“Peace through strength”?
Bullshit.
How about
peace through compassion
peace through commitment
peace through diplomacy, through communication
peace through a meeting of minds, however small they are
peace through common goals
peace through disarmament
peace through understanding
No one person can solve this, because
No one person caused it
It just feels that way
No, that man is propped up by millions of smaller weasels
with smaller minds, smaller thoughts, smaller world views
There is only one way we can have peace right now in our country
and it ain’t just through politicians (although the geezers could step aside, which would help)
It’s through determination and clear-headedness
through organization and strong mutual support
through harnessing and sharing radical love
but also, when needed, an abundance of WTF energy
Because what the actual fuck in going on here?
© 2025 Sharp Little Pencil/Amy Barlow Liberatore
For What’s Going On? The prompt is peace. That subject is so fraught at this moment. It’s easy to grab a beer (or a joint) and reach for the remote. Watch those bizarre shows where grown people put themselves through hell in hopes of winning fame. Or the ubiquitous talking heads on the news – whatever the issue, whichever side… maddening and biased. And how late-night comics keep trying to make this funny is beyond me. I can’t laugh. This shit is as serious as a heart attack and about as funny as a crutch, as my mom used to say.
Politicians may be useless, but pick up the phone anyway. Then, get in touch with your senior neighbors, your single-parent neighbors, your Queer friends, your Latino neighbors. They need your full-throated support.
Because doing something is way better than what most people are doing right about now. And keep praying, but match it with action. Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Rall
Yes prayers must be accompanied by action as well…Must be awful and worrying over there…we think of you and feel for you too When this finally gets sorted…changes have to be made so that a convicted felon can never become President again. This must never happen again.
Sharp Little Pencil
Rall, amen and amen. How he was reelected boggles the mind. And now a lot of the folks who voted for him – and the clown car of his administration – regret their support. I ask them, “What part of his rhetoric didn’t you get before you voted? You knew he was a miscreant. You had to know it would only get worse.”
Sherry Marr
As always, you speak truth plainly and clearly. Voting is important too, though that is a ways off……….but voting takes critical thinking, which was clearly lacking this most recent go-round. I love your work, Amy. Keep ’em coming!
Sharp Little Pencil
Sherry, you hit the nail on the head re: critical thinking. Since our schools abandoned civics classes after the Vietnam war (the students were too smart about government), schools have been dumbed down. Voting is important, and the next vote is the House of Representatives, which holds the purse strings of government. They all have to run every two years, and we have some good progressive candidates ready to run – and we are mad as hell, so let’s dream big!!
jaerose37
what a bold and expressive poem – a battle cry almost – and love your closing lines! Jae
Sharp Little Pencil
Jae, you know I never pull punches… Thanks! Amy
jaerose37
what a bold and expressive poem – a battle cry almost – and love your closing lines! Jae
jaerose37
I’m not sure if my first comment published – but I love your fierce and strong words – Jae
Sumana Roy
The poem is an eye opener. I especially love the first part, written so heartfully, Amy. I feel peace can only come when each and every country only minds its own business without poking its nose into others’ affairs and stays happy within its own boundary.
Sharp Little Pencil
If only the US had an administration (particularly a president) who respected other countries, other peoples, the rule of law… ugh. So embarrassing to have that man at the helm. More than embarrassing, it shames us all in the eyes of the world.
Truedessa
I am hoping 2026 will bring us some change out of the current nightmare. We need to change representation. In the meantime you are right show compassion to those around you in times of need.
Peace to you
Mary
Keep speaking up, Amy! Keep writing. Your words ring true.
fireblossom32
Love the energy! This prompt needed it!
purplepeninportland
So good to hear your voice again, Amy. A call to action is the only way.