Enlightenment!

No one walks anywhere anymore.

My self portrait

_________________________________

Waves rolled across the horizon

through afternoon darkened black sky

The world we came to know shut down

as storm winds counted time gone by

 _________________________________

I walked outside just for awhile

to see what the damage had done

Only to find neighbors talking

it was so nice to meet each one

 _________________________________

We lead cold insulated lives

tucked safe and away from others

Too many electronic toys

to visit with our own brothers

 _________________________________

I noticed we don't build sidewalks

no one walks around anymore

Too afraid of the evening news

to dare visit our neighbors door

_________________________________

My friends keep their children hidden

schedule play-dates with one and all

To visit with their playstation

just to await their friends next call

 _________________________________

All you see in the news is fear

"be afraid foolish, there's no hope

Don't build friendships with your neighbors

they might just give your children dope"

_________________________________

We watch as our children grow fat

pretending we don't fear the truth

Yet we remember riding bikes

through the creek that ran in our youth

 _________________________________

When was it that we stopped running

then gave up hide and seek till dark

Too afraid of our own shadow

to let children play in the park

 _________________________________

I don't know what we were thinking

sitting with friends all day at work

Where we hire our private trainer's

to make us look like we don't shirk

 _________________________________

But that one day the power died

I knew the depth of our mistake

We should turn off the fear mongers

for salvation of our souls sake

 

Tate

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Author's Note

I find that great moments of enlightenment often come in the times we least expect them. Then in a moment of Zen brilliance things are made so clear. This is one of those times. The United States news organizations in my opinion are all about fear and ratings of the same. If you subscribe to their theory Susan Smith could be your neighbor. We spend litteraly billions on defence to allieviate our fears over the present state of terrorism. Yet more are killed by our own guns in our own country every year than have been killed all together through our history from terror. Here's an idea quit giving money to the rest of the world. Bring home most troops. Spend those billions finding a way to keep us from accidently killing ourselves! If the rest of the world wants to kill themselves, let them! The tribes of Afganistan have been killing each other for at least 1500 years. We cannot change the way they think or act anymore than we change another in a relationship. I see this all the time people thinking they can change their partners through their influence. It never works it never will, anymore than abstinance has been able to stop pregnancy over the centuries. Meanwhile we go into recessions that effect the entire world. Think of what a great life it would be if we could fund humanitarian aid to our own country, our own retirees. There are as many baby boomers ready to retire soon as all those who are already retired. We need to let the immigrants back in. We need them to support these new retirees. The Government has swelled to twice the size it was in 2001. These people don't pay Social Security taxes. They are payed by us and they invest in a different way for retirement. If this keeps up the only good retirement will be a government job spying on your neighbors.

Reviews

[Bud]

I'm sure I have enough thoughts and opinions on this to fill a novel or two. I'll save you the grief, here. LOL Man, Tate! How you have hit such a crucial, critical, and most detrimental point of truth here, my friend. I feel no pen could capture the truth of today's society any better. My heart jumped a time or two recalling how I, myself , have pondered this very thing. I'm as guilty as the next. Letting the news and like media dictate, brainwashing me with fear to the point of nearly being a recluse. Yes, I hear the cry, my friend! Indeed I do, for I am crying with you! I remember that wonderful park two blocks away, with a beautiful creek running through it. The one I used big truck inner tubes to float down, with the homemade paddle I fashioned out of an old pair of cross country skies. The tail ends nailed to an old shop broom handle. The same creek I spent many hours alone...when even then danger was known to lurk in the evening times before and after dusk. My second home that taught me many, many things concerning life for an innocent young boy. Lessons that last a lifetime for the better of good. I remember unscheduled (excepting for when it was school time) playing times. The only time mentioned was how long I could stay. I pushed to the limits there. I remember never having heard of supervised play times, outside of recess at elementary school. Sad times, that an understatement concerning what has been lost, and rendered being a mere memory for the more fortunate of us. When did we lose that control? How did we let it happen before our very eyes? What were we thinking, as you Masterfully asked here? No apology to our children or any other to follow them is enough to forgive us of our detrimentally grave error. A shame we are sure suffer judgment by those of the Highest Creed! We deserve it, though we knew not what we did. To think, that is just a slight memory of one particular area I claimed my stomping grounds. Doesn't even include the res to the neighborhood and the many, many places I traveled alone. By today's standard, the police would be looking for me with the expectations of the worst. I was out getting the most important and most valuable lessons anyone can learn...form life and nature. The Master of Masters. I do not mean to carry on, but obviously you have one of those with this one that just begs to hear a response from the readers who do remember. This is, also one of those Magnificent pieces that makes a reader yearn to go back for just one day, one hour if that is all that is allowed. Never mind any heartaches or the like. Give one hour of those days, and that would last me forever! How lucky and blessed we were. Who would have, who could have ever thought or imagined times would come to this so damn fast! Keep up your usual and most Delightfully Outstanding works of art!

[Marie Anzalone]

I have always searched out communities where people walk... they do exist if you look for them. I just came back from a walk on my property, and I agree...w e need to walk more, and spend less time "plugged in" than we do. People look at me like I am insane when I say I prefer navigating public transportation to renting a car wehn I travel but it is true. This being constantly connected has a price, and I fear teh bill the fianl bill may be steeper than we can afford to pay. What if... one day a week, we just all went outside... and talked to each other? What if???

[THE LOST ROSE]

Fear rules us all from time to time. If we believe in God then we should have no fear. I can't think of one time in my life that I had not forgot about God and walked around with fear on my heart. I can't write when I have fear. This poem hit me right in the gut as a reminder to not suffer daily like others. I couldn't ever say this but I understand and appreciate it alot. Thanks!

[emmajoy]

Sad world, isn't it? Your poem says what too many think .. life's drowned trust, safety and most of all childhood. Once upon a time we could play and rarely, rarely fear being hurt when outdoors, laughing, hav ing fun. Now.. all that's finished .. ' All I ever see in the news is fear. "Be afraid you foolish, there's no hope!". "Don't build friendships with neighbors". "They might give your children dope!" The terrible thing is people do give children dope, they use innocence, it's a commodity .. yes, children are used.

In the UK, there's new ruling that anybody taking children to sports events or whatever has to be checked and certified as being ok .. that applies to neighbours or parents .. how terrible is that!

Sorry, going on .. that's cos your poem is really pushing home truths .. and that phrase is intended .. home is the only place where children might .. just might be safe.

[Gheeneil]

This reminds me of the film, "Surrogates". The age of technology travels at the speed of light. Thus, it's no wonder that people would fail to connect to one another, even to themselves. Basics of human nature would probably be discarded. This could be a threat.

[Sincerely, Alex]

I completely agree with this.
It reminds me of the short story entitled "The Pedestrian".

I love your word choices and there is such vivid imagery.

Amazing write.

Alex

[Helena]

So true my friend. Sadly this is what the world has become.
A place of fear and dread unable to feel free and unfettered by
feelings of trepidation.in the outside world, and even inside
our own homes. Those carefree days I am sure
will never return, and what a pity. Children miss out so
much on the simple pleasure of playing in a park safely and
the heaps of other things we did as a child. Yes, its a
dark and dreadful world now. Good write! ~ Helena

[Richard Longbow]

This is excellent. It really hits the nail on the head. I've thought the same thing for a long time.

[cartera]

As poetry; mmmm

[qaralynn]

great piece..like it
and it's so true
great work

[Jeff Miller]

This piece instills in the reader an array of emotions that most writers cannot exude from their writing, especially in one piece. Great job!