Civilization

My second sestina, this one is more true to the form and far shorter. I recommend reading Human Splendour, my first sestina.

We all hate, we all fight, just to survive

Such is the way of life, to live, to strife, and eventually die

I look at the world around me and bleed selfishly

Hospitable pity is all we give to those who have lost their way

These warriors battle yet another day, unafraid

Such is the way of forgiveness, nihilism is a privilege

 

We distinguish our differences, face oblivion, rot and decay to fade away such is our privilege

Unalive on the inside, we rise to the occasion, brazen with hatred, anything to survive

This is the way that we crumble inside, struggle among the rubble, succeed, fail, die

Emptiness is its own form of malevolence, our essence is bled, and to suffer is to live selfishly

Wade through a daze, an endless parade, stagnate in silence, drown in the violence, such is our way

Suffering is its own freedom, believe in your place, work through this maze call life, a lost renegade unafraid

 

Healthy children born in a cruel world will learn the meaning of freedom, boy or girl, and take selfishly

This is the only path we are cut out for, our eyes gouged out by war, and self-pity, designed to be this way

By a god we can’t rely on, resorting to our subtle violence, tiny voices, in the cold-hearted silence, unafraid

The liquid in our veins says it was made to be sprayed copiously, burn the village, pillage, through privilege

Guided by our intuition, each man has a mission, words are ammunition, love is a condition not to survive

And as we realize, the hurt in our brother’s eyes we can see that we are wrong, and the strong still die

 

While the weak will struggle, they are human beings, and there is empathy, somewhere within unafraid

And this is no war, with guns and swords, it is one of difference, of unearned privilege

That no one really deserves, unequal, absurd, for those who have the nerve to try, may not survive

With humanity inside us, no one is good or bad, there is no black and white, only the grey skies won’t die

And I am a man who understands empathy, but still acts selfishly

And this is how things go, this is our home, the world we know, the fate we grow every day from these graves of mayhem, it is our only way

 

This is the fate of our race, to climb higher than the rest, and call this person best, might is our way

People who challenge power and scour the world for a better life are rightfully unafraid

We hope for a better world, but don’t try to make it happen, for the ones who dare are not privileged

I lack the insight to feel their pain, their love, and suffering, I deny what I cannot understand, my commanding ignorance is a booming voice inside my head, and it survives

But hope personified will lead us, love, freedom and reason will never die

And anyone who would better themselves through taking from others dies dishonestly, sins selfishly

 

I live only because others have lived before me, I am only lucky to live because of them in their strength, and they die

And I will not lie selfishly

And say that I am better than others, or that one human life is somehow more or less than yours, no way

Although through those that would not betray us, can we live such freely, unafraid

Privileged

We hope our children will know the same, that only through the strength of others can we govern our lives, pacify ourselves, survive

 

 

I am unafraid, selfishly free to be myself

That is the very way that I will die

Just as I survived, privileged, by a far cry, but earning my rights, through tough times

Author's Note

I very seldom reply to reviews, but I promise I read EVERY single one. I look forward to my next review because it helps me learn. Even if it's just one word, I promise, I will be ecstatic to have the chance to hear what you have to say. Whenever you write something about my poems, or the themes of my poems, or criticize me it is not in vain. I will listen, learn and be thankful.

Reviews

[abel]

I appreciate this drift hunters post for the well-researched web content as well as outstanding phrasing. I got so entailed in this material that I couldn't stop reviewing.

[R.J Calzonetti (SinisterPotatoe)]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the poem!

[Agyani]

It's a bit confusing what you want to say here. Firstly, I don't think things are as grim as they're made to look here. I mean suffering and pain and striving for survival isn't all there is to about being a human being in this world. While it's easy to think that this is something only privileged people think, that's not the case. There's scintillating kindness and compassion all over the world. Such moments are few and far spaced, but they are there, and it's only when people do their bit everywhere that the collective starts looking better.

Human life cannot be generalized as cut-throat. Things are not going well, I agree, but it's not as bad as one might think. Just take a walk around and interact with people. You'll see.
Oh and, don't blame our follies and this way of life on our design by God. Relying on him is just like sitting on our haunches and waiting for someone else to make things right. Not a great attitude to have if we want to bring about a change.

There's a lot of things we differ about, but the one thing I find issue with more than anything in your piece is the author note. My friend, if you seldom interact with your reviewers then you're wasting time on the Cafe. It's only when we interact that we can understand each other better, learn, and grow!
That's just what I think. Not generalizing. :D

[.]

It's really an amazing piece. You did well with this poem. This is impressive "Just as I survived, privileged, by a far cry, but earning my rights, through tough times" 👍
Appreciation for the poet and the poem. 😊

Good luck... Keep writing.