The Pebbles Ripple Poem by Scott J. Shepard

The surface lay calm and conditioned.
Clear as crystal, despite its lattice shape.
Once a child's mind,
before what waves of uncertainty
lay stress on this world.

What there is that begins a war
Or executes a man for treason.
Unexpected and innocent deaths.
Those who are destitute drifters
bound to watch the opulent thrive.
The insecurities of the bitter
as they plunder into politics
the guns that fire into the night.

And so the disturbance and chaos's grow
night after night, the pain's gain traction
There are fights, there are tears and days without help
Louder and louder, voices cry and chant and scream.
Soon the children shriek and holler.

The orator stands on his milkcrate
he cries into his bullhorn like thunder into the night.
You hear him wherever you go
chanting sharper, and tougher, and harder
faster, quicker, fiercer.

Till a sudden exit from reality
and you remember a child's mind
that innocent, fragile mind
crystal and calm
and all this,
just a pebbles ripple in a still lake