can one contemplate forever
forever is the eternal plain
a distance without punctuation
unending since creation began
a horizon so unimaginable
constant as the wearing of time
to tread upon it finds no end
a soul decays on the journey
relief in acceptance of the trial
the testing of a human shell
watched weighted and valued
the worth only in forgiveness
there is so much that is lost
so many drop into the abyss
that purgatory of damnation
souls used and used and used
learning until they are ready
until they know the meaning
of life and its immutable cycle
©2012, Donald Harbour
Donald Harbour Poetry 
There must be something in the air – despite spring arriving in the northern hemisphere and a beautifully sunny day here in England, these brooding lines speak to the back of my mind. Your poem starts at a cracking pace – and then I found myself re-reading the opening line and seeing two complimentary meanings. Clever opening, Donald.
I wondered about “purgatory of damnation”. Although my theology is extremely creaky, I suppose these two states are generally held to be distinct. So I wondered whether you meant ‘purgatory or damnation’, or whether in fact you are making a more complex observation, eliding the two. Not that it’s important.
“A horizon so unimaginable” – that expresses a common feeling concisely. And then “a soul decays on the journey / relief in acceptance of the trial” – now that’s unexpected, and brings the reader to a momentary halt, thinking about it.
Which is what I’m doing now …
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I wrestled with “purgatory of damnation. There is a Hindu thought in the usage in that we are damned to return to do it all over again until we learn to become more than human. The purgatory is a temporary punishment before the soul is again used for the purpose of living and reaching that higher form of reincarnation. This does not mean I practice Hinduism or reincarnation, rather I find the beliefs of the Hindus a fascinating explanation of life and far older that most of the worlds religions.
I am so glad that you looked further than just he words to explore their intent. Thank you for your intellect.
Regards,
Donald
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