Against the Tide
Heal or Kill?
My family, my party, my church, my race
They said I should run the gauntlet
For their sake if not my own
Stand up for their rights, their beliefs …
Yet I refused to run their gauntlet
I walked … crept slowly, cover to cover… tree to tree
Eyes wide open
Seeking the sources
Looking for truth …
Peace amongst the chaos:
Politics, racism, sexism, ignorance…
Intolerant religions with blind followers …
All my true enemies
Fighting only when necessary
For defense of self and others
I sought no conflict
Saved who I could
Applied first aid to those injured..
Counsel, advice, a shoulder to lean on
As around me battles raged:
Spouses stabbing each other in the back
Children rebelling against their parents
Parents seeking to control their offspring
Politicians spouting hateful rhetoric
Religious leaders espousing intolerance disguised as concern…
For this they called me coward
Traitor … Useless… Turn coat
Yet I have seen the truth
Plumbed the depths of their depravity
Rejected their falsehoods
Seeking always my own truth amongst the detritus…
The truth is all are guilty to a point
All are innocent in their own minds
All are… human
Now I stand to the side
Tears cascading
As friends, family, loved ones … strangers
Try to destroy each other
Because. Of …
Beliefs…
Viewpoints
Nationality
Religion
Opinions
Race
Sexuality
Gender
Social status
Occasionally someone will stumble from the field
Bleeding from wounds
These I try to bandage
Whilst speaking my own truth
Trying to sway them from their violent ways
Some few actually listen
Re-entering the fray with a med kit
Rather than a rifle
Dragging casualties to the rear
Where they may recuperate…
That is my war
One which I am afraid I am losing
About the Creator
Andrew C McDonald
Andrew McDonald was a 911 dispatcher for 30 yrs with a B.S. in Math (1985). He served as an Army officer 1985 to 1992, honorably exiting a captain.
https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Keys-Andrew-C-McDonald-ebook/dp/B07VM843XL?ref_=ast_author_dp
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Comments (11)
Your refusal to join the violence and instead choose healing is powerful the image of walking the gauntlet slowly seeking truth is striking.
Those are some damn powerful verses. Then I saw your bio and realized how close you've been to the scenes you described. Thanks for sharing an amazing write.
Great work, Andrew!!! Majority rules and the majority of us know the difference between right and wrong, good and bad. It's the ones who could care less what we think that need a reality check.
Hot Damn Andrew this hit home on soma y levels that I was enthralled with each line, finding myself nodding in agreement. Congratulations
Andrew, this is a timeless piece of history and future. Congratulations
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Wo
I felt as if the poem was reading me. This is my experience. I’m currently working on a series called “A Theopoetics of Becoming.” Part IV is coming later today. I believed you read them, you may find that we are kindred spirits. And thank you for your service, in more ways than one.
Excellent! I'd like to think I'm beside you with a med kit, but sometimes I find myself drawing a sword. Hopefully one day we can all find peace and live together in harmony!
Oooo, espousing is a new word for me. Loved your poem!
A strategic withdrawal is sometimes advisable! This is really good Andrew, It is alive below its surface!