"More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginning of all wars - yes, an end to this brutal, inhuman and thoroughly impractical method of settling the differences between governments." ****
Franklin D. Roosevelt: 32nd President of the United States of America
While meditating, a
Blue light suffused
My room
Drifting through the ether
A male form appeared
Sensors blinked grew still
Gliding forward through the
Quiescent air,
Images formed messages
In my brain
Clearly within range,
Almost solid perception now
A death like grip on my wrist
Sensitive to my feelings,
Smiled at me; as if to say
"Son, you've seen the
Last of war's horrific power
Peace at last in this
Ivory Tower ***
Home you are safe and free
Let nothing come 'twixt
You and me
"Thanks, Grampa".
Author notes
Read at a Poets West Venue, Seattle, Wa., 3/21/2009 4pm - 5:30pm DCK
http://poetswest.org/venues.htm
I read this poem at a Poets West Venue in Seattle, Wa., Sat. 6/21/2008, between 4 -5:30pm DCK
* Word list and title taken from this novel:
"The Engines of God", by Jack McDevitt An Ace Book
Copyright 1994 by Jack McDevitt, ISBN 0-441-00284-6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_McDevitt
Word list: Sensors, range, drift, communications, quiescent, death grip, sensitivity
Written at the Arboretum, 6/04/2008 3:45pm
When researching the title, I wanted to use, I found an old movie/song with a similiar title. You can click on
this link: ** http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033409/
and this link also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_in_the_Night
*** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_tower
See Also:
http://allpoetry.com/poem/4372685
**** http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/f/franklin_d_roosevelt.html
For more information on former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, click on the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt
http://www.usmm.org/
Lyrics for the song: "Blues in the Night" are at this website:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/katiemelua/bluesinthenight.html
In a list
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 46 of 46
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We see the last of war's horrific power in the poet's vision born of a truly transcendental meditation. On the ground, war is all too real and ever present, but from an ivory tower of imagination - or perhaps of hope - our vision may extend to that far horizon where war no longer holds sway over our cursed human mortality.
The poem relates the assurance for which so many of us yearn. Whether from angels, transfigured saints or present grace of divinity, we long for the visit from one who may speak of peace from the actual experience of it in this world or the next.
For psyches devoid of imagination of experience beyond this plane of existence, there is no hope for the end of war but only fear of its cruel whimsy.
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Thank you for your most thoughtful comment, it is, indeed, one of the finest comments I have ever received. I hope you have a very pleasant day. Thanks again.
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This is a wonderful piece written with style and much thought. We can decide not to go to war and our people will be happy for that. Soldiers remain home and safe, sailors nolonger sail the endless seas keeping our oceans safe, Airmen fly just to keep up practice, All the military forces can down their tools and say, we won't go to war nomore.....but....there are other forces out there who don't give a damn and will keep right on creating wars and misery and sooner or later, you will be drawn back in. September 11 showed us all that no matter what, there will always be someone somewhere who just doesn't care. When your country is attacked from within, then there is reason for concern. I loved this piece because it spoke much and said much. To feel the presence of your dear Grandma saying these most longed for words is something really very special. great write which I got a lot out of.
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Thank you for your most thoughtful, and concerned comments and compliments, for I do appreciate them. You are correct, it is too bad that the fools who create war, don't spend the same concern and money own improving the lives of citizens of their own countries instead of fighting over foolish things like religion, and cultural differences. Ah, I keep forgetting we do not live in an ideal world, and more's the pity, that we do not have compassion for those who are different from ourselves.
Thanks, Condor, and I hope you have a good evening. -
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Hi, mate. Your write was wonderful and really made me think a lot. I am having not a bad day. Been off sick from work and return tomorrow which is why I am able to be here today. It is 12pm here and a beautiful sunny day. You stay safe and take care.
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I'm glad you are feeling better, and I shall, and you also.
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War creates more problems than it solves....
well written piece a lot of thought and emotion has gone in this write, and it reflects
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A lovely poem full of sentimetal dreams.
Your diction captures your attitude very effectively.
The first stanza is particularly well written, an ideal introduction.
You deal the spirit contact in stanza 2,with a fine use of the word "Quiescent" a inspired choice.
Why the ... after "ivory Tower"?
A lovely and important message to those politicians, keep working for peace. Your note are also of great help, from an English point of view.
Thank you.
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Well Done
This is a beautiful story, laid out well and described with feelings written from the heart and edited by the soul. Your work confronts life and love in its totality and comes up with a wanting heart. The words are gentle and the hurt is real...leaving a feeling of calm acceptance. The entire premiss for this story and its implications to our own human psyche has been skillfully captured within your poem.
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Thank you for your most thoughtful comments; compliments, and applause. I do appreciate them.
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Ah, would that it were so! A poem full of hope and possibility, that we should learn war no more!!! A finely done piece of verse.
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Aye, indeed. Thank you for your thoughtful comments; compliments. I do appreciate them.
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sad
War is always sad with so many people dieing. Nice flow of words. This is a fantastic poem though. You described it well. It was a pleasure.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments; compliment and applause. I do appreciate them.
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Works really well..... love the story line of the poem.
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Sorry for the delayed response. Thanks for your comment; compliments and applause. I do appreciate them.
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Love the Roosevelt quote, as impractical as it may be. I sure wish there was a cure for war but with the endless parade of madmen in the world who will never step down or give up without a fight, I don't know what it might be. You have a very engaging writing style. I look forward to reading more.
Mark
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Aye, I understand what you mean. It is an idealistic quote, yet, Pres. Roosevelt, helped to end World War II, with it's terrible Holocaust; brought this country out of the Great Depression with his Works Progress Administration and other programs, and of course, he was the President who created Social Security.
I believe he was one of the greatest statesmen, this country has ever had. -
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Me, too. Hopefully, Obama will be able to take a few pages from his book.
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I guess, other than contacting his office, all we can do his hope.
thanks again, for your comments.
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Thought provoking indeed and I can see why you were reminded of it by mine
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Thank you for your comment; compliment, and applause. I do appreciate them.
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so super sweet. I love it!!
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Thank you for your comments. I do appreciate them.
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Ah yes . . . this reads like a prayer for everlasting Peace . . .
Marc -
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Thank you for your most astute comment. I do appreciate.
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Brilliant!!!
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Thank you for your compliment and applause. I do appreciate them. However, all credit belongs to my 'muse' (Or someone from beyond, who dictated this to me).
I was seated on a bench in the Seattle Arboretum, when I wrote this. It was a beautiful cool Seattle summer day. Looking out over the water and wetlands, glancing towards the sky, each phrase floated down to me, without any conscious effort on my part, no thought was involved, no research, no war experiences of my own, and I just wrote down what was revealed to me. I think I may have been in a light state of meditation at the time. I'm sure my 'muse' also appreciates the compliment and applause.
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loved this poem! Richly written and wise truths!
thankyou for sharing it!
ears/Seattle
way to write and speak with flames of fires knowledge
and truth....
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Thank you for your comments; compliments and applause. I do appreciate them.
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Fine poem: erudite, well constructed and making full use of poetic devices. It really does come into its own when read aloud - so very atmospheric! Especially liked the twist at the end!
Thanks for guiding me here - a very enjoyable read.
p.s.: This link will take you to YouTube where there are various versions of the song - including Katie Melua's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03W-hOoo_Ro
Best, p
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment; compliments and applause. I do appreciate them.
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Hello Trafalger679Curious.
There is good diction in here as well as visual scape, and nice to see ether get a mention, interesting that you would use it. I have to say it reads like this happened either after the death of your ego, or more likely after a battle with the guardian on the threshold, and you knew not to fight it, but to submit. Which according to some writings is the real meaning of "resist not evil", and thus creates a Jeu, where the word Jew comes from, for a proper Jew according to some writings is not race, "But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart." (Romans 2:29, KJ Holy Bible). Reminds me of the "twice born" which is what the pyramids amongst other things were used for. I went off on a tangent, ahahha.
Ace Book publish the best books, hahahah.
A deep write. My regards.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments; compliment, and applause. I do appreciate.
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Ah . . . if only the apparition's words could be true . . . A haunting reminder of what could be, WELL DONE SCRIBE . . .
Marc
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Thank you for your comments; compliment and applause. I do appreciate them.
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desolate hope
i love this write it leads the reader through a gambit of emotins and images
true and rich language..
from a true poet soul
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Thank you for both your comments and applause. I do appreciate both.
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Absoloutely fantastic
Thanks for pointing me this way, I loved this. The "words" of the apparition in particular were beautiful. A great sense of hope in this one. Seriously fantastic, if I could clap more I would.
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Thank you for your compliments and applause. I do appreciate both.
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This is really good!
I love the diction!
I've been hearing a lot about this poem
It's good to actually have read it now
Thanks for sharing!
I'd love to read more from you in the future!
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Thank you for your comments and compliment. I do appreciate them.
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Excellent word usage! Your quite descriptive aren't you? It sets a very good mood for the reader though, just save spot for me within that ivory tower will you?
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Thank you for your compliments. However, I didn't write this piece, my Muse wrote it for me. I was seated on a bench in the Arboretum, on a nice day, and all of a sudden, one sentence came into my mind, a moment later the next, and so on and so forth. Much of my poetry, is written more by Spirit, than it is by me. I consider my poetry to be a gift from Spirit, so I write as the Muses dictate it to me. It's almost like Automatic Writing, yet different. I'm sure that Universal Mind, will save you a spot.
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SUPERB
Grand vocabulary and explicit imagery tightly woven into one mighty fine piece of poetic royalty. The background is also perfect!
POETDONTKNOWIT
WRITING IT HER WAY -
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Thank you for your most gracious comment and compliment. I do appreciate both.
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