Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ War & Peace



“War does not determine who is right – only who is left” — Bertrand Russell



SOURCE


“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality….I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” — Dr. Martin Luther King



       Midweek Motif ~War & Peace

The World War I (1914 – 1918) ended with the establishment of the League of Nations — with the aim to explore the possibilities how wars could be avoided.
            
Yet armed conflicts among nations continue and Peace remains elusive as ever, thanks to the belligerent nations. Life does not matter!!!!

Raise your voice in this context.


1914

by Wilfred Owen

War broke: and now the Winter of the world
With perishing great darkness closes in.
The foul tornado, centred at Berlin,
Is over all the width of Europe whirled,
Rending the sails of progress. Rent or furled
Are all Art’s ensigns. Verse wails. Now begin
Famines of thought and feeling. Love’s wine’s thin.
The grain of human Autumn rots, down-hurled.

For after Spring had bloomed in early Greece,
And Summer blazed her glory out with Rome,
An Autumn softly fell, a harvest home,
A slow grand age, and rich with all increase.
But now, for us, wild Winter, and the need
Of sowings for new Spring, and blood for seed.



Earth Is Frenzied With Fury

               (A Song)

 by Rabindranath Tagore

Earth is frenzied with fury; in constant vile conflict;
Awfully crooked its path; tangled in wily greed.
All sore souls pray for the new birth of a Savior
Save us O Great Life with Thine life giving words
Let bloom the love-lotus with ever flowing nectar
              
O the ever Serene, Free and Holy presence
Let your Mercy absolve Earth of its stains

O Generous One initiate onto the firm renouncing path
O Supreme Mendicant claim our ego as your alms
Let all forget their cares, woes; delusion be severed
Let knowledge as the radiant sun dawn in its splendor
Let all world gain life, the blind receive sight

O the ever Serene, Free and Holy presence
Let your Mercy absolve Earth of its stains

The grieving heart of Mankind is smoldering with agony
Worn out in treasure hunt the discontents are aggrieved
Lands far and wide flaunt their blood-tilak* of filth
Sound your conch of well being and bliss
Touching all with Thy right hand to bless
Play Thy auspicious tune to the rhythm of Grace

O the ever Serene, Free and Holy presence
Let your Mercy absolve Earth of its stains

                    Translated by Sumana Roy)



To All In The So Called Defence Industry

by Adrian Mitchell

Arms trade workers, here's an early warning 
You might wake up tomorrow morning 
And find that this is the glorious day 
When all your jobs will just melt away 
Because the people of the world are going to make sure 
There'll be no more, no more, no more war 
So now's the time to switch your occupation 
From dealing in death and desolation 
Don't hang around now you've been told 
The international murder trade's about to fold 
You won't have to maim, you won't have to kill, 
You can use your brain and use your skill. 
Peace needs workers of all kinds- 
Make artificial limbs instead of landmines. 
Tricycles instead of tridents, 
Violins instead of violence, 
Lifeboats, hospitals, medicine, drains, 
Food and toys and buses and trains- 
Come on, there's plenty of work to be done 
If we're going to make peace for everyone. 
                 


Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community—
                (Next week Susan’s Midweek Motif will be ~Independence)

23 comments:

  1. The quote from Bertrand Russell is powerful!

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  2. Hello everyone, a happy Wednesday!

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  3. Thanks for another interesting prompt

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  4. I too like that Bertrand Russell quote, also the last poem.
    Thanks for this prompt Sumana.

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  5. Wasn't going to post anything, but something came to mind in the zen of driving to work.
    Thanks!

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    1. Thank you that you did post Rob. The poem was wonderfully visual.

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  6. “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality….I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” — Dr. Martin Luther King

    Luv the hope which this quote holds for peace in our world

    Happy Wednesday, its raining "cats and dogs" here in Trinidad and Tobago

    much love...

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    1. Thanks Gillena. Waiting for rains here in my part of the world. Much love to you too.

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  7. Wonderful prompt, Sumana! I wrote my poem yesterday, before reading these terrific anti-war exposes!. I hope you'll except it as an antiwar poem, too, though it deals with child's play. I love also Adrian Mitchell's approach. The poem is new to me. I see a great need to convert war jobs into peace ones. My favorite quote above is MLK's ". . . I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

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    1. Thanks Susan. Your poem was simply amazing and I read it as an allegory. Yes I also believe that Peace rules ultimately though she's quite distant at present. Sigh.

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  8. Hi kids. Timely prompt. I just finished reading Romeo Dallaire's book about the post traumatic stress he has suffered since his peacekeeping mission during the Rwanda massacre, when the UN ignored his pleas for help and he witnessed unimaginable horrors and was unable to stop it. He is wracked with guilt yet he could not have done more than he did, he saved many thousands as it was. The world, at large, did not seem to share the horror or the guilt. I havent written anything yet, but something may come......

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    1. Thank you Sherry. I am repeating Susan's words without that question mark. The failure of humanity. Thanks once again for the wonderful poem you shared.

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  9. Nice to see everyone

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  10. Thank you for the prompt. It took me places I didn't know I had such strong feelings about.

    Elizabeth

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    1. Thanks for the two wonderful poems you shared with us today Elizabeth. Both eye openers.

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  11. Great quotes, great prompt and thanks for the translation of a Tagore poem An absolutely amazing poet. I have an indian friend who introduced me to him :)

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    1. Thanks Marja. As Bengalis we were fed on with his works from our childhood :)

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  12. Computer problems again! Mine is up.
    https://purplepeninportland.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete

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