Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Perennials
Each spring it happens, my stare
at the ground, dirt moving aside
for the push up, out and beyond
winter dark's frozen solid soil.
No one I know has said how
plants do it, the awakening,
how this life resurgence happens.
Somebody somewhere must know.
Knowledge wouldn't matter.
I'd still continue to stare
at the ground, at the green
shoots pushing up, out and beyond.
It's like how I can't fathom
that peace keeps pushing up through
war's grim fact of bullets, bombs,
smashed brains, hope, children's future.
My eyes fill. Contemplate.
Joy of the one.
Horror of the other.
Will only see peace burst into bloom.
Hannah Fox Trowbridge
Harpswell
Each spring it happens, my stare
at the ground, dirt moving aside
for the push up, out and beyond
winter dark's frozen solid soil.
No one I know has said how
plants do it, the awakening,
how this life resurgence happens.
Somebody somewhere must know.
Knowledge wouldn't matter.
I'd still continue to stare
at the ground, at the green
shoots pushing up, out and beyond.
It's like how I can't fathom
that peace keeps pushing up through
war's grim fact of bullets, bombs,
smashed brains, hope, children's future.
My eyes fill. Contemplate.
Joy of the one.
Horror of the other.
Will only see peace burst into bloom.
Hannah Fox Trowbridge
Harpswell
The Step Temple
Once upon a time, an intergalactic traveler from earth came upon a planet so like his own that for a time he felt he had lost his bearings and was actually back home, for the flora and fauna were the same as on earth and humans spoke the same earthly languages and were greedy and full of vanity. But he noticed that all the buildings were in wonderful condition, there were no slums and the people were universally healthy and well attired. He inquired as to why this general prosperity prevailed and was told that the reason was that there had not been a war for 18,000 years.
"How can that be," he asked,"when you are exactly like earthlings, full of conceit and avarice?"
"Quite correct," came the reply,"but we also are full of cowardice. If you look closely, you will notice that in every city and hamlet, we have erected a step temple at least fifty feet high. In the center of the temple is a pit, at the bottom of which is an eternal flame. If a nation wishes to go to war, the leader is escorted to the top of the temple by two strong young men. Immediately after he signs the edict to go to war, he is flung into the pit, for if he is willing to sacrifice the lives of beautiful young men, he must also be willing to sacrifice his own life. On this planet, we detest hypocrites. After the leader has given his life, the new leader, if he wishes to continue with the declaration of war, must also give up his life. By this means, we eventually arrive at the official who wants to live, and thus all disputes are resolved peacefully. At the time of settlement, both parties are usually dissatisfied, but after a few years, people tend to forget and they adjust comfortably to the situation. In all these 18,000 years of perpetual peace, only three leaders believed enough in their causes to sacrifice themselves. To most of us, they are great heroes who died for their convictions, but to some skeptical historians, they were seeking an easy way out of impending trials for corruption."
Herschel Sternlieb
Brunswick
Once upon a time, an intergalactic traveler from earth came upon a planet so like his own that for a time he felt he had lost his bearings and was actually back home, for the flora and fauna were the same as on earth and humans spoke the same earthly languages and were greedy and full of vanity. But he noticed that all the buildings were in wonderful condition, there were no slums and the people were universally healthy and well attired. He inquired as to why this general prosperity prevailed and was told that the reason was that there had not been a war for 18,000 years.
"How can that be," he asked,"when you are exactly like earthlings, full of conceit and avarice?"
"Quite correct," came the reply,"but we also are full of cowardice. If you look closely, you will notice that in every city and hamlet, we have erected a step temple at least fifty feet high. In the center of the temple is a pit, at the bottom of which is an eternal flame. If a nation wishes to go to war, the leader is escorted to the top of the temple by two strong young men. Immediately after he signs the edict to go to war, he is flung into the pit, for if he is willing to sacrifice the lives of beautiful young men, he must also be willing to sacrifice his own life. On this planet, we detest hypocrites. After the leader has given his life, the new leader, if he wishes to continue with the declaration of war, must also give up his life. By this means, we eventually arrive at the official who wants to live, and thus all disputes are resolved peacefully. At the time of settlement, both parties are usually dissatisfied, but after a few years, people tend to forget and they adjust comfortably to the situation. In all these 18,000 years of perpetual peace, only three leaders believed enough in their causes to sacrifice themselves. To most of us, they are great heroes who died for their convictions, but to some skeptical historians, they were seeking an easy way out of impending trials for corruption."
Herschel Sternlieb
Brunswick
Belonging
I came from the Earth.
Or was it the Sky?
The search is the same in either direction.
All that's contained by infinity
(a smile, a tear, a star)
is held
as well
in an outstretched hand.
Rosalie tyler Paul
Georgetown
I came from the Earth.
Or was it the Sky?
The search is the same in either direction.
All that's contained by infinity
(a smile, a tear, a star)
is held
as well
in an outstretched hand.
Rosalie tyler Paul
Georgetown
Monday, June 26, 2006
May the self-existing great peace that eludes words, thoughts and all imagination transform our vision so that our acts become deeds of kindness.
Kidder Smith
Brunswick
Kidder Smith
Brunswick
Knowing
After the news they show
the pictures:
photographs of those who were
killed.
Their posed faces look serious and formal.
I try not to imagine
what they might have looked like when they
died.
This used to be a time when I changed the channel,
watched a cartoon.
But tonight the silence hits me.
Because I know.
I know the twenty-six year old man
in the crisp blue uniform and white hat,
its brim shadowing his eyes,
is only one of
thousands.
The silence never bothered me before.
Tonight it seems to scream.
I try to feel helpless and innocent -
to pretend I don't know why.
But I know
it's because now
I know.
Charlotte Briggs
Arrowsic
After the news they show
the pictures:
photographs of those who were
killed.
Their posed faces look serious and formal.
I try not to imagine
what they might have looked like when they
died.
This used to be a time when I changed the channel,
watched a cartoon.
But tonight the silence hits me.
Because I know.
I know the twenty-six year old man
in the crisp blue uniform and white hat,
its brim shadowing his eyes,
is only one of
thousands.
The silence never bothered me before.
Tonight it seems to scream.
I try to feel helpless and innocent -
to pretend I don't know why.
But I know
it's because now
I know.
Charlotte Briggs
Arrowsic
IN MEMORIAM
I had these thought last Sunday morning after talking to my son, Ben, in Iraq, who had just returned from being shot at uncountable times on a patrol that has lasted for over ten months:
What makes one life sweeter than another?
What makes the tearing of flesh and shattering of bones in one body more acceptable than in another body?
Whose mother's tears at a child's death are more lamentable than another mother's tears?
Whose father's anger at the murder of his child is more justified than another father's anger?
Whose righteousness is purer: one who believes there is honor in killing, or one who believes there is honor in being killed?
Which leader is greater, one who pursues killing, or one who avoids killing?
Whose guilt is greater, a person who kills, or one who is silent in the face of killing?
Is it only a matter of perspective, or of one's lack of perspective?
Dexter Kamilewicz
Orr's Island
I had these thought last Sunday morning after talking to my son, Ben, in Iraq, who had just returned from being shot at uncountable times on a patrol that has lasted for over ten months:
What makes one life sweeter than another?
What makes the tearing of flesh and shattering of bones in one body more acceptable than in another body?
Whose mother's tears at a child's death are more lamentable than another mother's tears?
Whose father's anger at the murder of his child is more justified than another father's anger?
Whose righteousness is purer: one who believes there is honor in killing, or one who believes there is honor in being killed?
Which leader is greater, one who pursues killing, or one who avoids killing?
Whose guilt is greater, a person who kills, or one who is silent in the face of killing?
Is it only a matter of perspective, or of one's lack of perspective?
Dexter Kamilewicz
Orr's Island
It is possible for people to understand their fears, the cause of their fears, and become intimate with others for, you may find we are more alike than different, and we can help each other understand and transcend our fear-induced limitations. i feel this will bring about a greater caring, compassion, empathy, and understanding leading to greater awareness and sense of fellowship and community with others.
The planning for wars elsewhere begins here in America. We can change America by helping each other change how we think, our attitudes toward other people, and also knowing people of any culture share the most basic common denominators of wanting peace and human dignity.
Joe Ciarrocca
Brunswick
The planning for wars elsewhere begins here in America. We can change America by helping each other change how we think, our attitudes toward other people, and also knowing people of any culture share the most basic common denominators of wanting peace and human dignity.
Joe Ciarrocca
Brunswick
On August 5 Brunswick Peaceworks will sponsor a Peace Fair on the mall in Brunswick, Maine. As a part of that effort, I am editing a Brunswick Book of Peace. I will be collecting wishes for peace from Brunswick residents, workers and friends. We will display, at the peace fair, those we have already received, and, at the peace fair, we will have a booth where people will also be invited to write out their wish for peace, to be added to the collection which will eventually become the Brunswick Book of Peace.
You may send your wish to us at chimfarm@gwi.net , drop it off at Gulf of Maine Books (134 Maine Street, Brunswick), or come visit the booth on August 5. Please help us to spread this project!
Thank you,
Gary Lawless
You may send your wish to us at chimfarm@gwi.net , drop it off at Gulf of Maine Books (134 Maine Street, Brunswick), or come visit the booth on August 5. Please help us to spread this project!
Thank you,
Gary Lawless
