The acrid odor of fear
permeates the very fabric of silence
that shrouds this forsaken fortress,
masquerading as native soil.
The refugees of conflict,
resigned to homeland horrors become
sheep aware of imminent slaughter,
defeat and resignation personified.
Politics in all its distorted permutations,
like a lethal scythe,
with indiscriminate precision
shears everything in its myopic path.
Collateral damage
becomes a sanitized subtext,
for whatever it takes;
operation success, patient dies.
Evil comes in many colors;
rationalized violence,
intellectualizations posing as
purported policies and beliefs.
Flawed and slanted principles driven by
self serving and profoundly immoral goals,
have no mercy,
for the peaceful and meek.
There is no winning in war,
there is no peace at gunpoint.
there are no human rights
in vacuums of indifference.
The rampant weeds of terror,
throttle the will of fertile crops
that would nourish
the hunger for peace.
Copyright © Henri Ferguson 2008
Author notes
We are led to believe that terror is perpetrated by all those that would oppose the new order of democracy being offered to those nations that, from our perspective, need liberation. Sometimes these nations are indeed oppressed and need saving, and as morally responsible and karmically correct global citizens we must step up to the plate. Then there are situations where vested and strategic interests override the human moral code and nations become enmeshed in a process of proliferating hate and deeply seated wars that will victimize entire generations. Repeatedly history reveals the hidden horrors of the façade of clinical warfare, nobody wins, and everybody loses.
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 23 of 23
-
sobering, astounding, poetry as both tears and fists of frustration!
a powerful and also poignant poem, stark and real. it should be compulsory reading for politicians and warmongers - this is tremendous imagery, Henri, the pen, not so much as sword, but as camera, and literary wake-up slap, and like surgical debridement of the world's festering wounds.
you always had it, but - respect -
Sheona
-
My son's first name is Henri...I have a fondness for that name.
This is an intense political poem, which in my opinion is the hardest type of poetry to write well, yet you have managed to create a real masterpiece!
Well done!
-
This is really powerful.
-
Well said! There's no excuse for the war now being waged in Iraq. Shame on our president and his accomplices.
Greed for power, for money, for territory..that's what this war is about. Who will stop it? Who can stop it? Will it take a revolution? Troubling questions.
Excellent poem!
Maureen
-
Very deep... profound. This piece is not to be skimmed through swiftly, it has to be meditated on, digested, read more than once to get the full impact of your words...
I think we all hunger for peace but in our search for it, people are trampled upon, beaten down and crushed because in our quest for peace we don't stop and consider others... guess we are looking in the wrong places for that peace.
This is wonderfully written, well thought out and it appears each word is carefully, painstakingly chosen for the fullest impact on the reader...
This piece weeps... for the ones hurt, left behind or left dead...
Thanks so much for sharing this... it has caused me to stop and think...
~Melissa
-
sigh
I hunger for peace as well Henri. I love that last
line. Soon we will have a new leader and maybe then..
I hope I hope. I feel so powerless myself. -
Dearest Henry ...
You write essence and core truths here ... It makes one shudder to think that powerful and corrupt "democracies" are responsible for war and for uneven distribution of wealth, food and of medical care world wide. History indeed revealed the hidden horrors and the losses of so called caring nations ...
I do not even want to BEGIN to speak about this topic. It is far too disturbing.
Thank you for your poem of enlightment.
Myra
-
There are so many truths in this poem. But more to the point, this is really written well. You've done a good job with your word selection and format. The poem moves well, maintaining the reader's interest.
Maybe one day mankind will learn to find its humanity and liberate the world. At the moment, so many people are more concerned with their own agenda that peace and tranquility among countries, races, religions and ideologies seem impossible. I hold great hope for strength and goodness of humanity... just doubt I'll ever see it emerge, to its fullest potential, in my lifetime.
Excellent write Henry. It is so good to read from you again.
Kindest regards,
Helen
-
this poem makes me want to cry!
-
Superb
Wow, an incredible write. Very well written, indeed. Aye, wars are hell. Someday, maybe, mankind will find a better way to resolve conflicting interests. Again, well done.
-
BRAVO!
I just started reading this poem and the first line hits me and the image wafts into my head," the acrid odor of fear." What a perfect way to discribe this. I love how honest you are in this piece. You can feel the warmth of your heart, and how you wish you could change things for the better. Really amazingly done...BRAVO! -
Great selection of words to convey the overall theme. Well done
-
omg this poem was thoughtfullly written. it was pure genius. I THINK OTHER PEOPLE ON ALLPOETRY should be writinng amazing poems just like yours. ui absolutley loved it. keep on writying never ever stop.
-
....wow! The picture, first of all, grabbed my attention and I looked at it for a good minute before I realized I have yet to read the poem! This poem is deep, and I think you are right about the new order concept. Everybody does lose. The only question is, how many more people must suffer before this is seen?
Great write. I really enjoyed it.
Love,
Miley -
I thought this poem was deep. The author notes helped to explain the poem. Sometimes, we can't save everyone or force anyone to our way of thinking.
-
This poem is well done. I cannot help but agree with the general premise. The point that most people disagree on is what constitutes a legal or moral conflict. In some instances this is quite clear, in others it is a grey area leading to serious debate. You did very well with the poem.
-
excellent presentation
I have seen the horors of what you speak of. at times difficult to know the real purpose of wars, dstruction and man`s hatred toward his fellowman. Too many losers, and few winners it seems. My hope is in the Creator, who has allowed this violence and bloodshed to continue for many, many years, certainly he has a plan or purpose, that man cannot change. He has allowed humans to strive to rule, which shows is impossible, because of selfishness, greed, or one race superior over another.The vastness of the universe, tells me, their is an intelligent designer, Creator, if you will, that will make the earth into what he originally purposed, a paradise, where humans live in peace and happiness. Thank you for this information. it is trthful and right on.
-
Right On, Brother!
Henri;
I agree wholeheartedly! The war in Iraq and Afghanistan are the self-centered latter. We have always been governed by self-centered RICH WHITE ANGLO-SAXON hypocrites who ONLY cared about America's interests. The propagation of democracy is only the hypocritical propagation of the capitalist dream, which in a way is a far worse dictatorship than any proposed by either Stalin or Mao.
Thanks for sharing.
Erik
-
In addition to your poem, the photo says it all.
-
The only thing I can think of writing here, is how very sad the reality of this has made me feel this Monday morning. sigh..
Warm thoughts.
frozentearz -
Wonderful work. thanks for sharing
-
I think you've hit the nail on the head with this one. I don't think the Iraq was about oil because the U.S. has spent more on the war than it has or will gain from controlling oil in the region. And I agree there are times when people need to be liberated from tyrants, and someone needs to lead the charge. But there are those who make ridiculous profits from war, so the motivations for starting and continuing wars are always worth questioning.
-
Both your poem and the author's comments are so very powerful, Henri and you've indeed shed light on the motives behind intervention and the horrors of oppression and war. It made me think of someone who once said that those that shout the loudest aren't always the ones most concerned - they shout for their own "strategic interests"...and then yes, nobody wins.
The picture of the little child is horrific and it reminded me of my visit to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem - the scenes there were so horrific I couldn't finish the tour. Of course here in Africa the same things happened, are happening to little children, innocent victims. You've put your poetic finger right where it hurts. Thank you for making me see this again.
~ Nicolette
Adding your comment:
1 - 23 of 23
