let me rant awhile
for what good it may do
to open the valve
if only briefly
for as one wave
after another
of sheer indignity
is reported
survivor guilt
courses through me
yet even this
was not mine to choose
for I don't happen to
have been born
Jewish
or black -
and that doesn't make me
more -
or less -
worthy of dignity
but I can observe closely
what it is like
to be pilloried
and persecuted
for one's peaceful contacts
and communications
holding personal beliefs
at odds with a regime
and a rage
courses through me
on contemplating
'man's inhumanity to man' -
though written long ago
that the world would be so,
where hatred would replace
kindness, love, empathy
I deplore the way
an ideology
of one disturbed,
possessed person
can lead to millions
donning a uniform,
henceforth labelling
one sector of humankind
'persona non grata'
to be mercilessly pursued
in legitimized genocide,
even savaging
little children
frightened lads
caught on the run
made to hold arms
for food
mamas with babes in arms
forced to watch them
dashed to pieces
then buried alive underground
their infant cries still heard
while their mothers were ***** -
as beleaguered, beautiful Estonia
was brought to it's knees...
and I weep and rant
feel knives in my gut
blood pulsing swift -
then take hold of myself
seek to understand,
if that be possible,
even a smidgen
of such distorted thinking
to delve into the mind
of a hateful deviate
for but a moment
and remain intact
so I scan his written mantra
and come to see that
all deeply held convictions
must have at its core
RESPECT
lest it attract the weak
and easily led,
or those forced into submission
seeking to simply stay alive
and they find themselves
taking part
in a forest fire
of polluted propaganda
a flood of merciless
devastation,
while their deluded leader
continues to spout forth venom
in the distorted notion
that they would actually
be acting in society's
best interests
or worse still:
'in the name of God'
(Acts 5:39;
Hosea 4:1-3)
This post was initially placed
at the end of my previous poem,
'mandated thuggery,'
but became so lengthy,
that though not my usual,
tightly honed offering,
I felt it may resonate
with some poets here on hp,
hence I gave it space
as a post in its own right.
You may wish to see my previous post
a poem that was based on these thoughts
I deeply appreciate your sharing
what you feel on reading
either or both of these posts
Many thanks
Eleanor