Come, join the parade of bleeding hearts
cultivate an attitude of platitude
watch horrors roll out on the news
while taking comfort, thinking
‘It could never happen here:’
the capacity for war is everywhere
beginning and ending in the human brain
thus runs the Poet’s wise refrain…
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A poem inspired by another poem:

I like the balance you strike here – precarious times.
We walk a fine line…
More truthful than one thousand censored and redundant news clips.
Thank you Michele 🙏
An irresistible poem alive in the aura of its pulling essence!
Thank you Jaya! 🙏
A beautifully-written and meaningful poem, Ingrid. Thank you for posting the wonderful poem by William Blake. These poems remind us that we all have a warlike dark side and are capable of violence. We are also capable of standing idly by as others are attacked, thinking it can never happen to us.
Thank you Cheryl 🙏❤️
For some reason, though nothing like Blake, this made me think of “Cabaret,” –I guess frantic gaiety as the Brownshirts gather. . .
Interesting connection! Sometimes poetry leads us in unexpected directions…
Probably just my odd mind. 😊
You said it perfectly and poetic beautifully – something I have been thinking, that it can actucally happen anywhere anytime.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
This is exactly so, and is wisely created and delivered, Ingrid. Wonderful write.
Thanks Jeff 🙏
You’re most welcome, Ingrid. Always. 🙏
This is a simply brilliant line:
the capacity for war is everywhere
beginning and ending in the human brain
I like the comment by nickreeves. You have struck a nice balance. I find the rhetoric about this war almost as hard to watch as the war itself. But your poem acknowledges a kind of universal truth. Our humanity is the best in us and the worst in us.
Thank you: that’s what I wanted to capture!
well written, too true – sadly the capacity for peace often seems missing in many people’s brains!
It would seem so…
I don’t know who could be feeling comfortable right now…(k)
It is hard to imagine!
Quite thoughtful and important. Y’re simply an amazing writer.
Thank you Lamittan, I appreciate your saying so 🙏
It’s my pleasure. 🙏
a scary reality Ingrid. it’s simply mind boggling and unfathomable! 💖
😢
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Oh, I missed a lot. Gorgeous piece.
xoxo
Thank you! 🙏
My pleasure.
xoxo