Change

The only way to maintain sanity is to find reminders

That bring into the light

The fact that there is a world beyond that stretch of land split by a two way road.

After peeling back the miles and layers of discrimination

Reality is evident.

The crop filled soil and bay-washed winds fade to clarity.

Culture bleeds from shadowed corners of buildings coated in brick.

And people are smiling.

But the smiles aren’t painted.

Happiness fills the room, and although joy has no shape, it reflects off of the faces.

The colors enclosed in the picture-coated walls are bright enough to envelope that stretch of land with a road for a spine.

I hope one day they will.

I hope acceptance and love will crack the walls of intolerance.

But in this moment, reminders are the only reality.

We must feed them like fire.

Struggle through the smoke, shelter it from rain.

We pray and hope that winds of change will carry the flames to the canvases.

We’ll watch the hate turn to ashes and

The world will be dressed in fire.

Reviews

[zainul]

You have expressed pragmatic approach for change with lovely words and amazing logic.
There are a number of lines that captured my attention.They are:
"The only way to maintain sanity is to find reminders"
"Culture bleeds from shadowed corners of buildings coated in brick."
"I hope acceptance and love will crack the walls of intolerance.
But in this moment, reminders are the only reality."

[Derek Sparks]

@zainul
I really like the way you write. Your words are very intellectual and though reading your stuff I find myself needing to crack open a dictionary lol, that's a good thing.

[zainul]

Thanks for the compliments,Carly.
I feel very honored by your kind words.

[Eagle Cruagh]

Thanks .

Thanks for a refreshing and inspiring
philosophy.
Thank you also for an exquisite poem
that professes love and compassion as
a substitute for intolerance.
I think I like you. Keep up the sweet thoughts.
----- Eagle Cruagh

[LuciDxInsanitY]

So vivid! I love your use of imagery; I think my favorite line for sure is 'after peeling back the miles and layers of discrimination reality is evident' . You're definitely talented :)

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

This is a deep and well written piece.
"And people are smiling.
But the smiles aren’t painted.
Happiness fills the room, and although joy has no shape, it reflects off of the faces."
to me these " reminders are the only reality."

What a world this would be, if we could see each other as human beings...souls in bodies...and work from there.

[Rc R. Vagilidad]

Change is an overstated idea when referring to humanity. I believe change is not a rush, and should always be positive.
And you clearly depicted positivism in this short passage of lines and strong phrases.

I ultimately love the last line, "The world will be dressed in fire".
Like the Great Flood. Washing everything.....

I am sure that I will subscribe to you. My first read from you. :)

[Tom]

I could feel the struggle in this poem and I had an image of a tiny flower growing through a crack in the asphalt, I'm not sure why but i feel it is the glimmer of hope, the nurturing of the memories that will break through the struggle you so eloquently describe. Well done.

[Ireca]

"Happiness fills the room, and although joy has no shape, it reflects off the faces" - great line. Great poem. It gives great hope.

[Derek Sparks]

Love it.

[kdanill]

Nice work! Some may not understand the depths, but many are shallow. Keep it up! kdanill

[C Wood]

Great imagery. Very insightful. I like the apocalyptic undertones at the end. Hate and intolerance do often lead to fire, both literally and metaphorically. well done.

[Alex]

This is great reminds me a bit of T.S Eliot, just studying him now so everything seems related :D Really great write well done.