RED RIVER

What's wrong with our society?

RED RIVER

pristine scarlet exudes

a revolting stench

masses twitch

or lay motionless

until sirens screech their way

to a scene of a red river

Meantime the butcher exits

his place of extinction

swathed in muted black

he extracts his grizzly garb

unlatches his father's locker

and slips his weapon in a slot

He presumes anonymity

yet a neighbor sees him

in his bizarre gear

a snapshot against every eventuality

Before long, weepers impart

a rainbow of cuttings

at the macabre site

as an homage to those sacrificed

At once, alarms and human screams

impinge into a cacophony

of mortal suffering and pain

 

 

Reviews

[Vertigo Cat1111]

You just capture everything here monumentally. The writing is so neat and excellently done. The words you used, the way the poem goes on. It captures the horror of this world and just HOW many Red Rivers there are. It’s sad and messed up and no one seems to care but the people who aren’t in power, unfortunately. A heavy topic you explored beautifully with chilling lines but a beautiful poem with so much truth. Thank you for sharing.

[Betty Hermelee]

Wow! What a great review Cat, much appreciated!
Best to yo,
B.

[W. Barrett Munn]

What type thinking compels murdecide, taking of life of others and self. I don’t get it. Suicide used to be a prrsonal thing, not an event for CNN to cover.

Winston

[Betty Hermelee]

Exactly! And when will it end, not in my lifetime!
Thanks for a thoughtful review…
Best B

[Dave Brown]

Every time I hear "released on his own recognizance' I know it is just a matter of time.

[Betty Hermelee]

Correct Dave! So sad, and I don't think we'll see significant changes in my lifetime!!!
Thanks for your review, much appreciated
BESTB

[Betty Hermelee]

Dave, I see you're writing a book; i will get to read chapters, after my daughter leaves on Saturday!!!
BESTB

[Dave Brown]

Let me offer my apologies in advance.
If you do decide to take the leap, you might wish she had stayed a couple of extra weeks

[Betty Hermelee]

nope, the kids have a limit!!!, and I will get to your book, no worries!!!!
BESTB

[Ken e Bujold]

Betty, you capture so poignantly what I feel every time another of these pointless events occur, which is as you so rightly note,far far far too often. The solution is one we will never accept, so it's simply a waiting for another desperate soul to shout out they want to be heard, but when we listen all they have to say is "someone's got to die in order for me to live" A sad, sad statement if ever

ken

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you Ken for a very thoughtful review, much appreciated.
Best, B

[Coyote Poetry]

Hello dear Betty. Your words honest, strong and true.
"Before long, weepers impart
a rainbow of cuttings
at the macabre site
as an homage to those sacrificed"
The above lines. So many know today. I pray for days when war is forgotten and our children, can be children. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you John for thoughtful review....
much appreciated...
Best, B

[Coyote Poetry]

You are dear Betty.

[Lorry]

This one to me certainly has Carmina Burana as it's soundtrack. You could have shown a picture of a child's painting with that music and all you'd think is "That painting is going to come to life and kill me in my sleep!"
Red rivers and the stench of decay, along with human screams and mortal suffering suggest the true pollution of humanity that dishes out new flavours of suffering like it was gonna go out of fashion anytime soon.
I doubt it will though.

[Betty Hermelee]

I only wish it would go out of fashion...but not in our lifetimes... Thank you Lorry for an in-depth review and to reminding you of Camina Burana
Best, B

[light and ashes]

Crimson Tide-a diseased river.
That's what I thought of reading this at first, but this was something a little different than that.
Very macabre.
Very Halloween/October-ish.
I enjoyed reading it.

[Betty Hermelee]

yes and all the mass shootings we've has to live with!
Thank you for your words, much appreciated.
Best, B

[light and ashes]

You're welcome

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

These rivers of blood are becoming too frequent in the world today. Where hate is practiced more than love. And regardless of faith, politics, or color we all bear the same blood. A harrowing and moving piece of poetry B. One that we all have a responsibility to change in order to make a better world. CLE

[Betty Hermelee]

A very true and thoughtful review Carlos!!
Thank you, much appreciated!
Best, B.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this Red River makes me feel so blue...all of the senseless Mass shootings....the bombs in Ukraine...
life has turned red...and it is pretty scary.
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

Red or blue, yes it's very scary... Thank for your input, much appreciated J.
Best, B

[John the Baptist]

Quite graphic, this one, as it should be. I don't know if it depicts any particular mass shooting, but it could stand for all of them. Most of us wish we'd seen the last of them, but unfortunately we haven't.

[Betty Hermelee]

It's a general statement on mass shootings...
Thank for your review!
Best, B.