»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #7
»
Destroyer of the World
| Open Poetry #7 |
|
Destroyer of the World |
|
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA 
|
'Twas such a gorgeous morning and the sun was shining bright The kind of morn that makes the world and everything just right The kind of day that makes a man feel glad to be alive And so I thought it would be nice to take a little drive. I was walking to my Studebaker parked just down the street When a voice screamed, "THERE ARE HOMELESS WHO DON'T HAVE A THING TO EAT!" "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO RID THE WORLD OF THIS CRUEL POVERTY?!" I turned and saw a bony finger pointing straight at me! "Well, sir", I stammered, "here's a dollar if this helps you out....." "THERE ARE MILLIONS", he yelled, "FAMILIES WHO HAVE TO LIVE WITHOUT! THEY LIVE IN CARDBOARD SHANTYS, FLOORS OF DIRT, NO CLOTHES TO WEAR... WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO EASE THE PAIN THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO BEAR!?!?!" "Uh, well, I donate to charities and projects for the poor...." "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE..", he went right on, much louder than before, "...TO SAVE OUR FRAIL ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECT OUR HARDWOOD TREES FROM THOSE CRUEL VILLAINS WHO KNOCK MOTHER NATURE TO HER KNEES?!?!" "er, I always recycle. See, I've got this separate bin.... I separate the plastics and I always put them in....." "AND WHAT ABOUT THE WHALES BEING SLAUGHTERED ENDLESSLY??? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SAVE THEM FROM THIS SENSELESS TRAGEDY????" "I...I really feel bad for them..", I said in whimpering tone With fervent hopes that this old guy would just leave me alone. I hadn't done a thing to save the whales or the land And now, because of me, these things were really out of hand! Yet, still the old guy screamed, "WHAT ABOUT THE OZONE LAYER?! IF WE DON'T CLEAN THE AIR UP QUICK THIS WORLD AIN"T GOT A PRAYER!!" Oh no!, I thought. I'd used hair spray...a can of aerosol! Who knows what things I might have done to make that layer fall! "SAVE THE SEALS!!" he proclaimed. "GIVE MORE JOBS TO TEENS! WE MUST PROTECT THE SPOTTED OWL! THE RIVERS MUST BE CLEANED!! THE JUNGLES DEEP IN AFRICA ARE RUNNING OUT OF GAME AND, IF THIS NONSENSE DOESN'T STOP, I'M HOLDING YOU TO BLAME!!!" The drive forgotten, to my house with fevered haste I sped Turned out the lights, took off my clothes and quickly jumped in bed. Thanks to that old-timer's ramblings I could clearly see The world was going straight to hell....and all because of me! |
||
| © Copyright 2000 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Daysleeper Member
since 2000-04-23
Posts 119 |
Balladeer- Wow, certianly more then appropo for Earth Day... The slightly humorous note at the end is a pleasant off-set, but the rest of the poem really makes you think. We're all responsible. This is OUR world... not anyone elses, and we're the one's tearing it appart. Thanks for the think. I needed it. ...Daysleeper... "Presently I've had enough of all your sanity." -James Kavanaugh |
||
|
Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Truly balladeer, you should not take such shame. I don't think any "one" should shoulder all the blame. And from the depths of my heart, you should know it's true. I'd think the world a better place, with more people like you. I still love ya, man. Michael [This message has been edited by Michael (edited 04-24-2000).] |
||
|
sweetchild Junior Member
since 2000-04-19
Posts 37 |
Enjoyed it. Makes you think, huh? |
||
|
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
I couldn't have expressed it any better. Sometimes we feel like the we have the weight of the world on our shoulders trying to solve the world's problems. I think the best any of us can do is pray to be led to where God wants to use us. He definitely doesn't want us beat down and feeling guilty because we can't do it all. I love the clarity that you have brought to this subject. Thank you so much. |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Daysleeper..you're welcome and I thank you. Michael...your comment is a gracious as your poetry...love ya, too, big guy  sweetchild..thank you for enjoying it Denise...Your thoughts are always music to my mind. Thank you for your approval...  |
||
|
kristi Junior Member
since 2000-04-24
Posts 33Yulee, FL |
Absolutely wonderful! |
||
Jeffrey Carter
since 2000-04-08
Posts 2367State of constant confusion! |
WOW!!! now that's a powerful statement. really makes you think. Jeffrey |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Good job, 'Deer - now, for a wonderful night's sleep...while the rest of us sit and ponder, and perhaps some of us to weep. |
||
|
JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Loved reading this..James |
||
LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
A wonderful poem... but we are all to blame! "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Oscar Wilde |
||
|
Craig Member
since 1999-06-10
Posts 444 |
There’s one more thing that guy didn’t mention, you’re responsible for re-arranging my top ten favorite poem list! Every time you post a new one it slides right in there at number one! There is a downside to this though, as each one of yours hits the top all the others you have written have to drop a place. Yes, I admit your general rule. That every poet is a fool: But I myself may serve to show it. That every fool is not a poet. |
||
|
A Romantic Heart Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-03
Posts 5496Forever In Your Heart |
WOW!!!!WOW!!!!WOW!!!! OOOH-LALA~~~~ Loved it Balladeer, Evrything I feel, you expressed it well, must have read my mind!!! Big hug from me!!!! I am going to frame this one!!!! I am right there with you on this one I agree completely!!!Great expression of feelings and great poem.... < !signature--> [This message has been edited by A Romantic Heart (edited 04-24-2000).] |
||
|
Effigy Member
since 2000-04-11
Posts 486disbelief |
Totaly loved it. It's true the health of the world rest in all of our hands. But I usually end up back in bed also. understanding is misunderstood |
||
|
Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Balladeer, So now you know why I seldom leave the house. Now when people ask me why I stay at home, I'll just hand them a copy of your poem. Sy |
||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
You've done a wonderful job here, Deer... You've taken a very somber subject, you've made a poignant point, and you've done it all with a twist on the "light" side. That's talent, my friend..  |
||
|
WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
*crawling back to bed myself*  Real stop and thinker Balladeer. But you always leave us with a lesson... |
||
|
Parker Member Elite
since 2000-01-06
Posts 3129ON |
Balladeer, I knew there was somebody I could blame for all this mess. How'd he know it was you.... were you wearing your fur coat again, or your duck-billed-platapus shoes, maybe those snow tiger pj's.... lol Good points here. the main point I got is that there are so many causes, so many problems, and everybody wants you to fix them all. Which is totally impossible! Also which is more important than the others, who makes that call. If you put everything into this your ignoring that... you obviously don't care about that or this or that over there......... You can't win, and not everybodies going to be happy with which is chosen. Too many of us hide under covers, its too overwhelming. Were not getting any direction from the government, and all the agencies think their more important then the others...... The truth is they are all important equally, just like "The Butterfly Effect... thanks Corinne" tells us. If we ignor any of them we lose anyway. Thanks for posting this, humor always welcomed to make a great point..... Parker |
||
|
Pepper Member Elite
since 1999-08-19
Posts 3079Southern Florida |
Wonderful piece, Michael ..... I agree, totally .... Back under the covers , for dreams of Utopia ..... Hugs |
||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Great poem, deer...you are amazing! |
||
|
Meadowmuse Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263 |
You know, the real shame lies in the fact that so much of our precious world needs "fixing" and "protecting" from our own hands. Now, about that hairspray...ick! (good writing, Balladeer...thanks for this) ~ Claire Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?......Henry David Thoreau |
||
|
Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Global warming is all your fault. I KNEW it!! A |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
