Conscience tells me
not to be silent.
When poetry is duty
is it still a poem?
But in these times,
being human
gives everyone the duty
the imperative
to speak against
all the kinds of destruction
by which
we are taking
ourselves
into silence.
A Quadrille written for Shhhhhhh.......Quiet, Please! at dVerse.
(Quadrille: 44 words excluding title – which in this instance must include some form of the word 'silent'.)
Good question... are we all headed for silence!?????
ReplyDeleteThe silence of annihilation – yes, it seems all too possible, lately. Particularly as many people have been shouting loudly for decades about the environmental destruction, and in opposition to various wars – to absolutely no avail. And yet, I think that does not absolve us from continuing to try.
DeletePowerful words! And YES! Poetry is definitely poetry when it is felt duty. Am wishing these days for the folk songs we had in the days of demonstrations against the Vietnam war: Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, etc. Poetry set to music that had a tremendous impact.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention the great Bob Dylan songs! Meanwhile, thanks for that resounding 'YES!'
DeleteEven those of us who find writing political poetry difficult know that we must speak out. A poem everyone should read, Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim. Yes, I think there comes a point when speaking out is indeed an imperative. But I am thinking we need to shout a lot louder yet.
DeleteThis is most thought-provoking, Rosemary. Very nicely done .
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteIt has become the duty of poets to speak up against the injustice and not be silent! Nice one.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does indeed seem to be so.
Deletepoetry as duty to speak out is duty the world needs. All forms of creative expressions -- this is the right time for it. So yes, it is the best kind of honoring our human duty. Thanks for writing this. Lovely lines. selma
ReplyDeleteThank you, Selma, for the encouragement.
DeleteThere's a long tradition of poets (and novelists, playwrights, artists. . .) speaking out. I've been writing many protest poems--and of course, they're poems!
ReplyDelete(Smile.) Yes, of course. I was temporarily shaken by someone's opinion that poetry should have no such 'constraints'. But protest poems can in fact be absolutely wonderful poetry.
DeleteThe silent majority is no longer a luxury. Especially for those whom words are our heartbeat. Very well written poem.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWhen poetry is duty / is it still a poem? - maybe it is not the measure of poetry but of the poet... poets react to the world around them - the radius of that world is up to the poet, their witnessing can be limited to the home and garden or extend up to a war zone. Very thought provoking question...will ponder for a while longer!!! Thank you, Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the pondering. What more can a poet ask of a reader? And thank you for the excellent point you make in response to my question.
DeletePowerful poem, Rosemary!
ReplyDeleteYvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thank you, I'm glad to be told that.
DeleteIndeed we stand on that precipice Rosemary, so clear in your lines, wonderful piece indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paul.
Delete