Ode to the Obscure: a poem by Nolo Segundo

image by Mukhtyar Hussain, on Pixabay

Ode to the Obscure

Let us not sing praises for the famous

for most of them will be forgotten

in time…

and what really is fame other than

a name many know for a time?

The being, the soul behind the name

is not known, not truly known—

few know even themselves and

then never completely…

No, better to praise the obscure,

to laud the hidden, to sing of the

secrets carried in the edges

of life—the spaces between

heart and mind, mind and soul…

for there is all that matters, all

that endures, all that is true

and true and true... everything

else is desperation, loneliness,

the emptiness of ego posing as

truth, of semblance painted with

lies—deceptions the world eats

and calls great ones, but the best

are always reluctant, quiet, for

the soul never craves this world…

Nolo Segundo, pen name of retired teacher (in America, Japan, Taiwan, and

the war zone of Cambodia,1973-74) L.J. Carber, became a published poet

and essayist in his 8th decade and now has been in 225 literary journals in

19 countries on 4 continents. Cyberwit.net has published 3 poetry collections

in paperback: The Enormity of Existence, Of Ether and Earth, and Soul Songs.

These titles reflect the awareness he gained when he had a near-death experience

over 50 years ago whilst almost drowning in a Vermont river. (And, no, his NDE

was not of the "white light" sort, but then his near drowning was not accidental;

still, he is grateful for all of it.) 

December 2025 issue