Iconography by agazeley at All poetry

What comes to mind when you think of an Icon

A wood panel with a picture of Jesus ?

Or are you more into pop star memorabilia

And don’t care where idealism might lead us

Do you vote when there’s an election ?

Or do you hate politics - yet never take part

And whilst your country heads toward oblivion

Your more interested in rap and pop art

Do spin doctors create your fashion ?

Do you wear five inch impractical heels

Do you buy assorted guns for your children

When it is not only animals they kill

Are you lead by the nose by the adverts

Do you believe everything that is printed

Do you rush to the store for no reason

And spend money as fast as its minted

The first Icons were Saints painted on doorways

To keep you safe and away from all harm

There were no gold albums . . or top twenty

And for entertainment mostly sang psalms

I think its time we rethought our heroes

And put more substance into our choice

Thought more of those pilgrims in sandals

And stop dreaming of owning a Rolls-Royce

Iconography is something we’re all involved with

The brand names, high the fashion and such

But surly it’s time to be more pragmatic

Do we really need to acquire - so much . .

A monk is really a guy of past ages

And it is not a pastime that I’d follow

But the glitz and packaging that grabs us today

Is undoubtedly trivial and hollow

So what do you think of when you think of an icon

Do you think of something with . . worth

Might I suggest if you are looking for an image

You can’t do better than think of the Earth.

Please tell me what you think

Comments

1 - 8 of 8

By me, right now

Adding your comment:
Ellis
September 15, 2008

Edit | Reply

Excellent
This sure has a bang-up ending
After advice of what not to do
Henceforth more time I'll be spending
Thinking of Earth just like you
poetryality
May 21, 2008

Edit | Reply

The "Earth" is the most valuable "icon" we have in our possession yet we constantly find ways to destroy it. To me, that simply means we are advantage takers. We take so much for granted. Let's look at oil for instance. The prices keep rising and consumers spend even more. Maybe if we just brought the purchase of gasoline to a halt for three days the prices would roll down a bit. But then, maybe I am simply an idealist. Who knows for sure.

If I were to adorn a label, I would prefer that it had my name on it. I shop for vintage clothing and love antiques. I don't think that anything is constructed as well as it was in the past. That makes me sad. The thought of becoming progressively less interested in quality tests my spirit. Jesus is far more than a mere Icon.

There are a couple of grammatical errors that should be edited Albert. Those editions would make this poem an excellent food for thought contribution to your poignant poetry.

"Your more interested in rap and pop art" [You're]

"And spend money as fast as its minted" [it's]

I do hope you are well dear friend!

Much Love Always ♥

Renee
Pari Ali
March 13, 2008

Edit | Reply

My answer is NO to most of the questions asked here and Thank God for it... A very well thought out poem Albert, I am with you against all the nonsense that seems so important to people today.
I appreciate the good things of life but i think the best things are those that God gave us free of charge and those are the ones we should preseve and tresure, nature, rivers, trees, mountains forests hills, wildlife and ofcourse in our life family, the people we love our friends even random folk we meet... thes are what should be treasured and what should make us happy, the material things only leave us so empty and longing for more. A few mintes spent with a friend with whom mind and heart meet will leave a much lasting pleasure than acquiring the latest good of any brand.
kvwriter
March 3, 2008

Edit | Reply

I have no icons but my Creator. Money is not what I consider wealth, having much of it rather, but loving people and having them in my life makes me a wealthy human being.

I do vote whenever I can because every voice counts and the music with which I surround myself must touch me, enter me even, in an almost spiritual way. To do so, it must hold incredible meaning and beauty to me.

I've never followed fashion trends, lol, as I just truly prefer being comfortable in the clothing I wear. My hairstyle changes, maybe, once every decade. Mainly, it is just on my head, longer than I'd like but that saves me from having to get it cut on a regular basis.

I prefer traveling lightly through this life. I don't need much, just the basics actually, warmth, food, security and I'm good to go.

We don't bring it with us at birth and we don't take it with us at death so I'm believing it might be a kind of test as to what we do with it all in the in between.

And when I think of my Creator, I obviously think of his creation.

Thank you for writing this. It helps us examine exactly where we are in life, or where, perhaps we should be.

Enjoyed the journey.

Love to you and yours, Dear Friend!

Kell
Alive Again
February 8, 2008

Edit | Reply

i love this poem and yea i do wear those 5 inch impractial heels lol i really like it it's really interesting
grannyeri
February 8, 2008

Edit | Reply

Great ending to this poem - think we always want to do our best, to reach that which is attainable to us, might at first have been unattainable at some time. Liked the rhythm, rhyme and flow to these lines. Makes one think, for sure.
anamchara
February 8, 2008

Edit | Reply

I certainly live in more hope than your first commenter; I don't think it’s too late for humanity. The pursuit of excellence is an interesting notion, and should be perhaps better applied to creation and care rather than to acquisition as is rampant in our consumer based economy. Our worth as humans is not wrapped up in our possessions; in fact I often wonder if possessions actually possess us rather that our assumption that it is the other way around.
Thank you for this.
Lost Luggage
February 7, 2008

Edit | Reply

Oh, a timely message to be sure. It is probably too little too late for all of us. The people who make any sense at all are in the minority and the whackos are running the asylum.

Interesting combination of slant rhyme and, what would you call it, full(?) rhyme. In the third stanza from the end you'll want to change surly to surely I think... don't want to give the wrong impression!

Philosophically I might disagree with the idea of chasing the Rolls Royce. Rolls is an exceptional car. Desiring and pursuing excellence is what has built the great cities, the great monuments, and built the great cathedrals. Anything can be taken to extremes, but I think aiming high is to be lauded.