War and Religion
A Villanelle poem
As Gods surround the mortals they create,
benevolent thoughts of peace negotiations.
While ancient suns still burn upon the stake,
*
power-hungry rulers choose the innocent's fate.
Maternal mothers pray: ‘Please send us rations,’
as Gods surround the mortals they create.
*
Flinted daggers morph, now tanks fire hate
across imagined borders of a nation.
While ancient son still bleeds upon the stake —
*
red blood of freedom drips a freedom lake.
The martyrs follow deities' proclamations,
as Gods surround the mortals they create
*
explosions rip through time, exterminate
the victims caught in madness execution.
While son of God still bleeds upon the stake
*
two thousand years of death, no charge to make
divided rulers pen negotiations.
As Gods surround the mortals they create,
they watch their children burn, for freedom's sake.
...
This was my first attempt at a Villanelle poem. I feel the repeated phrasing helps to compound the image of continuous military bombardment and its consequences. It was inspired mainly by my distress at the horrific events in Israel and Palestine, but its relevance is sadly becoming more global every day.
(Originally published at https://medium.com/the-lark/war-and-religion-5b46f84b5a58)
About the Creator
Simon Aylward
Undiscovered Irish Playwright and Poet - Seeker of eternal youth - Wannabe time traveller and believer in spiritual energies - Too many books to read, not enough time!
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Comments (1)
This is deeply, deeply powerful, Simon. I so respect your ability to look at the horrors happening across the world and concentrate your vision into the structure of this concise, raw, and achingly profound piece. Would that the world would learn.