"Amidst the chaos, find your peace."
Turn off the talking heads, the horror,
the injustice, the insanity.
Find a green trail and follow it
down to the riverbank.
There are fish there,
swimming peacefully in verdant pools.
There is a heron,
contemplating his dinner,
intent and focused.
There are ripples spreading
outward from the centre,
the way hatred - or love -
spreads outward from its source
and gathers speed as it merges
with the tide.
There is an eclipse coming.
When the darkness lifts off,
may it take with it 300 years
- or three thousand? -
of social injustice.
May some light shine
into the heart of darkness.
May the sickness burn off,
exposed
under the clarity
of a new sun.
In the sunrise of that
awakening,
may we forge
a more lasting peace.
For the prompt at dverse: to take words from a song and write a poem. I chose the words in quotes, from a song by Nahko Bear and Medicine for the People.
I love how you laid the problem at the foot of the wonderful wildlife moments... slipping it in at the end of the first stanza. You bring it around nicely to a positive, hopeful end note.
ReplyDeleteYes! Please! "Find a green trail and follow it" not just to the river but to the mountains, the sea, the desert, the plains...the trees, lakes, rivers...Oh how I wish.
ReplyDelete"There are ripples spreading
ReplyDeleteoutward from the centre,
the way hatred - or love -
spreads outward from its source
and gathers speed . . . "
Oh, yes! Both the journey to peace and the hopeful erasure of years that we think will help us journey forward!
A beautiful write, I especially love 'Find a green trail and follow it down to the riverbank.
ReplyDeleteThere are fish there, swimming peacefully in verdant pools.'
Oh I just hope that things like this can change... In reality I think most people are just horrified... it will change.
ReplyDeleteIf only we would, if only we could. It seems so obvious doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteHow elegantly worded. You know I am with you. There is much to be done. But I know it can be done.
ReplyDeleteVery graceful and flowing
ReplyDeleteMay the bright light shine on and on Sherry ~ I pray for that peace ~
ReplyDeleteOh Sherry, I'm so happy you used Nahko Bear to inspire you. Your poem is like the medicine this world so desperately needs. Nature holds so many lessons for us if we only listen. Peace starts in our own hearts.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea of the eclipse when it is over taking away injustice with the new sun.
ReplyDelete