Centuries Old

I am centuries old
I have been host to much mold
I have watched battles across the field
And watched empires and kingdoms yield
I have witnessed nature's change,
The forest, field, and mountain range
I have lived an idle life,
Watched nations under strife
Cities grow and cities fall,
And humans suffer over all
I have accumulated much wisdom,
A result of surviving all Earth's fission
Continents drift apart
Volcanic ash makes it dark
I still thrive
And will survive
I will forever watch the Shepherd and His flock
I am Ye Olde Rock

Douglas B. Myers
5/13/02


What you have just read was my first attempt at poetry, written way back in high school. Later on I submitted this to The International Library of Poetry (poetry.com), and it was subsiquentially published in their collection, Mythology of the Heart (ISBN 0-7951-5145-4). They also asked me to include some comments to accompany the poem and are as follows:

This poem came to me in a writing class. I was given an assignment to personify and object and chose a rock because it's old and has a lot to reveal. A poem appeared to be the ideal way to disclose the rock's feelings, so I wrote it as you see it. I express my gratitude to my English teachers and my family for their support and inspiration.