs. The uncertain uncertain is the one that gets closer every day. It threatens and threatens!

Circumstances are now more and more harsh, They embrace the infinite with the ancient uncertainty: In a changing world Man also adapts to malleable interests, And adapts mostly, alas! In the trampling of morals, man becomes a beast, if he does not cling to his humanity tooth and nail!
Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Written on February 23, 2023

Submitted by oasev on February 22, 2023

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:25 min read
2

Quick analysis:

Scheme X X X X
Characters 1,594
Words 283
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 1, 1, 1, 1

Norbert Tasev

I was born on November 30, 1983 in Budapest! I studied Hungarian history. I was history teacher. I'm editing ebooks! So far, I have published my volumes on Smachwords and Publishdrive as part of an author's book publishing! more…

All Norbert Tasev poems | Norbert Tasev Books

2 fans

Discuss the poem TOOTH AND NAIL with the community...

0 Comments

    Translation

    Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

    Select another language:

    • - Select -
    • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
    • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
    • Español (Spanish)
    • Esperanto (Esperanto)
    • 日本語 (Japanese)
    • Português (Portuguese)
    • Deutsch (German)
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • Français (French)
    • Русский (Russian)
    • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
    • 한국어 (Korean)
    • עברית (Hebrew)
    • Gaeilge (Irish)
    • Українська (Ukrainian)
    • اردو (Urdu)
    • Magyar (Hungarian)
    • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
    • Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Italiano (Italian)
    • தமிழ் (Tamil)
    • Türkçe (Turkish)
    • తెలుగు (Telugu)
    • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
    • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
    • Čeština (Czech)
    • Polski (Polish)
    • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Românește (Romanian)
    • Nederlands (Dutch)
    • Ελληνικά (Greek)
    • Latinum (Latin)
    • Svenska (Swedish)
    • Dansk (Danish)
    • Suomi (Finnish)
    • فارسی (Persian)
    • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
    • հայերեն (Armenian)
    • Norsk (Norwegian)
    • English (English)

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "TOOTH AND NAIL" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/152118/tooth-and-nail>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    11
    days
    13
    hours
    57
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Which female American poet, who was little-known during her lifetime, but had nearly 1800 of her poems published posthumously, rarely titled her poems?
    A Sylvia Plath
    B Emily Dickinson
    C Amy Lowell
    D Sara Teasdale