Once

once i saw beauty in dying
when the fall of orange
blossom
littered the garden floor

but not anymore
these days lives are cut short
by bullets and bombs
blood running in rivers of fate
a stain on the face of
humanity

the freedoms my country
fought for
compromised
carrying a deadly price
elsewhere

Reviews

[Richard🖌]

Chris,
When I was a youth growing-up in the Houston ghetto, where streetfighting was an everyday occurance, I used to respect winning warriors and thought I understood the need for fighting and winning at the least provocation, and at all costs. It was the unwritten creed we lived-by that shaped our mindsets.
While traveling the world, growing slowly older and wiser into a more compassionate and understanding being, who returned to my roots and tried to educate the youths following my same adolescent years, steering them away from their desperately destructive conditioning and destinies, I began to perceive and grasp the futility, injustice, and cowardliness in attacking and killing innocent human beings, destroying cultures, historical cities and thousands of year-old edifices.
Now, I emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually detest war, and all it entails, beyond my command of words to express it … my heart is perpetually in turning pain at every newscast, and I wake and fall asleep with the heaviness of what humankind is, and has been since the beginning of life … it still is in our innate nature, as it is in all of Nature's creatures.
Regretfully, this is not something we can entirely deny or overcome, but we can intelligently decide to simply refuse to take part in it, demanding that the leaders themselves, and whatsoever small factions wish to take part in their inabilities to get along, fight it out amongst themselves in some tiny realm of their own idiocy and insanity, sparing the world any more mayhem and senseless killing.

As for myself, I'll find comfort and safe happiness in orange blossoms littering garden floors … for as long as the world will allow me to, but i do know how to fight (and die), if necessary, for what I believe in.
See what I mean … the futility? Even I would go to war if forced to, and how many others would, too, despite their feelings about the carnage and injustice it entails?

Dang, Chris!
I'm sorry for unloading, but I guess your poem found that moment I finally overflowed with the frustration of sheer wrongness in senseless killing and mayhem to the innocent and undeserving … my heart just flies out to them!

If you blocked me, Dear Chris, I'd understand!

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Richard, as if I’d block you for sharing your views on the abysmal killing we are seeing on a daily basis. Pleased my little poem provoked such an impassioned response. Thank you for stopping by today dear poet.

Chris

[Richard🖌]

Well, I CAN get carried away. 🤨

[Betty Hermelee]

Your beauty is mine as well Chris, the falling leaves spread across the earth... yes they die but in a serene manner...whereas death from war is inexcusable... hard to digest...and for what reason...because someone said :"let's go to war"? "A deadly price to pay".... this poem is so real, raw and well written my friend!
Warmly, B

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Betty thank you for leaving me your thoughts. Always valued and appreciated. Have a lovely Sunday.

Chris 🌹

[Betty Hermelee]

My pleasure always Chris
Warmly, B

[Lorry]

There still is beauty in death Chris, when you watch trees shed their leaves and we are filled into believing that beauty incorporates humanity too. There is no beauty in dying for a war that neither side understands.
The choice that the 60's generation decided to refused en masse to accept has now been obliterated, just like the lives of so many... and we are no further along in our belief and understanding that wars are fought for valid reasons.
Its enough to make those peaceniks and hippies choke on their muesli!

[Chris Shaw]

I am so fed up with conflict and violence. Every day the world becomes a more dangerous place. Most of us just want to lead peaceful lives and then you have the war mongers. The men of power. You are right of course Lorry about trees. I was so focused on the warmongers, I forgot about the trees. Hope you have had a good Thursday and thank you for your thoughts as always.

Chris

[red93]

Fabulous Work Chris, once again you are on the money and right in the Zeitgeist. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Tony, please you enjoyed this piece. All the best.

Chris

[Neville]

this is so ragged & real and of the moment, its frightening .. in fact, it's terrifying .. Neville 💜

[Chris Shaw]

I agree the swift change to all that was once taken for granted is more than scary. Thanks Neville 💜

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Amen to this...we see it over here as well. The blossoms are an ugly red and ripped apart.
I think the gardener upstairs must be so disappointed at what has been growing in his garden and choking out all of the beauty that once was.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Ah, the gardener upstairs. Yes, I would imagine he is shedding a few tears at the moment. Thank you dear j.

[QuietOptimism]

At least seeing stuff like this reminds me that I'm not the only one who feels this way. If the people are more united in our feelings, maybe we can do more with our actions and words.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for stopping by. We live in a world divided. I don’t see it getting better sadly.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

It does seem at this time that wars and bloodshed are more prevalent than ever. I can only attribute it to the fact that there are more rogue leaders in power. Trump, Netanyahu, Putin are all quick at the trigger. But this time too shall pass.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear John. You are right and hopefully it passes very quickly. I have never known such unsettled times.

Chris

[Relic]

In the late 60's and early 70's the viet nam war was televised here in the states. I'm sure mothers felt the same way your poem evokes. We're living in a horrendous time. Ireland and England seem to be transforming into something unrecognizable as well. This Iran war needs to end. Too many lives, including children have been lost.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Tim, the loss of life is beyond comprehension and the future looks bleak. I appreciate your thoughts.

Chris

[redd Brick Keshner]

Chris, We (members of the planet) seem to be struggling with the concept and logistics of a global cohabitation that is peaceably workable 🕊️🙏🏻

[Chris Shaw]

You are so right Freds. We are living in bleak times. Thank you for stopping by.

Chris

[redd Brick Keshner]

Most welcome, Chris🕊️🙏🏻