Increasing our good deeds, one person at a time, with all those we encounter along life’s daily encounters, is a start. I believe that we can from an optimistic stand, and that we must from a realistic one.

If we can’t, as you say, we are undoubtedly destined for the dust bin and beyond. What a tragedy that would be.

Best to you.

Could (they) describe a babe’s, an infant’s, a child’s, an adolescent’s, agonized thoughts and feelings?

While Gary’s anecdote depicts a realistic scenario anywhere in civilization, it’s a bold reminder that our species has yet to become civilized.

Bombings, invasions, torture, murder, rape, starvation, poverty, oppression, environmental belligerence; when are we going to put an end to this destructive, unproductive and stupid behavior?

Thanks Gary.

Best to you.

One would think that this particular war, in a place which we ceased to occupy and rule just over 61 years ago, should be reported in the British mainstream media. Instead we have yards of stuff about the US Presidential elections, the effects of conflict in the Congo and a mediastorm about two foul mouthed media personalities.

I did find a short report in the Times, which talks of a liberation movement called ULFA who obviously object to continuing exploitation. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5045940.ece
An extract here: ‘ULFA has been fighting for an independent Assam since 1979, accusing the federal Government of plundering the region’s tea, timber and oil resources while neglecting basic infrastructure and services.
Now wedged between Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Burma, Assam was an independent kingdom for more than six centuries until its conquest by the British in 1826.
When India won independence it was one of the country’s three wealthiest regions. Today it is one of the three poorest states, even though it produces more than half of India’s tea and 17 per cent of its oil.
ULFA began peace talks with the Government in 2006 but they fell apart after six weeks and both sides resumed a conflict in which more than 10,000 people have now been killed.’

Thank you again. So sad and such a waste of life.

Really, really great stuff. It kinda bummed me out though to look at the comments and see a guy talk pure politics about the situation in India yadda yadda yadda. I know it’s on a so-called ‘political site’ but the purpose of art is to transcend the ‘daily news’ or rather, raise it to the level of the Human, all Too Human…

In other words, is there a difference between what Corseri describes in the poem, and Beirut? or Gaza? or Ireland in 1916? or South Africa in 1985? or the U.S. in 1860? or Warsaw in 1943? or Beijing in 1989? or Rome, circa 200 A.D, etc. etc. etc.?

Of course, this poem will probably generate all sorts of “opinions” among the millions floating around “the information super highway that’s gonna bring us all together” these days, including this one. But I prefer to think of opinions not “like assholes, but like original minds; not everybody has one.”

Fortunately, the poet, Gary Corseri, has a unique gift and an original mind.