Let us mourn those children born not knowing they could be enemies in anyone’s war: Let our tears fall like petrol raining on fire, licking the blood that crowns the hills above the ruined village.
Me too. I wish there was nothing this heart wrenching to write about. But there is, and you’ve named it in your words so well. May we one day all have more love than mourning. Until then, we mourn. And love when we can.
That can explain your (and what may have been his) intense passion and soul coming through in your blood I’m guessing. And your eloquence. What an inheritance.
He was and is heartbroken, devastated, angered and every other related emotion in between, every single time His creation chooses to grab on to anything other than Him to safe them, fix them satisfy or satiate.
But the most amazing thing is if we return to Him, confess and turn away from evil He wraps us in His grace and mercy. He always Has & always will for those that call Him Savior.
I sometimes think as I studied the OT- How could they keep betraying the Lord over and over when they knew what the generation before them did & what happened as a result… then I realize it is the human condition. I do it, we all do in some capacity.
Growing to truly be more like God is an ever evolving series of mistakes and corrections. The time between gets shorter and the “mistakes” get less dramatic. It’s that we all have, in some way a constant push pull relationship with the world (evil) and God…
Growing to look more like Him and less like the world is the most amazing choice ever!
Thanks, Paul. Your poem perfectly plants us where we find ourselves today. All forecasts indicate withering. Our hearts in particular.
Thanks for reading, Gary, and for the comment. I think you’re right
We mourn, but also chop wood and carry water.
We have to be able to do the one and all the others, too, Malcolm—we just have to.
Very good, powerful. The choosing sides....that's the one that gets me
Thank you, Wes—That notion has always irked me, too.
Excellent. Let us mourn smiles turned grey.
We need fewer smiles that turn grey, Roy
Oh my goodness, the first line, a gut punch…and it keeps growing in power as you read on. Very good, thank you.
Thank you sharing your thoughts on this piece, Jenn, I'm grateful
Powerful poem. This especially spoke to me:
Let us mourn for the revelation love
might have brought instead of the
apocalypse of blood we received.
So much senseless slaughter going on today. It breaks one's heart.
I sometimes think we just don't deserve this world, Deborah—Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this.
.. (feelings beyond words)..
I wish I wouldn’t feel compelled to write such a thing, Teyani 🤔✍️
Me too. I wish there was nothing this heart wrenching to write about. But there is, and you’ve named it in your words so well. May we one day all have more love than mourning. Until then, we mourn. And love when we can.
Well said.
"Cultures in chaos" just about sums up current events and plays a dirge on my heartstrings.
Thank you, Grim
This is a call to prayer and a sermon I would attend church to hear, Paul.
(And I don’t go to church anymore.)
My paternal grandfather was a country preacher, Patris. I thought about it for a hot minute…
That can explain your (and what may have been his) intense passion and soul coming through in your blood I’m guessing. And your eloquence. What an inheritance.
Poet as prophet. Keep it coming Paul.
Thank you, Ron—I’m not much of a prophet, Ron, but I can see where we’re going and I’m sure you can, too.
Not too hard to see, but we need poets and prophets to help us open our eyes. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Ron
How appropriate, how timely!
Thanks, Stan—I leave most of the timely stuff to you because you’re so good at it but sometimes I just can’t help myself
This is brutal and beautiful x
Thank you, my Friend!
exquisite
Thank you, DeeDee D
He must be disgusted by the atrocities committed in His name and that He is asked to sanction.
Truth!
He was and is heartbroken, devastated, angered and every other related emotion in between, every single time His creation chooses to grab on to anything other than Him to safe them, fix them satisfy or satiate.
But the most amazing thing is if we return to Him, confess and turn away from evil He wraps us in His grace and mercy. He always Has & always will for those that call Him Savior.
I sometimes think as I studied the OT- How could they keep betraying the Lord over and over when they knew what the generation before them did & what happened as a result… then I realize it is the human condition. I do it, we all do in some capacity.
Growing to truly be more like God is an ever evolving series of mistakes and corrections. The time between gets shorter and the “mistakes” get less dramatic. It’s that we all have, in some way a constant push pull relationship with the world (evil) and God…
Growing to look more like Him and less like the world is the most amazing choice ever!
This is so powerful and so relevant. I weep.
The original title for this was going to be Let Us Cry, Petrena.
This is stunning.
Thank you, Margaret. What is stunning is what we can see with our eyes and somehow ignore.
Agreed.