Animus

An English sonnet... Comparing war mongers to vultures and the diseases they bring....

Animus                                     by Sami Khalil

I once stood still beneath some Cedar trees

Ancient and majestic as you know thrive

Needless to say, chafed I with vultures' disease

Gliding graveled and ravenous slopes that dive.

 

War was raging sans winners one might claim

Many had bled and many died, rapaciously gone

Feigned eyes were shrouded in the waylaid blame

Some that crossed our lambent sorrows thereon.

 

Though pain echoed our undulating anguish

Churning restless memories, quite a swell

The mighty peace of God all fears vanquish

Dwelling in the knowing of evil’s death knell.

 

I once stood still beneath some Cedar trees

Needless to say, chafed I with vultures' disease.

 

 

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! thought provoking to the max Sami! a sonnet spoken in everyday language is not easy .. i think your rhyming is smooth and intelligent .. always a challenge eh!? love the title .. says so much all by itself .. i love your poem .. what it says and how you bookend the opening and closing works really well for me! many kinds of war isn't there Sami?! maybe more casualties in those fought without bullets and bombs .. wars of words, rhetoric and vicious thrusts and intent .. can build angst to over boiling points .. when the real vulture in us erupts .. this line" Gliding graveled and ravenous slopes that dive" is absolutely killer ... i have ridden HD motorcycles all my life and can tell you i know what road rash is ... and in a dive .. sheesh! great stuff here my friend .. love and peace sir!
E.

[Sami Khalil]

OMG! Absolutely a marvelous you sir, sharing your experience and your wisdom. Wars, in my opinion, should be the last resort if all fails, for noble and righteous reasons, for stopping evildoers and elevating suffering on a group or people. Should be very limited and only against the perpetrators as much aspossible. Talking from experience sir, I lived in a civil war which was vicious and chaotic. Militias, groups fighting each other relentlessly. Foreign governments were pouring in money and weapons to support this group or another. I know also the facts about the civil war in America. Many different opinions about it. I like to work for peace sir even if it temporary. As you and I know, real peace comes from the Creator. Him we seek and serve. All rich blessings my poet, friend.

[Sami Khalil]

Another note, many countries have weapons industry and they profit immensely from selling then to different countries for profit or other reasons. Huge industry as you know. Not singling out any.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes ... so much unrest .. seems always with us here on Earth .. I agree with your position on war .. no one wants killing and destruction yet we are not made to simply be trod down by the greed of evil intent ... we have a natural instinct to fight ... or flee .. for me it comes down to my home and loved ones and that i would do all i can to stop someone from breaking in to do harm .. the right to bear arms is Constitutional here in the US and thwarts the bad guys as well (hypothetically) our own Fed. Gov. from becoming a monster. ..

[Sami Khalil]

I do agree sir. That is natural and realistic. All depends on our intents of doing something and God knows and sees all of that. The founding Fathers learned a lot from the old world and were so right about our rights. I must add, if you will, rights and responsibilities must go hand in hand. We tend to forget the other side of the coin or the equation. All rich blessings.

[Einstein Noodle]

YES! ... the responsibility for our very lives .. a gift to us eh!? every choice brings us one way or another .. "blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called sons of God" Math. 5:9 .. in that great book of books ;) ... love you man!

[Einstein Noodle]

ps. i think the greater focus on the "Rights" these days are the result of them being blatantly attacked .. if we don't defend them all, a responsible thing to do, they will be chipped away to loosing them ..

[Sami Khalil]

You are so right sir......

[Kathy Mc Cathy]

Wow your sonnets are truly beautiful and so deep thought ..comparing war mongers to vultures , the agony and pain inflicted those who don't value humanity ...that's where you come in Sami and write out such a wonderful unique poem bringing a light in the horrors of war ... who would ve thought , sitting beneath a cedar tree could make a mind wander into a thought so deeply ....

Kathy

[Sami Khalil]

OMG! I'm blown away. I love it when my readers enjoy and appreciate the work. Pretty sure you do the same. So glad and honored that you like it and by your visit. Take care.

[Sami Khalil]

By the way Kathy this is all true for I used to sit under Cedar trees in my ex country Lebanon and ponder the vicious civil war that was going on(From 1975 till 1990). I hated what man did to man. Long story. Glad I came to the states and got out of it.

[Kathy Mc Cathy]

Wow , o did not know that ..wow I'm happy for u too ....

[Sami Khalil]

::::::::)))))))))))))

[Allen Smuckler]

Great Shakespearean sonnet...Terrific rhymes throughout...not often do you see trees/disease
Loved the way you came full circle too...seldom do you see a sonnet that repeats a line, but you carried it out perfectly. Well done Sami

[Sami Khalil]

Whoeeee! Thank you so much Allen Amuckler for this amazing review. Your visit means a lot. Glad to see you alive and well.

[no tell writer]

Such an amazing sonnet, I love cedar trees, this is amazing!

[Sami Khalil]

Hi Katzie! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and review. Glad you like it.

[Lydia Shutter]

Ah, cedar trees, a symbol of strength. A tree that endures through it all. There truly are no winners in wars, are there? Those who believe in G-d's strength will follow his guidance and perhaps be eternal just as the cedar trees. A very spiritual write from you, Sami. Your choice of vocabulary is always wonderful. I enjoyed this one though the artwork did not come through on my screen. Lydi**

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! So true and well said. Thank you so much Lydi for this wonderful review and much appreciated visit. You take care.

[Sami Khalil]

Will check on that...

[Lydia Shutter]

I can see it now...beautiful!

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Thank you kindly

[Pete]

war inflicts such far-reaching destruction not just on the outside. heinous is a word that comes to mind. it is sick action and those waging it should stand 'neath those cedars for a timel and ponder ... :)

[Sami Khalil]

All true and well said dear poet. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this subject. On my way to visit you.

[Susan 🦋]

The ramifications of a war. ( I believe that can take on many forms) expressed in this flawless sonnet. Sami! Wonderful job on this difficult subject.
Particularly drawn to this line : Some that crossed our lambent sorrows thereon.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! So glad to see you Susan and that you appreciate the form and message. In a war, all pay dearly somehow, somewhere. You are so right. It takes many forms. Thank you so much . See you soon.

[emmajoy]

You vividly express the horrors life holds within three and a half stanzas with fine rhyming skill, Sami - not surprisingly. Plus. you create pictures in each and stress the Cedar trees by usage both natural and manufactured, Seems that in war, death and sorrow, comes the urge to speak out against all, yet with imagination - and insight in some cases, thoughts will create light.. somehow.

[Sami Khalil]

I totally agree dear poet and friend for this truthful and worthy take on this poem. I have lived through a civil war and that is why it shaped my life and my thinking on many things.
So glad to see you. Hope all is well.

[barleygirl]

I'm afraid I believe the polar opposite about vultures. They are the wonderful garbage disposals of nature! Without them, my wilderness would be stinky with rotting carcasses, since everything ends up being killed out in the wild. Maybe that's what's going on in life, in general. Everything is destined to die, it's just that some evil doers do their dying while living (((HUGS)))

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! So true and well said Barleygirl. It is unfortunate that power, greed and war mongers all come together to be the vultures of the dead innocents. I lived in a civil war and made it through but not without lost childhood and trauma. Not fun. Thank you so much.