The World Today

Another piece where I was feeling down by the state of the news and had to write to give that energy somewhere to go.

I look at the world today

And wonder just what went wrong

It became a more dangerous place

Is this still somewhere where I belong?

 

When were people this angry?

When was there so much hate?

People didn’t used to strike out like this

It’s so messed up I can’t even relate!

 

It’s not safe to go out to the movies

Or to ride a public bus

There’s an enemy that needs to kill

And they will settle for any of us

 

Indignation from difference of skin

The distrust of those in authority

Public office is so far past corrupt

Just where are people’s priorities?

 

All some see is what makes us different

I’m rich and you’re poor

I’m more educated than you are

I’ll trade stocks while you sweep the floor

 

There are attacks with guns, knives, and trucks

You don’t know where it’s going to come from

People live in more fear every day

Asking themselves what will their children become?

 

Things are worse now more than ever

The earth is spiraling faster into decay

What hope is there for us in the end?

We have become slaves to our own dismay

 

Slaves to dismay?

Now just wait a minute.

I’m not supposed to live in bondage

I’m not of this world… just in it.

 

Did the world really get worse?

Or were we just not paying attention

To all the horrible things man did to one another

So grotesque that I won’t even begin to mention.

 

Wars are nothing new

Neither is discrimination of all kinds

There are those who tried to engineer extinction

Lunacy so bold I can’t conceive it in my mind

 

We have always had the poor

And the rich that look down on them

Class warfare has been around forever

Some even thrown to a literal lion’s den

 

Attacks on the innocent goes back into ancient days

Read all about it in your dusty old text book

There was no respecter of gender, occupation, or age

I’ve got a second, turn to page 52 and take a look

 

Absolute power corrupts absolutely

I know I’ve heard that one before

The elected out for their own personal gain?

Please excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor

 

Has the world gotten worse after all?

Or has it just really stayed the same?

The same sins perpetrated on each other throughout the ages

Everyone saying each new generation is to blame.

 

There is nothing new under the sun

When you consider the state of things, nothing could be more true

We fail to remember it’s not just individual ships that are sinking

We are all members of the same doomed, seafaring crew

 

Still today my heart grows heavy

For the dead, the lost, and the hurting

It’s what lives in the headlines

The daily news can’t help but be disconcerting.

 

I fight anger, I wrestle sorrow

I go toe to toe with despair

I read about the lives of innocents lost

This life just isn’t remotely fair.

My consolation is this isn’t all that there is

My race is not yet won

That the price for all of this madness

Was gladly paid for by the Son

 

I observe all this madness

And I know this isn’t my end

There is endless light in store for me

Given to me by no steadfast a friend

 

He is in control of this all you see

Nothing is out of his purview

He has me in his comforting hands

But there is room for you too

 

So when you cannot bear the noise any longer

And there is no hope for mankind

Please remember there is one who is wiser

Who said “seek ye and ye shall find”

 

He has the strength to go on

Despite all man can conjure

Just ask Him to lead you

And then through Him you will conquer

 

So look no more in the face of emptiness

For it is nothing but a lie

True peace in these troubled times

Is only dependent on whose Spirit you have inside.

Author's Note

It's a little basic in its format, but I feel it flows better than my previous one.

Reviews

[Anastasia_Snow]

I love this poem so much. Sadly, the scenario you have described here is pretty much reality. But there is hope, as you said, in the Son. I really liked the lines "The price of all this madness was gladly paid for by the Son," and "Just ask Him to lead you, and then through Him you will conquer." The last lines reminded me of a hymn, "The Spirit of God." (I'm not sure what religion you are a part of - I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the hymn is from our hymn book.) This is beautiful and awful to read at the same time. It's kind of a bittersweet poem, I'd say. Hopeful, too. I loved reading this, anyhow. Great work.
~Anastasia

[Mitch]

Thanks for the review. It's really helpful to get some feedback. I go to an Assemblies of God church and we are very much about the active application of God and what he can do in our lives. If that wasn't there it would be easy to fall victim to despair about the status of the world today. I'm very happy that I have another option.

[Anastasia_Snow]

You're very welcome! I am also glad to have this mug more hopeful option of believing in God and what He can do for us. (: