I've seen the faces of martyrs
Simple lights of happiness
Even through the wrinkles in their brows
Blissfully endowed Buddha
Sitting amongst the lotus
If you had only forseen the dangers of man
Would you have done more?
Could you have done more?
Jesus Christ, upon your cross
Were you plagued with our error
That man has so forsaken your proverbs
Merely marketing on what is half believed
I choke on my own hypocrisy
In a stifiling guilt
If only I had lit the preverbial torch
Amongst hundreds in Saigon
If only the purpose was as clear
As behind prison bars in Birmingham
I can clench reason between my teeth
While an irrational tongue flails in my mouth
But in the wake of salvation and redemption
Is it not in the nature of man
To lash out with his hearts truest desires
If so, will you stand with me?
Please say you will
For I feel my "irrationality" has long been overdue...
Author notes
revolution
A contest entry
- Need Comments? by Shya.
300 points, ended October 11, 2008, 21 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Poetry needs a new class of writers... by Why so serious.
550 points, ended December 1, 54 entries
• next poem in this contest, • Add to finalists list, or remove from contest
comments?
Comments
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i agree ur philosophy...
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In my philosophy, desire is the single word that completely sums up human nature. Only there is another word, also part of our nature, that fights with desire, and that word is love. So you ask, "Is it not in the nature of man/ To lash out with his hearts truest desires...?" Well, it is, but men's true desires are not superficial. Our true desires come from deep within, are untouched by everything above, and this is called love. Everything above is self-centered, that is, revolving around the self, and here we find temptations, desire for wealth, power, greed. But the heart of everything, as the Taoists believe, is much deeper and truer, though harder to discover. We find at the very core of man that we need love, and that selflessness is beneath it all.
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