Lifeline

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root. - Thoreau

the percussion of timeless empathy keeps a bare-breasted beat
red rain washes over the earth in naked overtones
a wooden refuge tussels with waves of resolve amidst harsh skepticism

to where did the cubits of humanity go
this soft push come to a hard shove
where went loyalty, faith and devotion

in heavy lumber convened by a square peg

arms stretched wide in want
with a simple touch, we climb aboard

two by two

Author's Note

"There is no ill which may not be dissipated, like the dark, if you let in a stronger light upon it." - Thoreau

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

love the reference to the ark, the flood, two by two...
we board in pairs, the naturalness of pairs....being together with another.
but humanity seems shot to hell these days.
I think God might have ideas of sending a bit more rain our way.
perhaps another starting over.
j.

[Pete]

ouch, i had better practice my backstroke. i'm 55 years old and can't believe how much things have changed just during my lifetime (mostly not for the better). i think my parents and grandparents were fortunate to have lived in simpler times. we have to look out for each other but commercialism takes us ever further away to it being only about ourselves. on the flip side, there is still goodness out there - just have to look a little harder and do our part. thank you j. ... :)

[Ruth]

The fall of humanity is to lack empathy...the ark and saving something if there is anything to save is a haunting image in modern times...may humanity wake up unless it is already too late...great piece Pete!

[Pete]

i keep thinking that the next disaster is the final wakeup call but they keep coming with ever increasing frequency. you're right, to be human is to have empathy and when that's gone we're cooked ... :)