Tomorrow

August 14, 2017

An Infinity of Stars Woven

Within the landscape of time are
the shadows of war residing
casting doubts of fear
over hope filled integrity

for if I could but ease the pain
& erase the memory of horror
that slices through hearts
once laden with joy
I would

but there will always be those
who seek righteousness loaded
with weapons of destruction
their efforts devoid
of compassion

and soldiers who participate
on the battlefields of wars
whether at home or across seas
will carry scars always

and if it were possible within
me as a wordsmith to pen a poem
of salve and healing
I would

so that children may once again play
on peaceful soil under watchful eyes
of mothers and fathers
who can rest assured
of a tomorrow

filled with the spirit of love
& that fireworks will be celebration
& not the deafening voices
of bombs falling

for my soul cannot rest within me
until the vision of the universe
is the essence of peace shining
like an infinity of stars

the threads of woven fabric
like none that has ever been made
containing naught of the shadows of war
but a humanity of peacemakers
the gardeners sowing
seeds for the
future

This is in response to Jamie Dedes’s Wednesday Prompt. Please read more poets responses at https://jamiededes.com/2017/08/09/do-not-make-war-a-poem-and-your-wednesday-writing-prompt. The photo below was taken from the Morgue File and digitally altered by myself.

Field of Peacemakers

July 3, 2016

COUNTING LIFE IN TOMORROWS

No longer do I count life in years holding dreams
of newness of a younger love when each day
spilled over in the smell of scented flowers
when the air after the rain fell spoke
of clean, sweet beginnings and new meanings

I now count life in tomorrows obliged of sun
with nights counting blankets of stars
where they meet at dawn and part company
knowing there cannot be one without another

No, I no longer count life in years that promise
with the energy of youth who cannot wait for
hours nor even minutes as they peer at clocks
eager anticipation of the next moment
and the next and the next never knowing

That the time comes when tomorrows will become
as cocoons breaking open to free butterflies
the warmth of the sun as welcome as the rain
and the night a time of dreamt memories

Now I count life in every tomorrow promising
that there is another day in sun or rain
with nights in the company of radiant stars
with hope in becoming as butterflies
regaling in the nectar of scented flowers

Image Taken From The Morgue File & Digitized by Myself

Butterfly Nectar

June 13, 2016June 14, 2016

DO YOU HEAR THE ANGELS CRYING

Even if a million tomorrows come and go
as sun shining brightly we still will know
of the anger fueled by hatred replacing
blood running in some men’s veins
do you hear the angels crying
do you really, do you know

When the sun rises in the morning sky
scorching dry the blood left running
that seeped into the nightclub floor
into the walls and into the doors
will you hear the angels crying
do you really, do you know

There doesn’t have to be more killing
chilling headlines repeated in the news
of children dead in classrooms who
could have lived to change some views
do you hear the angels crying
do you really, do you know

Each time a trigger is pulled on a gun
mothers & fathers cry out their anguish
as do others left alone to languish
brothers, sisters, sons and daughters
will you hear the angels crying
do you really , do you know

Whether it is in a darkly lit theater
or on a dimly lit nightclub dance floor
college campus or elementary school room
they all breathed last where we found them
do you hear the angels crying
do you really, do you know

Image is Taken From Morgue File & Digitized by Myself

Crying Angel

How many people have to die in senseless wars, in mass killings before the human race decides to quell their fears founded in ignorance and make decisions based on being informed. There are those factions around the world who encourage fear and that fear is the fuel for hatred of things not understood. Each person should have the freedom to whatever religion they choose be it different from another. Each person, no matter the lifestyle lived or disability they may have, should be able to live without fear of those others whose fear comes from the hatred that has been fueled by some few, who themselves, fear what they do not understand.

I have many Gay friends who have enriched my life with their presence in it. This post is for them and for those in Florida who suffered the loss of sons, brothers, husbands or friends. They were all loved and cared about and will be missed as will all that were enjoying their company and also lost their lives, a mother, a sister, friends.

Let me clarify that this is not only about one group of people in our society, in societies around the world. This is about all people in all walks of life. I am a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, have had the opportunity in the past (some might never have) of attending college. My own children and their children have all attended public schools and some college. We all enjoy going to places in the public sector where people gather. Any of these people, both children and adults, could have been mine or yours.

This is also not about religious beliefs for the people of Islam do not believe nor condone violence. This is about one man’s anger and dislike for others and his fear of something he did not understand. It is unfortunate that the law still allows individuals to purchase automatic weapons, which are weapons of war, and until a law is passed that makes them illegal to obtain more of these situations will occur. Of course, there will always be those who will come by them illegally but at least it would make it more difficult for any one individual to act upon his/her anger.

I am a writer and have not been one to jump on any platform but this incident touched me to the core of my being as a human being. If nothing else, I have felt compelled to write something, which I hope will be of value to some.