True Terror

by Mike Turner / April 3rd, 2022

True Terror is not the bump in the night
Howl of wind in naked trees
Or fear of monsters beneath our bed

But rather is the wickedness
Man visits upon Man
War
Violence
Oppression
Subjugation
Slavery
Exploitation
Racism
Hate

We hold the power
To free ourselves from terror
Rid ourselves of iniquity
In recognizing our common humanity
Extending the hand of friendship

For terror is not merely of the mind
But is evil amongst us
And our salvation
Comes in acts
Of love

Mike Turner, a poet/songwriter living on the U.S. Gulf Coast, was named 2025 Poet of the Year by the Alabama State Poetry Society. His poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including Dissident Voice; his lyric, “Sense of Peace,” was awarded the Alabama Writers’ Cooperative’s 2023 Roger Williams Peace Award for Writing. He can be contacted at www.MikeTurnerSongwriter.com. Read other articles by Mike.

This article was posted on Sunday, April 3rd, 2022 at 8:02am and is filed under Poetry.