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WindWalker
Senior Member

since 2001-10-12

Posts 1218

0 posted 2006-03-28 01:38 PM

While sitting on a park bench
overlooking a grey restless sea
bringing its tide against the rocks
a wrinkled old fellow walked up
he sat next to me
and carefully propped his cane
where he could take it up again.

He looked at me with piercing blue eyes;
I couldn’t tell if he was amused
or terribly sad about something he knew.
He stared at the waves for some time.

Of a sudden, he turned and said,
let me present you with a hypothesis:
Say you could save the lives of a million people
simply by going over to that mother there
and killing the baby she is holding:
would you do it? Could you do it?

I was shocked at the thought he presented,
and I blurted out: “Of course not!
Do you think I am some kind of monster?”

He looked deep into my eyes and said:
“Oh, but you must be a greater monster
that even you could ever imagine
for each day on your planet
over thirty thousand innocent children die
of totally preventable famine and related causes.
Do you not care about those?
When you fill your plate, when you buy gas;
when you vote or go to church: do you not see them?

Do you think because you are not putting bloody hands
around their tiny throats,
you are not a perpetrator of this horror?
If you are not the one responsible,
can you tell me who is? I’d like to talk to that one.”

Then he got up and walked away.

JL
Member Ascendant

since 2004-04-01

Posts 6128
Texas, USA

1 posted 2006-03-28 02:41 PM

Riveted to this from beginning to end.
I too am concerned about the living:
Allowing the sacrificing of the young to unknown gods of stone and wood, and Baal, and things made by the hands of the living-dead.

Sorry, but I did enjoy your writing.

Peace!

JL

The Lady
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-12-26

Posts 7634
The Southwest

2 posted 2006-03-28 06:04 PM

An amazing piece of work WindWalker. You've got me thinking.

XOx Uriah xOX
Senior Member

since 2006-02-11

Posts 1403
Virginia

3 posted 2006-03-28 06:14 PM

And as he walked away....
innumerable lives were brought to an end with the fall of each foot.

But still...
An excellent write
As always.

INclan
Senior Member

since 1999-07-20

Posts 1024
Indiana, USA

4 posted 2006-03-28 07:20 PM

And as he walked away...
All he did was walk away.

Thank you for this thought provoking post.

INlcan

ThisDiamond
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-02-22

Posts 9353
Michigan, USA

5 posted 2006-03-28 10:45 PM

Wow...
The power of this piece shook me.
Blown away.

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

6 posted 2006-03-28 11:32 PM

Nice writing...James

terasinas
Member

since 2006-03-24

Posts 91
Michigan ... The Great Lakes

7 posted 2006-03-29 04:53 AM

Nice Wind ... anyone can write a poem, from impressive to not .. but how many of those really have something worthwhile to say? A bunch of impressive, pretty words, well worded phrases ... all empty ... many can do that. Well, you did more ... and thank you. I love to see writing with substance.

tera

StevenS
Senior Member

since 2005-09-21

Posts 945
L. A. (Lower Alabama)

8 posted 2006-03-29 09:51 AM

I would ask that old man, am I to swallow a spoon full of guilt with each plate I fill? Stand still while you sprinkle me with blood I have not shed? You offer no soution no hope only unwarranted guilt and shame. I will have no part, return from whence you came! :-)

icebox
Member Elite

since 2003-05-03

Posts 4383
in the shadows

9 posted 2006-03-29 10:01 AM

"Fair wordage is ever for sale;
Fair manners are worn like a cloak;
But why should there be such a waste
Of the badness in men?"

~~Lao Tzu~~

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