Poetry

[Iago]

I did not see a category for free form poetry, so I started this thread. I hope to share thoughts with you all.

Hawk

Gag now on your words, they do betray you
Come forth now that your rouse has been uncovered
Your meaningless effort to explain yourself has led us all to discover

......that you are a fraud
A charelton at best
I will expose your self-serving ways to the rest

......Of the world you are the most evil despot of all
Will more of us march to your maniacal call

......Of the wild to who you have such appeal
self-righteous soldiers lock-stepping with zeal

......For the Kingdom of Heaven you wish for this Earth
to the rest of us all means nothing but dearth

......For true peace on Earth means good will to all men
but you'd have us believe that we all live in sin

Don't save my soul, don't show me the way
It is by my humanity that I will allay

.....My fears for tommorrow could all go away
If you'd do more to save us than kneel down and pray

.....For the vision of peace should be for us all
may all of you soldiers please answer this call
Be kind to your neighbor with justice and love
For the flight of our freedom is that of a dove.

[Neo Stella]

Iago, I would be interested to discover the inspiration for this piece, it appears to be a lament about all preachers whose request is, "Do as I say, not as I do."

[Iago]

Neo said:

Iago, I would be interested to discover the inspiration for this piece, it appears to be a lament about all preachers whose request is, "Do as I say, not as I do."

No, actually it is about, as the title suggests, the hawkish nature of fundamentalist extremists, both Islamic and Evangelical. The 'lie' is that violence is all that 'they' know - that 'their' god condones this violence to bring about the 'kingdom' Measured response to evil is inevitable; but peace is everyone's duty.

[Neo Stella]

Oh right. That makes perfect sense. I would say though, whilst peace is desirable the nature of humankind is that there is always a balance. Peace and war, like chaos and order is a relationship. Too much conflict and destruction has the upperhand, too much peace and we lack challenge.

True peace I believe is inner balance.

[Iago]

Neo said:

..... the nature of humankind is......

what WE make it - how we learn to treat each other and how we perceive truth. Do you not aspire to advancing the view of mankind to the point where it is rarely necessarty to kill?

I agree that there is a balance in nature. There is also evolution of thought. I prefer an enlighted society with tolerance for differing opinion. The intellectual challenges and consequences need not end in death.

True peace I believe is inner balance.

Perhaps the thoughts of an ostrich?

[Neo Stella]

Iago said:

what WE make it - how we learn to treat each other and how we perceive truth. Do you not aspire to advancing the view of mankind to the point where it is rarely necessarty to kill?

I agree that there is a balance in nature. There is also evolution of thought. I prefer an enlighted society with tolerance for differing opinion. The intellectual challenges and consequences need not end in death.

Perhaps the thoughts of an ostrich?

I agree completely. As we understand life more, preservation and enhancement become the motivation. When you see things that are happening in the world today we still have a long way to go. We will however mature where wisdom overtaking aggression will be the leading feature of humanity.

This is the goal and you are right, the challenge is how we come together in co-operation. History shows us to be more successful when we pool our resources.

An ostrich can achieve inner peace by shutting out the outside world, unfortunately it can be short lived if any outward threat is not faced. Inner peace can empower you to face all kinds of threats to your existence including terror, whatever form it takes.

[Iago]

Neo said:

Inner peace can empower you to face all kinds of threats to your existence including terror, whatever form it takes.

I agree that inner peace is a necessary coping function; but not an excuse to hide from the issues that cause violence. We give tacit approval of violence in all our media, by consuming it and buying the sponsors product. We don't bother to question our leadership on an intellectual level. Appeals to our most base common denominator should not how to sell foriegn policy. At the same time, we can not stand by and be picked off one by one

The answers must come from the world community. Free nations and their citizens must find the leaders of tommorrow that will bring hope and justice to all people. Yes we have a long way to go, so what are YOU waiting for?

[Neo Stella]

Iago said:

Yes we have a long way to go, so what are YOU waiting for?

A good point Iago.

[Iago]

Why couldn't I leave well-enough alone
Must I always venture so far from my home
Why would I betray someone so dear
How could my thoughts have been so unclear

It is often lonely in this fortress of mine
so glib and so witty most of the time
But how could you know I meant you no harm
I must have over-estimated my charm

The temptation is great to assume that I can
become any age, any sort of a man
I play these charades for my own selfish sake
How deep are my arrows, who lies in my wake

If I could undo some things I have done
I'm sure it'd have been not quite as much fun
However it seems my pure heart is masked
To have it both ways is just to much to ask

I close myself off yet summon you all
I guess I expect that you notice my call
that my sardonic veneer is only a guise
for my need to be thought of as respected and wise.

To try and share love is the most noble of dreams
To have had it and lost it leads one to extremes
The fortress I've built has served me so well
So mighty it is, alone I shall dwell

[Iago]

Paul said:

Are you trying to tell us something?

No, It only has meaning if you understand it. Only one person should but more than that will wonder.... because:

I play with fire, come and watch the show
I keep things in turmoil, how far will I go
I can juggle a chain-saw or tame a wild beast
I'm the clown in the center with big fuking feet
A fool for the crowd, that's the role I now play
My talent as ringmaster is slipping away


Does that help?

[Iago]

I have done nothing that is either spiteful or unethical in putting my thoughts to words. It is truly a shame that you misunderstand.

[Adey]

As you correctly observe, I have become a part of it. NOT because I have assumed a negative connotation in your words, but because I have seen the immediate effect that the words have had. And it was not a good one.

You are an articulate man and a skilled wordsmith. If I take your protestations at face value (and indeed have no reasons not to), then I have to conclude that whatever your intentions were, the results did not meet them. Perhaps you overestimated the perception of your intended audience, I don't know. But you should surely have been aware that you were moving in a sensitive arena and that there was very considerable room for misinterpretation. On that basis Iago, "Methinks you doth protest too much.."

I can and always did see the poem as a conciliatory gesture with whomever you intended. But surely this could have been achieved with a simple Instant Message.

[Iago]

Adey said:

As you correctly observe, I have become a part of it. NOT because I have assumed a negative connotation in your words, but because I have seen the immediate effect that the words have had. And it was not a good one.

This is true of much poetry and literature. I want this to be a challenging and vital forum. This form of expression is contained within this thread.

If you look closely, the revelations show regret and self-disappointment. How could that be construed as hurtful to anyone else. I hope to explore the whole range of humanity, not just the polite nicities; however, when I have crossed the line, my nature requires that I try and make ammends.

You are an articulate man and a skilled wordsmith. If I take your protestations at face value (and indeed have no reasons not to), then I have to conclude that whatever your intentions were, the results did not meet them.

That is yet to be seen. My creative expression was helpful to me. If others have self doubt or wish to make something out of it that it is not, then that is not my fault or intent.

Perhaps you overestimated the perception of your intended audience, I don't know.

I am half of the intended audience. If the shoe doesn't fit everyone else then why do people insist on trying it on - fascinating to me; but, as I said, I play with fire.

But you should surely have been aware that you were moving in a sensitive arena and that there was very considerable room for misinterpretation.

I admitted as such. I hate explaining what is more difficult with prose, but I lament about how my sarcasm, experimentation and duplicity have already had an undesired response.

Concilliation with whomever you intended could have been achieved with a simple Instant Message.

It's not that simple. The pm route did not work. I do overestimate myself and for that I am sorry. But, otherwise I do not regret expressing my feelings honestly.

[Al Truest]

I am baffled. Clearly it was what led up to the poem - not the poem itself.

[Cybil]

SvenGolly said:

Reap what I have sown Iago!

Look at my shoes, I know they don't fit
Yet I stomp my feet with them, I don't give a sh1t
But when I discover they weren't meant for me
I ask and complain, how can that be?