! An Angry Poem About Peace Poem by Michael Shepherd

! An Angry Poem About Peace

Rating: 2.6


This is an angry poem.
About those weasel phrases
which blow like paper in the street
going nowhere,
hiding truth,
helping us to
deceive ourselves.

'The pee-yus pro-sayus' -
say it in the Irish voice
of obscurantist politicians
often enough
and we'll accept it as a term,
and believe that it needs hard work
and forward planning
and careful progress
and compromise
and agreements
and initiatives
and 'generous' concessions
and declarations of intention
and cautious examination
of opponents' motives
in the 'battle' for peace
and coming together
to establish differences...

Peace
is what is eternally there
when war and strife is absent.
Eternally.

I can't remember Christ
(was he Catholic or Protestant? I just can't remember...)
saying
'Peace process be unto you'...
uh, when would that be? ...
or commanding the waves of the Sea of Galilee
'Engage in the peace process - be still'...
somehow it just doesn't seem to carry weight
as a blessing or a do-it-now...
'Go in process towards peace, my child...'

I wonder why that is.

!  An Angry Poem About Peace
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Raynette Eitel 06 April 2005

This poem oozes irony along with the anger. The references to Christ's offering of peace are the right touch. Nice!

1 0 Reply
Nalini Hebbar 03 July 2006

of all the sins the christians beleive in and all the sins the hindus acknowledge...terrorism is the worst...all the rest effect only us...only terrorism effects the innocent neighbourhood newborn...nalini

1 0 Reply
Robert Howard 09 January 2008

Very interesting construct. The term, 'peace process' objectifies and externalizes peace. This denies the fundamental reality that peace must be created from the inside out not the other way around.

1 0 Reply
Greenwolfe 1962 20 January 2008

I've only read a few of your writings, but of those I have read; I have found them interesting from a philosophical standpoint. That seems to overwhelm your writing. I'll definitely come again. I'm curious about your other writings but mostly about you. Greenwolfe 1962

1 0 Reply
Bob Blackwell 11 May 2008

Peace today is usually to the benefit of only one side of a religious argument. such a pity they don; t dropp their beliefs and just hug each other. Well said Michael. Bob

1 0 Reply

AN encouraging one really

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Alison Cassidy 16 January 2010

Michael, you should meet Don Watson. He is an Australia author, former speech writer for Paul Keating and passionate tender of verbs, those sturdy stumps that support the house of truth. Actually when I first saw your title, I thought of Jerry and your very apt description of him as the 'belligerent pacifist'. It's' good to see that he's not alone in his quest for what is right - or perhaps I should say - left. You use ridicule quite magnificently, Michael. Da Pacem Domine. Love, Allie ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

2 0 Reply
Beauty Philosophy 29 August 2009

A strong poem voicing a strong message to all people who pay just lip service to the peace cause...I invite you to read my poem 'Inner, Outer peace ', a sequel to yours to a certain extent...

2 0 Reply
Deva De Silva 21 April 2009

Agree with you whole heartedly... it sure was angry poem!

1 1 Reply
Fay Slimm 22 August 2008

A very strong text to cite from the scriptures - Christ saying 'peace process be unto you ' brings your argument right home Michael, as it ridiculous in the extreme. Very well said, the whole piece.

1 0 Reply
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Michael Shepherd

Michael Shepherd

Marton, Lancashire
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