alternating time-scales
impose creeping ultra realities
upon narcotic selected dreams
socially construed realities
suddenly material plane
is as instant immaterial
as a universe of atoms
containing dimensional illusion
of solidity inherent
in each specific object
defined in nature's webs
all life indeed is but a dream
until the nightmare comes
on earth fear four horsemen
ride pitilessly over dark third
world catastrophe countries
dreams perish within war realms
perish in hungry mouths
death starved flesh minds
famine reinforced
with cholera,
malaria, diarrhea, typhoid,
scarlet fever, measles
compete as cyclic epidemics
epidemics sweep across aids
ravished infected Africa weeps;
remorseless west television watches
skulls gleam inanimate
in sunlight unseen by lost legions
already needlessly dead;
unmoved west television watches
when will humanity
pass a compassion
law forbidding indifference?
instead of deleting differences
ethnic groups religions
due to traditional values
of rage, anger, hate, greed,
coveting land resources
belonging to foreign others
stealing their oil incomes
homes, food, water, lives,
how long will people neglected
be forced to live die like vermin?
when will we raise all children
for love life sensuous rewards?
to assist children
in growing sane
strong safe vibrant
in radiant health
Copyright © Terence George Craddock
Written in April 2000 on the 11.4.2000.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
'when will humanity pass a compassion law forbidding indifference? ...' awesome lines, the cold shock of truth!