Passing

We see images in our heads and are exposed to images of inhumanity each and every day.

Passing By

A pipe bomb,

full of fragments of regret,

rusts in the echo

between love and hate.

A rain drenched black dog,

tail between its legs,

sits awaiting the beating

that will come.

The child who forgot

his homework, eyes cast

to the wooden classroom floor

stands in humiliation.

Skeletal waifs

laying in fly infested rooms

in painful, hungry silence,

wait for death to call.

The prisoner, once brave and proud

and fighting for his land,

now kneels cowed, as the blade

of Isis is raised to strike.

Making sense

doesn't make sense

anymore.

But I must retain rational,

reasoned thought;

humanity must triumph

over evil at all costs.

31/07/17

Reviews

[pia]

'But I must retain rational,
reasoned thought'
true words!!! most people just create fear without reasoning and thinking.
and most create dangerous opinions without exploring realities. we need less hate words each other and more peace and acceptance.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed Pia you are so, so correct. Many thanks.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is so powerful....we are all prisoners of this new world, and it isn't pretty...it feels like death row...

j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I guess we are prisoners of a sort Jacob or do we simply stand by and watch? Many thanks.

[wordman]

we will defeat isis,but who comes next ? satan is always with us

[John Alexander McFadyen]

This is true but they are man made Ron. Many thanks.

[Coyote Poetry]

A sad world and below lines are true and necessary.
"But I must retain rational,
reasoned thought;
humanity must triumph
over evil at all costs."
Can't allow terror to create fear. Thank you John for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks Coyote

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome John.

[Ethan]

"full of fragments and regret" is packed full with similarities. Definitely my favorite line. "Rational, reasoned thought" is a little redundant, but it still gets its point across.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am no English scholar Ethan, my daughter and son on the other hand both studied English at university level. Tautology indeed but there is a subtle difference as rational is based upon logic and reasoned suggests the cognitive process used to assess and act upon the logic. In anycase it seemed to flow better. many thanks.

[AcasualPawn]

The last stanza is as perfect as first...
Great job john

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks DP

[Lorry]

Summed up perfectly with sense no longer making sense. We wonder if it has gotten worse, or is it technology informing us faster. Personally, my answer is yes to both. What we need is more John Lennons and less tyrants. We can hope.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I totally agree Lorry, you nailed it. Many thanks.

[DIVYA]

The prisoner, once brave and proud
and fighting for his land,
now kneels cowed, as the blade
of Isis is raised to strike.

Its so so heartwrenching, that image that plays over and over in the mind. Can't ever forget those faces. It takes great resolve to keep the faith in humanity.

All the visuals created in the poem are haunting. The first line is just beautiful John.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

There are some barbaric images on the internet which makes one question everything in humanity. Many thanks Divya.

[DIVYA]

I just pray when I see them....

You are welcome John.