Stampeded I do’s
The smile pasted behind the veil is hard to keep up
you know, like impotence, it keeps fading out.
Like the song of patriotism
we are expected to sing
even when uniformed unfaithfuls exhibit barbarism
and maul their very brides.
How these aggrieve our souls,
grind faith like in a mill
as memory cells dissipate and overwhelm my entire
physiology.
How can a reconnection, reunion or reconstruction
of faith ever ensue?
The many “yes’s” and “no’s” delivered under duress
or seduction.
Affection and attitudes stampeded
into beings naturally created to be rational and spontaneous,
autonomous and esteemed.
The sequelae of dishonour rendered is
progressive and exponential resentment,
antagonism, acrimony and kick-back,
bad only gets worse,
the ripple of negativity spreads on and on.
Who can keep it still?
Who will initiate an esprit de corps
when each wants the same apple on the tree?
Ever wondered how it’s our alikeness that expands the
wedges between us?
Again, the law of physics is obeyed and like poles repel.
For cold alienation and disrespect
are offered to the neighbour in attempt to win the race of
“I’m right”, “I’m superior”, “Me first”
and a man loves a dog more than his kind simply
because unlike charges attract no competition.
Weeping widows curse as they mourn husbands
and sons.
Dialogue is just the song of a mockingbird.
Greed has claws longer than a hundred inches
no national cake can survive that.
So here we stand, together
yet each man at war
even within his inner chambers.
For not always is one a victim of the other
but there live the soul, heart and body
who is a victim of self.
Where pain and confusion in the spirit
cause hate, neglect and destruction of the body
and today’s lecherous and carnal appetite
cares not a wink of the soul’s afterlife abode.
How deeply intrinsically planted
is that egoism seed
within each man, each nation, this world?
Is it too much a test of faith
to ask the commencement
of a hurricane for its deracination?
Or do we simply begin with the branches?
I will sing this song,
but name no man or land.
For the answer my friend,
is living in all men.
***