The cunning old red fox
knows his canny game,
Eggs galore until he eventually
meets a foul ending.
The conjuror with a make
believe world at his feet,
A colourful list of lies and
rabbits trailed from his hat.
One day very soon, he’s
going to be the starring turn,
Hollywood hopefuls clutter
the pavements in hope.
Duckers and divers all lying
low in Costa del Silencio,
Tainted lives and remade
personas living on favours.
Each drinking from the same
cup of borrowed time,
Lounging in suits and
awaiting that moment of fear.
Mister Big dispensed all
manner of potent potions,
Addicts craved his daily
array of poisonous provisions.
One lonely Tuesday evening
he believed he could fly,
Crazed and defiant he leapt
beyond his comfort zone.
The man who spun
believable tales of many riches today,
Entrapping the vulnerable
and the frightened with fear.
Today, he treads the
pavements searching for crumbs,
Preaching about poverty
and expects to find kindness.
Evildoers concoct explosive
recipes on kitchen tables,
Then obliterate innocent
lives in barbaric acts of terror.
Paramilitaries wielding weapons
while breaking free,
Murderers on the run and seemingly
beyond recapture.
Safe houses hid them until
their cockiness presumed,
Intervening years returned
almost all of them to graves.
The Elders teach that we
must love and we must forgive,
Yet in circumstances a
righteous wrath restores justice.
©Copyright Eileen T O’Neill 29/04/2015
Poets United Mid-Week Motif: ‘Poetic Justice.’.
"Evildoers concoct explosive recipes on kitchen tables,
ReplyDeleteThen obliterate innocent lives in barbaric acts of terror."
Your poem drives home the truth of this--how these devils seem to keep functioning, but eventually misstep and are done in--not without a great deal of pain all around. I struggle with forgiveness, but also marry it to righteous wrath and only forgive after justice plays its part. Powerful poem, Eileen!
I am thinking about the idea that a righteous wrath restores justice. I think you are right. Sometimes a righteous wrath accomplishes what needs to be accomplished more than forgiveness does.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful poem..! These lines struck me:
ReplyDeleteThe Elders teach that we must love and we must forgive,
Yet in circumstances a righteous wrath restores justice.
Sometimes.. we must forgive those who have done us wrong.. and the ultimate revenge is the wrath of God.. :)
xoxo
Wow, the lines of people preparing explosive devices on kitchen tables got to me...and that is exactly what happens. Well done, Eileen. A powerful poem.
ReplyDeleteHate is generated by the deprivation of freedom. What was sown hundreds of years ago by strong empire builders is now being reaped in terror. Even love may not pacify this ravenous beast...guns certainly will not.
ReplyDeleteCosta del silencio ! Ha !
ReplyDeleteDepending on your choice of Elder there is a place for a just war of retribution particularly in matters of genocide which is now happening courtesy of the butcher's knife and bombs in the middle East. Powerful poem with definitive views.
" One lonely Tuesday evening he believed he could fly, / Crazed and defiant he leapt beyond his comfort zone.".....hope this does not lead any one to a 'foul ending' specially on these days when explosive recipes are the order of the day and we expect the blindfolded lady to be unforgiving...great lines Eileen...
ReplyDeleteA strong idea, payback, yet has justice changed since that was the law?
ReplyDeleteVery strong poem Eileen. Hard to know when justice prevails. And there's so much need for justice nowadays.
ReplyDeleteFor justice is same for everyone,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,good for good,,,,,,,,bad for bad!!
ReplyDeleteYes, the last line's really struck me too. A fitting close with plenty to ponder.
ReplyDeleteI love this, Eileen...Yes, even I believe.. forgiveness can restore human justice. .We all have issues where we lack empathy and we desire empathy.What a magnificent teacher you are...god bless!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poetry. ..
nice poem we appreciate
ReplyDeletewww.braveheartnaija.blogspot.com
Hi n Eileen
ReplyDeleteBetween finishing my packing for Disneyland and cleaning the house, I am sneaking in a few minutes to visit you.
Your words are very evocative and full of great meaning ..
Thanks for sharing you gift ...
Much truth in those last two lines
Thanks as always for visiting me , always a joy to see you.
Back to my packing .. LOL
Take care
xx
You know, Eileen, I always lean to find the positive in everything...in your poem I feel like the justice is a positive hero... Peaceful day to you....
ReplyDeletei liked drinking from the cup of borrowed time
ReplyDeleteJoy From Acts of Pleasure
Yes, Eileen, we live in an ever more violent world and ti seems that we have watered down our justice which seems to be ever more elastic when dealing with increasingly heinous acts. Your poem and especially its dénouement reminded me of John Dryden's "Absalom and Achitophel":
ReplyDelete"Must I at length the Sword of Justice draw?
Oh curst Effects of necessary Law!
How ill my Fear they by my Mercy scan,
Beware the Fury of a Patient Man..."