Retaliation

Retaliation

 

stir the people,

stir the pot,

we are sticking to the pan

with our hatred,

our prejudice

our humiliation of others

 

survival of the fittest

the kind are savagely beaten

the gracious ripped to shreds

those who love

are burned beyond recognition

the victims forgive

 

they forget,

they are forgotten

the five o'clock news

identifies the perpetrators

they are given names

the victims become

 

anonymous tragedies

shown in out-of-focus

photos

newspapers

soaked by inquisitive tears

the weapon of choice.

 

 

erin-cilberto

4/18/23

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob... my Heart is Heavy with Grief ...
they are our Children... and this is our World.
Even so... the children who have and will survive deserve
a life and chance also. It is difficult to Carry on. We have those such as you
to put our feelings into words. I Bid you Adieu... gently, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Pat,
j.

[Soren]

We forget that violence has been with our species from the beginning it is now that the news, available in every home, brings it to light. There needs to be a balance between enlightenment and encouragement. We by putting it on the news give notoriety to the perpetrators and forgetfulness to the victims. Moving us to see the cause not the tools that are the cause is needed. We must face the music and see that violence is in our hearts, our poverty, our neglected upbringing, our culture where war is still seen as a way of settling disputes. It seems far simpler to take away the tools but there are always others, knives, pressure cookers, fertilizer, and cars. We refuse to address the real issue what lies within us. A great write

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Kind of how tv brought the Viet Nam War into people's living rooms.
thank you, Soren...and maybe we will address that issue someday.
j.

[andrew mitchell]

Right on target J. Well said.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, andrew,
j.

[Red Brick Keshner]

Yes, forget us but we need to know and grasp and grapple with what ails us, as with the infamous simian that from a belly wounding disembowels itself to find the cause of its pain. Strange sort of creatures we are.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

very strange, we are indeed.
thank you, Red,
j.

[willweb]

I have made several attempts to review this poem with little success so, in the end, I will just say, nicely done as is most everything you write.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, will.
lots of folks are having trouble again...unfortunate.
j.

[Bighorn]

Your poem inspired me to write this one- I thought I'd leave it with you as you deserve credit for the inspiration
What do you expect from our capitalist news?
The only point of view worthy of pursuit is the highest number
The only point of view accepted and true sexy and dumber

The news will sing
a tune of suffering
The news will bring
Only a buffering, loading, boring, establishment whoring

The truth is too complex, if we wish to change, if we wish to grow, if we wish to see, first build a window
That sees each yards front
Each womans shriek
Each violent grunt
Each city street
Then you'll see the immense boredom
The violence affords em
A story sticky like four gum
Its five but that doesn't rhyme
A good sign its the time to pull down the blinds and just close my eyes
Thats what were all doing anyways, right?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I really like how developed the window part...obviously I agree with the sentiment...
nicely done.
j.

[Susan 🦋]

The media needs to scale back on the constant reporting given to these evil people! It is sparking copycats and ultimately fulfilling their attention seeking fantasies. Focus on the victims and their suffering. No more sticking to the pan people! We reside in a world sinking deeper and deeper... thought provoking poetry. Let's hope those thoughts fold into action.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, copycats trying to outdo each other for the most gruesome headlines they can get.
Thank you for your understanding, Susan.
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

I know you are a teacher. 38 children killed and wounded in Alabama. I don't understand my friend.
"they forget,
they are forgotten
the five o'clock news
identifies the perpetrators"
The above lines. So hard and so true. They paused a college football game for three young men killed. USA had a short memory. Powerful and worthwhile words shared my friend.
Coyote
they are given names

the victims become

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, a teacher, it really scares me what can happen to our young people in schools.
thank you, Coyote,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too Jacob. I have three grandchildren in the public school. You are welcome.