FIVE HUNDRED POSTS!
Well, I have to thank everyone who has expressed concern about my health (both physical and emotional) recently. You have buoyed my spirits greatly. I may never be free of mental disorders, but… “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Truly blessed to know such talented, giving spirits. Thank you all. And now, two poems for two different sites. Love and peace, Amy
SERENITY
We can differ without having to defer.
We can hold out and still not halt.
We can accept and still imagine.
We are human. We can adjust.
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Three Word Wednesday (Differ, Halt, Imagine), and at Poets United.
___________________________________
Leaders… and bleeders
For all the teachings
of Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed;
For all the wisdom
of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Rachel Carson;
One would expect a more peaceful world.
For all the writings
of Rumi, Buddha, Howard Zinn;
For all the actions
of Mother Teresa, Mother Jones, and Susan B. Anthony;
One would expect a world filled with justice.
Yet for every peaceful action,
there is a virulent, violent reaction.
For every step forward,
there is the rumble of a clattering machine,
rolling over the footprints of those
who act on behalf of good in this world.
For every machine,
there is a master.
For every master,
there is a burning need to bleed the life from others.
And for that burning need, that hubris,
the rest of us are sacrificed
on the altar of Capitalism and The Global Market.
One would expect better from humankind.
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Imaginary Garden With Real Toads; also at Poets United.
Sharp Little Pencil 
jcosmonewbery
Indeed we would expect better. But why do we accept less?
A nice rendition of an annoying topic! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thx, Cos. I gravitate toward annoying topics…!
Kerry O'Connor
One would expect a more peaceful world. One would expect more given the fine examples you have stated. This is a gut-punching reminder of how far humanity still has to go to earn the adjective humane.
Sharp Little Pencil
“The adjective humane.” Now THAT is a great point, Kerry. Thanks.
vivinfrance
The first poem is neat, and to the second, I say Amen..
Daydreamertoo
Loved the first poem.
The second hit the nail on the head. Humans have a new God they worship, called money. Those who have it want more and more and more. Money and greed have become the new objects of worship, Love and compassion are being forgotten in this need for more. Instead of uniting us through this new technology, the world is becoming more and more divided into the have and have nots. And those who have are beginning not to care about those who don’t. And, those who don’t have see what those with money have and (in the west) they want it too. Sadly, we have fast become a world where most don’t care about anyone else other than family and close friends. And, the gap is going to keep growing until such time that man stops worshiping money but, I think it’s too late to stop it all now. Very thought provoking post Amy.
I’m glad you’re feeling better now.
Sharp Little Pencil
Bren, You have hit every point I was trying to convey. It’s true: Lex preaches it every Sunday, there is humankind and The World. There is God (or choose a name for a creator that fits… or don’t, just say Love) and The World. There is manna and there is mammon.
Never in our history (mine, at least), has the choice been so clear: Live in light and love, or dwell in hatred and distance from others. That isolation is why we have so many militia groups, gun-happy wackadoodles like Zimmerman, and so many televangelists trying to bilk people into fearing that if they don’t join up, they will burn in hell. Scientology works the same way, ironically…
Great comment. I’m emailing you! Peace, Amy
hypercryptical
Both superb poems Amy. Second gets an Amen from me too.
Anna :o]
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, She Who Will Never Be Called Banana By Me.
lmkazmierczak
Percentage wise, more humans on the earth equates with more suffering and more injustice. But there are more charity workers now than in the history of the world, and with the explosion of social media, there is ‘progress’ even today. Keep pointing that pencil and poking humanity♫♪
Hannah Gosselin
Wow, Amy. Poignant…sharp slap of reality….welcomed and hoping that humanity would turn the other cheek and get some sense slapped into it.
This:
“Yet for every peaceful action,
there is a virulent, violent reaction.
For every step forward,
there is the rumble of a clattering machine,
rolling over the footprints of those
who act on behalf of good in this world.”
Gave me goosebumps.
Excellent writing my friend.
On another note I didn’t know that things were rough as of late so I send my love to you…extra love that is. 😉
Smiles!
Sharp Little Pencil
Hannah, thanks for the comments AND the love. Both are greatly appreciated. The weather has just broken (for the moment) here in the parched Midwest, and we are praying that small farmers can salvage some of their crops. Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Amy, as always your writing about social (in)justice moves me. I am reading, lately, shared wisdom from Benjamin Creme and Keisha Crowther (The Little Grandmother, watch her youtube video for some HOPE) about how what is happening on earth right now is the rising of the consciousness on the planet, humankind’s insistence on change from the low order we have been living under to a world based on justice. The end result will be the transformation of consciousness. And a new order. Benjamin Creme says “The global crisis is a spiritual crisis”. And Little Grandmother says we are all here to add our positive to the push for the transformation. You do that so well, my friend. Keep pushing. And watch this:
Sharp Little Pencil
Sherry, while I don’t subscribe to the 2012 Mayan phenomenon as an event that will actually happen, I found a lot of peace in this woman’s hopeful view of the world. We could all use some major transformation in this world, and I do hope we are on the brink of a new awareness of the preciousness of Mother Earth in all her complexity… because we have spent the past two centuries abusing her. Thank you, and peace, Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Oops! I meant the link to go there, not the whole thing. Rats! Delete if you wish. (How did I DO that? I cant get them to cooperate on my SITE!)
Sharp Little Pencil
Glad you did; now others can see it, too!
El Guapo
Love them both.
The first blew me away with the succinctness of its message.
Helen
Both poems ~~ way beyond wonderful!
Lindy Lee
Some say this poem by Lord Byron was written about a volcanic eruption that blocked out the sun. Poets say it’s a description of the last man left on earth.
It’s uncanny how both these interpretations of Byron’s poem are just a wee bit correct in a metaphorical predictive sense.
Darkness
Lord Byron (George Gordon) 1788-1824
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173081
Sharp Little Pencil
Lindy, I had never read this before. You’re right; there is an Apocalyptic quality to it. Byron, genius! Amy
Madeleine Begun Kane
Both poems are excellent!
aufzuleiden
Wonderful work, Amy – as always it’s a pleasure to read your work – like revisiting an old familiar friend with whom you had lost touch for a while … you quickly discover that all the things you had in common are still there – still resonating with the other as though time had stood still.
Thanks for sharing,
-p
purplepeninportland
Yes, one would certainly expect better.
BuddhaKat
yes and YES!!!
🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
amen and AMEN!!! As my aunt would say, “Right on!”