The Poet

A call to arms to use your art and inspire a better world.

The Poet

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

(Be the Hope that the world needs)

If I do not say these words

Then no one will.

And from that place of silence 

I become complicit. 

I allow hate to overcome love

Ignorance to equal common sense

And vice to outweigh virtue.

For we all have a dream; pray for our better angels 

Knowing in our hearts

Words move mountains, part seas,

give hope for us to believe 

A wise woman once told me...

They can take my eyes

I will find a way to see you.

They can take my tongue

I will find a way to tell you. 

They can take my arms

I will find a way to show you 

...Find a way

Author's Note

A few years back my muse once said in her sultry beguiling voice, "The world burns as we live in colored paper houses." WTF? Is that code for something? Is that an enigma that must be deciphered like a Sunday paper crossword puzzle? Or was it just a pointed fact since I live in California and it has been burning down the past few years. No, I've come to understand there is a darker meaning behind the words. We as poets must always be vigilant to the world and times we live in. The most significant art throughout history was born in troubled times by those that refused to be silent. One word of single significance is all it takes. Just one versus being silent. Write just one word of hope. Not to be remembered for it, but to inspire others toward the profound relevance their voices have in order to make this world a better place for all of us. CLE

Reviews

[MCS]

This reminded me of Pastor Martine Niemöller’s poem First They Came. Beautifully penned my friend.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on this piece. When I was a freshman in high-school I read a book called Night by Elie Wiesel. It was the first time in my life that I actually cried reading a book. That very moment made me realize the power of words. How they can move the human heart through generations. Mr. Wiesel, a nobel laureate and holocaust survivor spoke so eloquently about how hate is not so much the enemy of love, but indifference is. That it is in the silence and inaction that hatred finds root in societies. When we no longer view each other as human beings we have lost the soul of our own humanity. It becomes incubant on ourselves to speak out against injustice and inhumanity. When we remain silent then we are complicit in the hatred through our inaction and voice against it. I feel these words in this poem are just ripples and echoes to those more powerful emotive works of the great humanists throughout history that stirred people to action. During troubled times in history are the many artists of the past who have created profound historically moving works. A call to arms for us to be kinder towards one another and remember that we are more alike than different. That our capacity to love is equal in every heart. We must never forget. The Poet reflects each of us and our ambition to be better and love one another better. There are echoes of Wiesel, Niemoller, Lincoln, MLK Jr, Gandhi, Gibran, Angelou, and many others whose powerful words not only changed the world but the generations after with their profound message of Hope, Vigilance, and Love. Thank you so much again for your kind comment MCS. I truly appreciate it. CLE

[Destiny]

It's beautiful to see how much it impacted you. Night was transformational for me in the same way. And we will get through this together.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I have to believe we will get through these difficult of times. I just have to. Because as a species with the innate ability to love we simply can not exist in hate. We have to see the value of every heart and recognize its intrinsic value to exist and thrive in this world born of hope. Thank you so much again for your kinds words and the hope they bring to an old heart. CLE

[Destiny]

This took my breath away and I'm crying now as I write this. Thank you for sharing. We will find a way, because United we are Unstoppable.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for your kind words on this work. Your art is as equally moving to us all. Never doubt in the value of your artistic words. We write to touch peoples hearts and move them towards caring and loving one another. Poetry changes how we choose to feel and care. Being a poet carries great responsibility because of the power to influence. Your poetry gives hope and understanding that despite any differences we may all have we share the common trait to love. It is the one thing we have the most power over in our lives; how we choose to love and accept one another, despite any difference we may have. We still love the same way. And is that not the defining qualities of poetry itself? Love is a gift and sacrifice. One can not love without giving a piece of themselves which 5hey may never get back. They can only hope the same amount is returned in order to fill the place from which love was taken and gifted. Continue to write and share your gift with others. CLE