The Significance of Difference



Life isn’t choosing from mere good and bad.
If that would be the case, we'd win the plight.
Instead we can’t but try and just feel glad
when things succeed, and they don’t cause a fight.
There is no creature fully in control,
and nature always stays the strongest force,
but since we’re fractions of the whole
each of our actions builds its course.
Resembling just a speck of dust
a flake of snow, a raindrop in a lake,
our struggle is with what we think we must
for god’s or people’s private business sake.
A fact of life it is that none’s the same,
we’re all unique and each can change the game.
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Submitted by ludy_b on April 29, 2021

Modified on May 01, 2023

34 sec read
1,070

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCDEFEFGG
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 600
Words 114
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Ludy Bührs

The topics she writes about are very diverse, so are the poetry styles she applies. As a Dutch translator and poet, having lived in Cambodia's capital city Phnom Penh for 2.5 years, in 2008 she published "Op de ruïnes van een rijk" (On the Ruins of an Empire) ISBN 978-90-8834-483-1 with 60 poems based on her experiences there. In 2007 she received a Certificate of Accomplishment as one of The Best Poems and Poets of 2007 issued by poetry.com and the International Library of Poetry for her poem Choked Truth, her own translation of "Verstikte waarheid", one of the poems in the book. Born in 1956, she still works as an independent translator, translating from English into Dutch. more…

All Ludy Bührs poems | Ludy Bührs Books

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15 Comments
  • WhyCantIUseMyOwnName
    "Wins the plight" and "builds its course" are nonsensical phrases. A plight is not something to be won or lost, it just is. You might as well say "wins the state of being". You never clarify what "builds its course" refers to, as in whose course, is being "built" or rather influenced. Also, "can't but try" should be "can but try", since "can't but try" is a double negative. You also never indicate "what" we "must". Must do, must think, must have? What? 
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • teril
    This poem puts it all in perspective; it's both comforting and calm. I like the way you describe the strength of the micro as well as the macro. Really good writing.
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • robertrad2021
    Uplifting.
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • Dougla$Irishman
    Words are us, it gives us a personality so unique it shows who we are !
    A well thought out poem, its like a journey that never ends !
    And your name, Ludy is also original !
    LikeReply 12 years ago
  • Dougla$Irishman
    Very nice thoughts here, poetry is unique to shape the things we feel are important to share. how we look at things differently than others !
    LikeReply 12 years ago
  • cubs1969
    nice flow
    LikeReply 12 years ago
  • Soulwriter
    Love the philosophy you share
    LikeReply 12 years ago
  • Adora
    I really wanted a promotion. Am also a poet. Traces my page.please!
    LikeReply2 years ago
  • ronniefox
    I like this poem, it's well written and very insightful. Good job.
    LikeReply 22 years ago
  • S.Zaynab.Kamoonpury
    A very nice positive poem wow! Kudos!

    Plz do read and comment my first poem , im a newbie here but I've been writing for ages elsewhere.
    LikeReply 12 years ago
  • Sundozenrise
    This is beautiful!
    LikeReply 32 years ago
  • TrevorX
    Well expressed and very clear. Goethe would love it.
    LikeReply 22 years ago
  • brijmohan_p
    We are all unique and each can change the game. This is the complete meaning of the entire poem. Very well written. May
    God bless you. Thanks.
    LikeReply 22 years ago
  • brijmohan_p
    A heartily touching poem. The fact of life is described nicely. Very, very good .
    LikeReply 22 years ago
  • Leocribs
    The poetry is very nice. Its title is something that's very captivating. Great job.
    LikeReply 12 years ago

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"The Significance of Difference" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/98663/the-significance-of-difference>.

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