Conscience, poetry by Leon Gregori
Updated: Jul 5, 2023
By definition conscience is our moral sense of right and wrong. A space where gut feelings, instinct, empathy and compassion combine to (hopefully) point us on the right path. In this piece I explore my own, and its subterranean other, piecing it together in the only way I know how; through my poetry.
Read on for the full piece, plus a bonus spoken word version!
“The only tyrant I accept in this world is the 'still small voice' within me. And even though I have to face the prospect of being a minority of one, I humbly believe I have the courage to be in such a hopeless minority.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
I love this quote because it really does encapsulate the internal workings of our minds. There is the part in which controls our body and its functions, then there is the part that is 'us'. The 'invisible' voice, which honestly I am not even sure sounds like my actual one. The one that questions, triggers, compliments and critiques. That voice is productive, obstructive and all the in-betweens.
Two as one and one as the same... conscience and mind constantly working to balance feelings and decisions. When I wrote this piece I wanted to expose those inner workings, the swing of the pendulum that never seems to rest. So here it goes... welcome to the inner sanctum!
Conscience
Want to write all about me?
Pick me?
Fight me?
Holding me back
A stabbing attack
Like a frenzy
No befriending
Just riled and foreboding
You make it an ending
Go ahead
Lecture me
Do your thing
Enlighten me
See what frightens me
Entices me
What stops me
Sparks me
Instant reactions
Copious satisfaction
Pitchforks swinging
Whilst fires rage
An open page
Or a closed book
Neither works
Or even should
Learn my lesson
Through making mistakes
Take in information
Owning my space
I know best
You just detest
That I don’t always believe
Or consider
Intrigued
I have ignored
Been closed
Bored
Distracted
I’ve enacted
A type of detachment
So my action
Decision
Natural submission
Is to stop
Listen
With pristine precision
Conscience tell me
For I want to be listening
Deciding
Debating
Considering
Doing our thing
Synchronising
With conscience my King
And Queen
My power
Personified
Progress
Intensified
Mistakes
Rectified
With love
I happily oblige
I shall now believe my honesty
The voice that corrects me
The one that shows me
My values within
Though it can harm me
Drain and extract me
Fill my lungs
With an air of uncertainty
My conscience is paramount
And will guide for eternity
As it rinses me out
And pinches my heart
I have learnt to respect
And even in death
Never shall we part
© Leon Gregori 2023
So as always thanks for dropping by and letting me share, maybe even plant a few thoughts amongst the pastures of your day. Enjoy the deep dive or continue in your stride... either way, thanks for your time!
Please feel free to leave a like or comment if you enjoyed this post!
Check out Conscience in spoken word on Instagram
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