Trenches 2017 Poem by Glen Kappy

Trenches 2017



America is like the trenches—
like the trenches of that first world war
divided by a "no man's land."

In each we stand our partisans beside us.
Our heads are mostly ducked; we don't look out—
avoiding barbs or bullets from critiques or guns.

What is this no man's land we vie for?
Some politicians in our pockets?
A cleansing till it's only partisans against ourselves?

Or could it be it's love that drives us? —
love so buried and disguised we cannot see it—
cannot see we'll never find it in the trenches.

Saturday, November 25, 2017
Topic(s) of this poem: america,history,human condition,love,political,politics,racism,separation,war
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
I know this divide is mirrored elsewhere, but as an American I write about it here. For more hopeful looks at this divide, see my poems Another Glimpse of Whitman and Listening to Genius Loves Company.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Michael Walker 05 July 2020

America must be particularly like being in the trenches now from what I read. Racism, the statue of Columbus pulled down, mob demonstrations etc. Where is love?

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Daniel 19 February 2019

The current mood of intransigence in all parties is well illustrated by Trench Warfare. And the metaphor suggests more of the same.m Which makes the closing stanza especially wondrous. The qualified hope embodied in it is pitch perfect, and it suggests our malaise is a moral issue and we must rouse ourselves morally to make certain we continue to focus in summoning love and not further hate. This poem can change minds!

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Glen Kappy 19 February 2019

thank you, daniel. and on your last statement, i hope it does. of course i struggle with this myself—part of the reason i need my wife and mennonite and quaker friends to keep me honest and keep me at least trying to love. -glen

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Glen Kappy

Glen Kappy

New York, NY USA
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