“I hate that it’s come to this,
but this world just doesn’t unite
voluntarily.
We need tragedy.
We need chaos.
We need an attack.
Only then is the world
unified,
set in the same direction.
Only then is there
cooperation,
brotherhood,
a shared recognition
of life’s preciousness.
A plane flying into a skyscraper.
A twisted warrior in a kindergarten class.
Unidentified white powder in an envelope.
These are the things
that unite us.
Fear binds us
and perhaps
in our vulnerability,
we will learn trust,
and find love.
If you’re no longer
afraid of God,
then be afraid of me:
I’ve strapped on my explosives
said my prayers,
and am coming for you.
I am not trying to be
some mutant messiah,
but please remember,
I am
sacrificing my life
for you."
This is chillingly topical, given recent events of lone assassins. The scenario you describe of being united in a time of crisis is a temporary measure, at best. Seems all of 15 minutes later, everyone is at each other's throats again.
ReplyDeleteYes, our fears are short lived. Thanks.
DeleteWow! So well done, right one and with a big punch ending!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI think your point is very valid.. only fear seem to unite us, but alas I think that love is very far from what we keep at the top of our lists to do.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree love is too far down on our lists.
DeleteYes, they may unite us but it is not a gift I would wish upon a world already with too many of these packages opened. Spencer is Kanzensakura
ReplyDeleteExactly, I agree. You'll note , this is written as a monologue - not my real feelings. Thanks
DeleteFEAR is the currency of politicians & terrorists. We are the most heavily armed nation per capita in the world, & those guns do a lot of killing. Is there egress from this miasma of murder? WHO TF knows? dVerse had a prompt recently on fear, & we all wrote to it. Thanks for stopping by my cyber hogan, & taking a chance on the read. I like your lines /if you are no longer/afraid of God/then be afraid of me/.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Glenn. The only egress we'll see from the gun mania is when we make them harder to get. "But the criminals will get them!" Sure they will , but maybe not the mentally unstable who seem to be increasingly the cause of such tragedies.
DeleteOh wow; that ending is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThanks, as I mentioned, this is the monologue of a mutant messiah.
DeleteBut fear doesn't unite our US Congress. Your ending was a surprise.
ReplyDelete..
Agreed - what would scare them? Repeal the Citizens United decision! Thanks.
DeleteLoved your poem...and I agree with Glenn..fear is the currency that power trades in to keep the herd in line. Very nicely done.
ReplyDeleteYes, and I'd extend the exploiters of fear to many of our clergy as well.
Delete"if you're no longer afraid of God" says a lot about a society of senseless violence...
ReplyDeleteThanks, and it says a lot about the perceived meaningless of the invocation of God.
DeleteYes.. the best ways to
ReplyDeleteget Facebook likes
in general is
hate and
discontent
and of course
that applies
to every where
else where
misery loves
company..
children who
are loved with
touch feely
love often
do not
fall to this..
but that mortal
sin of human being
in not touching feeling
and loving children with
constant hugs
is bringing
the entire
race
down..
to before
prehistoric
more peaceful
times like the more
Loving species who
bonds with
Love
instead
of hate..
namely
the Bonobo..
a race of real
Jesus' in fur
or not..
Bonobo
fur Jesus
SinGs Love..:)
I like your image of the Bonobo; after reading The Bonobo and The Atheist I was enlightened to altruistic love as an evolutionary strategy. Thanks.
DeleteThere's too many of those delusional Messiahs out there and now it's not just the "foreign" Messiahs it's the ones that are surrounding us right here at home. Powerful ending there.
ReplyDeleteI really think these are people are sick and misguided. I feel sorry for them and angry as hell at them. Thanks. Mosk
ReplyDeleteLove this, love that this is what you linked to the gift prompt on dVerse. So fitting, somehow.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I didn't realize that when I wrote it - it was coincidence!
DeleteThis is going to be churning in my head all day. From the starting supposition, to your twists of a 'gift' at the end. So well done, Mosk.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary. These "poemonologues" are my way of satisfying the dramatist in me. My original plan was to be a playwright, back in 1980. So, this will have to suffice.
Delete"In our vulnerability,
ReplyDeletewe will learn trust,
and find love"
I love this - and the ending is simply great.