to be

to be

 

 

when incentives to be kind

are incinerated

 

and ashes of atrocities

are the remains

 

of what we once were,

there is reflection

 

that sears the eyes of tomorrow

with the matches

 

of insistent

inconsideration

 

struck today.

 

 

erin-cilberto

8/27/22

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

"What we once were" ah, there lies the rub. We were once a nation of patriots and patriotism was lauded in the practice of our pledge in schoolrooms every morning. Now patriotism is branded as "nationalism" and it's given a bad name all around. We once were a nation of morals and Christian charity, we not only had "In God We Trust" printed on our money but engraved upon our hearts as the foundation of our society. Our leaders from Washington on down echoed the same sentiment. Even President Ulysses S, Grant said, "Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to this we must look as our guide in the future." And he was not a man favored very much in historical, conventional or social morality. In the last sixty years sodomy went from being a crime in all fifty states of the United States to a supposed "right" touted under a rainbow flag and paraded down Main Street U.S.A. We can see the shift in the presidency of Barrack Obama who entered his first term saying he believed marriage was a sacred union between one man and one woman and entered his second term defending same sex marriage. We were once against the communist powers and fought 5 global conflicts against communism taking the lives of nearly a half million American men and service women. Then, our government gave most of our commerce to the same communist Chinese we had been been fighting under the guise of "globalization". What we once were. We are far from that point today and it fades in the memory of youth to the modern idea that if you call a serpent by a different name, it's the same as pulling its fangs and rendering it, not only harmless, but making it helpful and appreciated. You can be kind to a rattlesnake. But it doesn't mean that he will return the favor. And soon his family will lay eggs and take up residence and his children will bite your children for all your kindness and "acceptance". What we once were. Some of us believe what's touted as progress isn't so much that as self-deception. I'm among that number.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Politicians seem to be more for themselves than for the people. Sad state of affairs.
thanks for your thoughts, Fabian,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

“To be or not to be” Kind, e.g. would you kindly stop destroying our Country just because you have the Power to do so! Being the President of our Country means taking care of the People whose Taxes you Think is at your Disposal. I propose to have a President for our Country who will spend our Tax Money on the Citizens and not invite every Criminal from other Countries to walk our Streets and terrorize us. We have a Constitution that has worked for us.. and Treason has taken place. Amen

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for the read, Pat, but I do believe our former President is the one trying to undo our Democracy and is guilty of treason.

j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob... I wish that I felt as you feel. At one time Dems were not so far left or socialistic. We had Kennedy and others. We had a Country where citizens had many freedoms. I trust that remains always. I do not want to vote for the former President, because we need someone who is better educated in Law and other aspects of being respected, and I would imagine that a Retired General would do his best to avoid War.
A lot to think about. I appreciate your expressing exactly how you feel about what our Country needs.
gently, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Be kind my parents said. Be kind. Turn the other cheek. Retaliation escalates and lacks dignity. That's where your words took me J.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

Very much Dickinsonian with great rhythm. A fine example of your work.
Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate that, Winston.
Thank you for always visiting my work and giving me honest feedback....
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

burning down the house ... your protagonist struck out ... but the inferno was lit anyway :(( would a brighter day came sooner than later eh!?
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, E.
j.

[Sami Khalil]

This is powerful Jacob. The message is relevant to our modern events. Man can incinerate kindness with the fires of hate, control and mere atrocities. They posses no conscience and think that they won't face consequences. If Karna is real, they will.
To be; you can be kind or you can be blind to human suffering.
Wowzy woooooo

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful words, Sami,
j.

[Sami Khalil]

Yyyyou are always welcome sir Jacob......

[andrew mitchell]

Great flow and how true about our impact on the world. There was a time to " let it be"

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, there was, but maybe now, not?
thank you, andrew,
j.

[Ken e Bujold]

something to chew on. like the way this poem makes me pause over each verse, where it may be leading me on-wards to, and if I want to go there, logically speaking

ken e

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I had to go there...thank you for your perusal of this piece, Ken.
j.