Where the wheels of poetry and prose spin ...

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Deed [a pantoum] - POEM of the WEEK! 11/30

Deed (a pantoum)


If love is supposedly the song of the modern age,
why are there battle-cries filled with hate?
Few practice the Golden Rule offstage
while others treat it like a mandate.

Why are there battle-cries filled with hate?
Many deny or gasp at this trampling thought,
while others treat it like a mandate
in a power-for-peace onslaught.

Many deny or gasp at this trampling thought:
we are giving, but within a border,
in a power-for-peace onslaught
until chaos crumbles to order.

We are giving, but within a border
built on a forgotten cornerstone
until chaos crumbles to order.
Then why is it carved on our tombstone?

Built on a forgotten cornerstone,
few practice the Golden Rule offstage.
Then why is it carved on our tombstone
if love is supposedly the song of the modern age?

~


"Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?" -- Proverbs 20:6


2008 Ina Coolbrith Circle, 3rd place in the "War and Peace" category.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I like this poem... it reeks of truth.

Love - a word that is thrown around so carelessly- but not shown in action very much.

I will be the first to admit I did not even know what active enduring and sacrifical love really meant until I was probably into my 30's- and I learned it from my children. The deepest pain a parent can have is to know what your child wants or needs and to not be able to give it to them- whether it is something material like a dress for then prom, or confidence or solace in their hardships. When you really love someone you want them to be truly happy- in their soul happy and would do anything to make that happen- IF it were possible. To see them long cringes your heart and their lack hurts your heart as much as it hurts theirs. Love is doing what you can when you can - and praying when you can't.

If the world loved that way- wow! What a world it would be.