Photo: cnn.com
“A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.” Tacitus
No Solution
The husk of man,
for it is a man rather than a woman,
is forever drained and dry,
burnt in the blinking of an eye
across the fields of loss and grief,
where the butcher’s hand is never stayed,
and the slice is always close to the bone
with the relentless search for
the cure of fear, which, as always
readily falls to cycles of war,
now favoured by the killing of a man
who was food as friend,
and sent to to the heavenly realm
of the great cloud of witnesses
who pray over our esteemed
and utter madness for blood to be
wasted on the unforgiving rocks of dogma.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Paul, pvcann.com
parallax 
Strong words, much needed, Paul. I fear the repercussions.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Yes, even your govt cannot see that war by their standards will not have a front, it could be a long century. And Afghanistan is still not contained, while Iraq is also not contained, trouble ahead methinks.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I fear so too. I fear the American actions will cause ripples worldwide.
LikeLiked by 2 people
For some time, western thinking doesn’t apply in the east, they will wait.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. The approach to situations differs with the culture. So we wait too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, we wait. One slim possibility would be a set of western leaders who are able thinkers and bridge builders, but ….
LikeLike
Beautifully penned, Paul. I have read about the fire. I hope you’re all safe.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Quite safe, our district has none at present
LikeLiked by 1 person
So good to hear you’re safe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for the kind words re the poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Paul.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so f-ing sick of this empire game! No more war!!! But yet, here we go again…
LikeLiked by 4 people
Wow, very well spoken
Sent from my iPad
>
LikeLiked by 2 people
Many thanks Cheryl
LikeLike
Awesome quote, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And to think how old that quote is, astounding.
LikeLike
Heeeey — some of us “oldies” are still “goodies’! 😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol, yes indeed
LikeLike
Eh? Speak up, sonny, I don’t hear too good any more… 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol, hope your teeth are fine, my eyes are dim.
LikeLike
Just a minute, I’m trying to remember what a teeth is…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Them bitey things
LikeLike
Ohhhh… I DO remember them! Been a while since I had any. Last I saw of ’em, they were sett’n peacefully in their glass a’ water, just like every other dang night — only, when I got there in the mornin’ they had RUNNED OFF… If you see ’em go by, tell ’em I kinda miss ’em, every time I have to eat anything but oatmeal, and I hate oatmeal, so hurry home…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, yes, they just passed my rolling glass eye 🙂
LikeLike
HATE when those things pop out! Hope it didn’t happen in front of company…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I shouldn’t read politics, it always happens that way 🙂
LikeLike
Ooh, ooh — does your hair stand on end and your face get all red too, at the same time, when you do that?
LikeLiked by 1 person
My hair ran away completely
LikeLike
Well, that explains it — that eyeball that rolled by here was sporting quite the pompador!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol, it hasn’t come back (not quite Yul Brynner)
LikeLike
Actually, I think it was histling off to hise out for a while, after giving some guy the ol’ HAIRY EYEBALL!! 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🤣 He’s a fringe dweller 🙂
LikeLike
Haha — you and I know a brother!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeedy 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, ho ho, you’re gonja love to hate me now. Read ’em and weep:
https://timelessclassics.wordpress.com/2020/01/06/call-and-response-a-rolling-eye-gathers-no-teeth/
🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣The teeth logs
LikeLike
The TEETH LOGS!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bloggin Molars
LikeLike
Now there’s a band too??
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
So sadly true and reflecting our current time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Our leaders are insane in my view.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh yes totally
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will need to ponder longer.. i agree and disagree with this poem. First the disagreements. Never hold a woman higher as incapable of causing harm. There are plenty of unscrupulous women. Second, peace begins in each heart. Humility is a daily grind. Third, our view, from where we are, means we cannot possibly know the games being played at such high levels of power. It is a game of chess. We are but pawns. This is between Israel and Iran and the US intercepted something. I dont know what. Im not privy to such information. Definitely a Mideast skirmish spanning before Christ.
Agreements. War begets war. Including the war in secret. The daily pondering in our hearts and the political twisted mind. Neither side in the US can hold a candle up to themselves and come out on top.
LikeLiked by 3 people
True, but in this case the one killed was a man, yes, peace begins in each heart, always. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
“Unforgiving rocks of dogma.” Wow. Yes
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Ruth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! So very deep. I see a few possible interpretations in this, but that’s what makes it so good
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your encouraging thoughts, very much appreciated.
LikeLike
You are very welcome. I love your poetry
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
All of these comments were good and on target. I really eyed the one by Jeanne. Strong and well pinned. I wish for no war, Viet Nam was enough for me, I will say that a kill in most cases solves nothing but hurts many, The one that was targeted, a deserved kill or prison. May it all stop where it is now, but I want, we know this, they have been fighting in those countries for mega centuries and it will not stop. I speak not for war but I also know they do not want to start one with freedom countries.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think politicians try to do what they can but they fail to see beyond the immediate future, war now will be a long series of attacks anywhere in the world. The fascinating aspect is that this general was critical to US success against Daesh.
LikeLike
I’m not up on the political news you write about, but you’ve titled your post accurately. As long as sinful human beings inhabit this realm, there will always be fighting.
It starts young. I watched two cute little girl cousins one day — maybe 4 or 5. The one had climbed on Grandpa’s knee and the other, jealous, rushed over and tried to push her off so she could sit on Grandpa’s knee. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, we do start young, and sadly we then spread where we live and lead unless we become aware, in my observation, we vote for people who are mostly unaware.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Worrisome …
Glad you are safe!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, quite safe from the fires, but not from drone strikes it would seem.
LikeLiked by 2 people
😦 Oh how I wish it were not so
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel that too 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Strong words thank you for the post
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for the wonderful response, we live in difficult times I feel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the words, had to be said. Michael
LikeLiked by 2 people
We’re in a dangerous space right no I feel Michael.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, Paul! But we will manage it, even the area around Iran can be no longer more a holiday destination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, it might alter that altogether, even Dubai. Qantas have been trialing direct flights to Europe so I guess they’ve been anticipating trouble.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, thats new to me. Paul! Sounds very sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great poem – a harsh and sad reality
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the fool on the hill has made yet another bad call.
LikeLike
Violence only begets more violence. And on and on it goes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, such a tragic mindlessness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very kind, confronting though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing changes, but now the world has such dangerous weapons. What next? A powerful poem though, Paul.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Chris, I think we’ve entered a weird political space.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Weird and scary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
absolutely
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry I was away for a while.❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
It happens, as we need, glad you’re back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person