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)

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Organic

Organic Food quote #5

Organic buildings are the strength and lightness of the spiders' spinning, buildings qualified by light, bred by native character to environment, married to the ground.

― Frank Lloyd Wright

We've lost touch and allowed technology to take precedence over organic nature. But let's not forget that those microchips in our computers came from elements of the earth.
― Emilio Estevez

When once I got to America I fell in love with hippie culture, and I've always wanted to live in the country and grow organic vegetables. 

― Jamaica Kincaid

We must make organic and farm-raised costs more affordable. We need to come to a level where people who don't have a lot of money can afford it. If we could eat just fresh foods, it would be wonderful. 

― Anna Pump

Midweek Motif ~ Organic 

The word "organic" has different meanings in different fields, such as, organic chemistry, organic clothing, organic matter, organic farming and organic growth--but I mean "native to our earth without human manipulation."  Let's explore what we/you/they mean by "organic."

Your Challenge:  What experience do you have with things "organic"?  Write a new poem with an organic theme or refrain.  

I couldn't find any poems with an organic motif!  Am I looking in the wrong places? Maybe romantic poets or at food websites? If you know of any, please link them in the comments.  

In Praise of Organic Matters
by Susan Chast

I sing in praise of organic matters:

Clay, mud and puddles that childhood splatters

Flesh, bones and blood of animals like us

And organs that work our minds and spirits

The fibers and colors of plant life, too

And earth, water, air and fire as fuel 

What we eat and what we waste, recycled

With all we haven't made but might have killed.

What we wear and what we invite to feast

The greatest wealth we uproot and the least

Sun, moon, precipitation and weather

Sheep's wool, cow's milk, maple syrup, leather 

Virtual playthings and vast minerals

Knowledge and Myth and What we Wear as Jewels.

Whew. 

*** 

Please share your new poem(s) using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community

(Next week Susan's Midweek Motif will be Openness.)