Insight

Whose planet is it and who are we?

Gouging out the eyes

of the eagle

I let that bird take flight,

high and higher.

Far enough above the ground

to look back

down upon the earth

and see its blackest sins.

High enough to

watch the chess masters

flick their pen wrists

smugly, as pain

and death issues forth

like a plague of locust

upon innocent souls.

High enough to see

into the hearts of

the merchants and dealers

trying to squeeze

every penny from

our hands

as they spy on our

every thought

and dream.

And just high enough

to know man,

deluded as he is,

does not truly

rule the earth.

 

06/06/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[kentuck14]

John, Have to admit my first thought when I read about the eagle was of my own country . . . as it's our national bird and a symbol of our freedom as a nation. Even when man first landed on the moon, the voice came from the lander, "The Eagle has landed." Once, living in a semi-wilderness area I saw a number of bald eagles in flight . . . quite majestic! I often wonder what our eagle sees today as it flies over our land?! Greed, violence, materialism, pleasure seeking as an obsession, selfishness, lack of common sense, withdrawal into personal shells??!!! Yes!!!!! But I also think he sees many of our citizens as law abiding, caring, having a love of country, trying to live decent lives in spite of the barbarians at our gates. I'm sure it's the same for Great Britain as well. As for ruling the earth . . . yes, we lost that right a long time ago.

I must say yours is a powerful poem . . . because it is an honest assessment of the world. As Pogo once said in his cartoon strip: "We have met the enemy and he is us!".
Regards,
Tom

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed Tom you are right that there are so many good folk all over the world. Unfortunately there is an equation which states that "good people failing to act against the darkness will live in that darkness for all time" Many thanks.

[kentuck14]

Yes, I've heard that or something similar. Keep following your heart my friend.
T

[Robert Trakofler]

I am hoping maybe we can all start to take that truth more to heart!!!! Industry, commerce and greed are natures anti-matter. I look at what we do everyday without a moments reflection and it makes me feel so ashamed for the legacy we are leaving our children and now more than ever the truth is being ignored:( Wonderful write John

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much BB. Just wish we could mobilise people power and do something. I guess most of us simply acquiesse and buy plasic packed goods without question etc. {What type of food does your restaurant serve?}

[Robert Trakofler]

my food is all vegan I do buy from independent local farms very often I have a strange business model that I make all of my menu from scratch every week building on what i find in the local street and farm markets I donate the leftover food at the end of the week and all of my food waste that remains goes to a local worm farm and composting company that specializes in brown field recovery and also makes urban gardens so i honestly try very hard to not waste anything. My store is also an antique store and i re purpose what i don't sell into other useful things so you could say I'm an Eco-nut

[John Alexander McFadyen]

That does not sound at all nutty! It sounds dedicated and concerned BB.

[Chris Shaw]

Powerful writing with some very vivid imagery. Quite depressing to read, but then life is and we are certainly doing our utmost to destroy the planet we live on. Gouged eagle eyes made me shiver. Maybe blindness does make you see things more clearly, what a thought. Whose planet is it? Not ours for sure, it is on loan. Nature has a way of reclaiming everything eventually.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah Chris, as I explained to Einstien, the eagle is a symbol of insight but my reference to gouging out eyes is the way our politicians try to 'pull the wool over our eyes' as they take us into wars of trade disputes etc.You rightly see nature as more powerful than we. We continue warming the planet at our peril! Many thanks.

[Einstein Noodle]

oh my goodness ..your opening kills me ..the eagle is my totem (a bit of a story) but i feel akin to them .. in awe .. to gouge their eyes out is horrific .. just kills me ... but it soars to the heights .. and with blinded eyes still sees .. maybe more clearly than ever ... how very small we all are .. i would disagree with the bit of "they" conspiracy ;) we all choose

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed the eagle a symbol of insight but my reference to gouging out eyes is the way our politicians try to 'pull the wool over our eyes' as they take us into wars of trade disputes etc. But if we choose to we can see it for what it is but I am afraid most of us are powerless as individuals to fight the monolithic beast called the system. Many thanks 'E', discuss..................................

[Einstein Noodle]

well ....... its a complex system in a chaotic world it seems ... power and money will always corrupt :( its hope that there are solid checks and balances in our USA (very unique) that work .. the conflict between Socialism and Capitalism and free market ... is sharply a widened gap ... we choose our camps or languish in no man's land ... personally i have long thought that America is getting the short end in very unbalanced trade agreements and in the amount of aide given to countries that absolutely hate America and its materialism .. it doesn't frighten me to be using a big stick .. especially when it comes to China .. if we are successful .. in the end it will be a better, balanced deal ... thanks for opening up the forum .. i agree with the blinding .. especially career politicians and all the lawyers that are elected .. i honestly think their opinion is that they know better once they are in .. and completely ignore the platform they ran on and were elected for .. far more people need to be involved in the process .. not just the Presidential race .. but all of them in each state .. how about a poem on CNN?? ;))))))))))

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I can't say I disagree but it is difficult to know where truth lies. I guess the otther factor is historical and iterative developments and decisions taken for one reason decades ago which do not have validity today. Over half the worlds difficulties seems seeded in imperialism and as those powerful and greedy nations have lost power and withdrawn, or been kicked out, it has left in-fighting as old 'tribal' boundaries and powers are reasserted. All in all a complex world.

[Einstein Noodle]

:) .......................

[lightsong]

I applaud You first for choosing the Eagle, the Eagles with their eyes are symbol for "Insight" yes, Your amazing title. and never a man will ever rule earth, never a man will be a "God" on earth, deciding the lives of others, playing with it, even when they got the power to do so, Karma will find its way to them.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You are very kind light. Thank you so much!

[Edie Blue Starfish]

I wonder if the eagle is a metaphor for USA.
Looking at the world from above instead of ground level allows you to see how far reaching the damage is
a thoughtful and meaningful poem John

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Not intended as the USA. I think all governments have blood on their hands, metaphorically and in truth. Yes we need to look at the wider picture as the pace of life often has us only looking at our immediate surroundings. Many thanks Edie.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we really don't...and we will find a rude awakening one day, won't we?

some day there will be nothing left on earth but animals...and then nothing left but land and water...
everything will revert one day...a reversal of creation.
cool piece, John,
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am afraid the celebrations of the D-Day landings sparked this as I thought of the many ways we humans are destroying the planet and each other. Many thank yous for your insightful and welcome input Jacob.