House on the hill

Just words and thoughts.

                                  The house on the hill

Teacher, teacher. You taught me. Be kind, talk politely and treat all life with respect. The school is falling. All I see is hate, war and separation. Teacher, teacher. What do I believe? Are you teaching us the proper skills?

The house on the hill. Once stood safe and sound. Daddy was my hero and mama taught us love and she protected us. Today the house is falling apart. Daddy drink his rum to find sleep and mama sleeps alone. The once house of laughter and love had turn cold and lonely. Children watched solid world and home become the sand of time swept away by the ocean of disappointment.

Teacher, teacher. They killed children today? Father and mother. I learn how to take cover in my school. Is my world safe? What did you leave for me?

I touch the witches tree today. I love the witched tree. She reaches for the sun and the earth. I prayed we can stop the madness. Who do we blame? Time to stop the naysayers and the spreaders of hate. Need all races, religions and color to demand the end to hate. War is pure profit. The men and country that make profit from war. They  are the killers. No guns, no war.

Teacher, teacher. I saw soldiers fighting and dying. Who is right or wrong?

Poor teacher reached to the child and she whispered. We must stand our ground. The children will lead us to peace. You and the rest of the children must repair the wounded world left by greedy people.

Heal/not kill.    War is not the road to peace. It is the road to death and destruction.

                              John Castellenas/Coyote

Author's Note

A new poem. I hope you like.

Reviews

[Mar-Mar]

" Children watched solid world and home become the sand of time swept away by the ocean of disappointment."
This is my favorite sentence in the whole poem, I feel like most people can relate to it. I mean, We all have had our share of troubles and disappointment at home and in the world.
The poem sheds light on some things that we as people, tend to ignore.
I would like to know which poem that you've wrote is your personal favorite.
But anyways, Thank you for the great poem to read.
-Mars

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Mar-Mar for reading and the positive comment. I do appreciate.

[icelandicblue]

I tell my students when they argue over a game of where they will sit on the floor when I read that they model how easily wars can break out. I tell them wars are very easy to start and nearly impossible to stop, so they must be the peacemakers...the world is counting on them (they are 9 &10). I felt this poem very deeply.

[Coyote Poetry]

I hope the children do better than we did. This is a scary world. The once safe and secure places became dangerous. This is very sad. Thank you my friend for reading and the comment.

[Pryde Foltz]

A powerful piece, John. I think the problem is we forget to the universe we are all children and still learning:)

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right and we need to live by the golden rule. Treat people, the way you want to be treated. Thank you Pryde for reading and the comment.

[.]

-- this is a very moving piece... -- i think that teachers work very hard... but some of the kids who go to school don't remember the most important lessons they've learnt... -- we pay for their actions later... -- war is a waste in every way for everyone...

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree. This isn't against the teachers. Teacher teach the golden rules and the world rules are different. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[.]

-- you're welcome... :)

[Dani The Unreviewed]

Well, when i read the title, i expected something simple, or some poetry bout your dream home with your woman from your dreams. but, i found much truth instead. written with simple words, describing the illness of today's world. yes, it is unfortunate, that our pens cannot ever exhaust the resources of humanitys filth. unfortunate, that we have to write about such evil things, unfortunate that people don't remember "we have our lands, and homes so we can leave it to our children, and they can leave it to theirs" but i ask...if every generation is so irresponsible, so cruel, then what will they leave to their children, what sort of behavior we will teach those who come after us. very well described, that what reasonable, valuable people built, for the good of everyone, with blood sweating work, over centuries, and decades is now being carelessly destroyed by mindless, greedy pigs. where did the respect disappear from people, where did they throw away their reason, their love, the ability to value what they've been given?

100 points my friend.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Danny. I believe each of us must create a wave of hope for peace and calm. If we don't. Lack of effort is our sin to bare.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

damn war...we just can't shake it...i think the teachers are trying to teach what is right...but the pupils aren't listening...they have their own agenda...and just wait for lunch or recess to rebel against respect.

a really poignant write, Coyote.

j.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Jacob for reading and the comment. We form our children. I was raised with the Vietnam body counts and I joined at seventeen to go to war in 1975. Today children had been raised with active wars and I believe. Just like myself once did. War is a part of us.

[Ladysue]

Oh boy John..how true is this and I love how you created it. Very effective voice. Mindsets in this world need to change. We can't keep spreading the hate from generation to generation. The divide/inequality has to close in all areas. The right and wrong thinking/mentality has to meld into the art of comprimise and so much more. Not an easy feat when money, power and greed need to be hoarded to calm those who fear. It all has to start somewhere and it is so overdo. But I think a shift is starting at least I hope so. Great piece.

[Coyote Poetry]

I hope so and I don't believe so. Look at the Middle East and Syria. We are on a dangerous edge. Time to decide world war or peace? Thank you Ladysue for reading and the comment.

[Ladysue]

I agree and I hope so too. It is time to decide. We are on a dangers edge and we will probably go over it as we are far from world peace on so many levels.

[Coyote Poetry]

I pray we don't. New weapons can do great damage.

[Ladysue]

they sure can my friend. Prayers are needed.

[Willard Wells]

One small suggestion "Daddy drink his rum" to "Daddy drinks his rum".

Great piece and it does cause pause to wonder if what we learn and teach is going to get us through the death, destruction and war that surrounds us. Our teaching and learning seems to be through rose color glasses, but without the optimism of a change, we have no reason to go on. As they say "Hope springs eternal". And "THEY" are seldom wrong. :)

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree and thank you Willard for reading and the comment.

[Indra Neil]

this is a powerful and thought provoking write! u have conveyed the message in a strong manner! kudos! *claps*

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Indra. I appreciate the comment. It will take a billion people standing as one to create change,

[Indra Neil]

u r welcome! :) truly said! and it all starts with one inspired heart and a motivated mind! :)

[h d e rushin]

so true John but truer now than ever.....the profit from and for war. I heard Ted Cruz, Bush, Carson,
Rubio all make a case for the revamp of social security....while the wars against terrorism in
Afghanistan cost the American tax payer at least 1 billion dollars a day. And that's on the low end.
And has that war made my life, your life, your neighbors life any safer or any more secure? If I honestly
call myself a patriot shouldn't I also call myself sensible? Practical? Logical? Economical? Thoughtful?

I am constantly encouraged by the bravery of poets.....Whitman's poetry was an affront against
the War between the states. The eclectic poetry writing of the 1960's was mostly poetry that was
against the expansion of the wars in Southeast Asia. And the poetry of today is as brave
and honorable as ever.....Thanks for sharing this with us....dana

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dana. War isn't nice. Men who thirst for war. Don't have concern for the people in their way.