The Cycle

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Photo credit: S.T. Ranscht

#PoetsForPeace will accept your poem until August 31, 2016.

We will combine all contributions and welcome suggestions for what to do with the resulting collaborative Poem…”The Poem Heard ‘Round the World” something that would make Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and Martin Luther King Jr. sigh.” #PoetsForPeace

 

The Cycle

by S.T. Ranscht

Dark Age
ignorance, destruction, violence
the fearful band together
to contain, restrain, constrain
civilizing this Time’s
Golden Age
to question, create, explore
achieving complacence
once again

Shadows creep unnoticed from horizon
into unwary hearts that have no fear
or sense of other
or of love
Their first act shocks the world
to flurry anguish settling
to comfortable couch outrage
binge-watching shoot-em-ups
from the fifties

Was that the news
or just another episode
of mass shooting senseless violence reckless hate?

What can we do?
What can anybody do?
It is insane.
I see no hope.
Yes, this is a very comfortable couch.

Until it isn’t
Springs poke through
Too much anger, frustration, discontent
the hundredth monkey finally arriving
after the third act
or the fifth
or tenth

Standing to make room
swallowing their fear with the blood flowing
past their homes. along their streets, in their veins
until it boils
over
away
to purify us all

and birth
another
chance
for
hope

 

Unknown's avatar

Author: Sue Ranscht

Having survived valve repair surgery and an experimental cardiac bypass at age 5, three years before it was an accepted medical procedure, Susan grew into the size of her overworked and enlarged heart. Maybe she thought she had enough to give it away -- twice. Both times, she had to retrieve the shattered pieces and puzzle them back together. She thanks her Dad for the only advice of his she ever followed to the letter: "Never get married. Learn to take care of yourself." So of course she is a writer. Susan has co-written a YA SciFi novel, and has three more novels in various stages of evolution. She's had several short stories published in other people's anthologies, some of which were contest-related. Let her tell you a story...

12 thoughts on “The Cycle”

    1. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts, K. I would love to see humanity evolving in an endless Golden Age. It seems to me the weakest point in the cycle — perhaps the easiest to overcome — is our becoming complacent, satisfied with our accomplishments. Is it human nature to seek comfort rather than live the constant drive of dissatisfaction? Do we stop seeing the need to try when we’re surrounded by shiny new toys that hypnotize and placate us? Maybe we should teach our children and grandchildren to value searching, trying, moving forward in our understanding of ourselves and the universe, rather than to value the next invention that makes life more comfortable, easier, more stagnant.

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  6. Oh Sue, this is extremely well-written, poignant, and timely. I love these lines:

    “Their first act shocks the world
    to flurry anguish settling
    to comfortable couch outrage
    binge-watching shoot-em-ups
    from the fifties

    Was that the news
    or just another episode
    of mass shooting senseless violence reckless hate?

    What can we do?
    What can anybody do?
    It is insane.
    I see no hope.
    Yes, this is a very comfortable couch.”

    What a great entry!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Tre. Thank you very much. I am humbled and uplifted by the appreciation of so marvelous a poet as you are. My insides can’t decide if I should cry tears of gratitude or do a happy dance. ❤

      Like

      Reply

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