misanthrope

When my pictures, before changed,

their lines defined,

their colors bright

and crayons crisp and pointed rounded

in the tastes of spring and autumn,

my heart then knew their subjects.

When my pictures, after my mind 

confabulated with my age,

the youth of my canvas waxed corrugated;

it is now my fingers edifying my mind

and my heart is broken,

for their subjects are torn 

from it's cherished felicitation,

its spring now summer and scorching,

its fall now winter and barren.

I have witnessed too many homelands

withering in the summer,

indigenous folk strangling in buckthorns,

children starving and alone,

widows frozen in vacant stares.

My religion was variegated and springtime,

now a militant, political olive drab

shaded with war and terror and confusion.

My government was royal blue,

now white is tinted to sickly pale of distrust,

and red to rust like bodies oxidizing into rancid meat, 

dying like a battle on foreign land.

 

My fellows were prismatic when they smiled,

now shadows of menfolk with smoky, collapsing lungs,

strangling from lack of peace.

When my pictures were still fresh 

their azure skies lifted my smiling heart,

pigments of daffodil and rhododendron

laced my pallet fondly.

But now my colors tear stained run,

my lines hard contrasting restraints,

there is no room for aborted sentiments.

Is it yet unrealistic

to expect my children 

to color the world,

before they learn to see it?

Reviews

[paddy d daly]

from idealistic colours of youth, time changes the colour of our world view, experience tends to darken the pallet, a deep and thoughtful write, I like the last stanza with it's question mark, my answer is yes, but for now we need to let them colour it as they see it...

[m.s.early]

Agreed Paddy. Thank you for this comment :)

[paddy d daly]

your welcome....

[Frieda P]

Awe inspiring read xavier....needs a few reads to come away with the profound meaning of each and every word.

When my pictures, after my mind
confabulated with my age,
the youth of my canvas waxed corrugated

Wish I had pen'd those words, excellence here....killer last stanza too.

[m.s.early]

Frieda, hearing that from you, I know I'm doing what I supposed to be doing here. Thank you so very kindly :)

[Frieda P]

Oh I always knew that....! My pleasure, you're over the top talented. :)

[melissa]

This is a great poem keep up the great work and keep sending me more to read i love reading them

[Bright Ocean Star]

Xavier, this is so powerful and deep, but realistic and true to what is currently happening in the world. You are right. All we have to do is turn on the world news and find that our rose colored glasses are fading to capture the technicolor of humanity's brutality, starvation, and evil insanity. How can we remain unfazed by it all? Very poignant piece. Beautiful writing, my friend....

[m.s.early]

Thank you Anne. I had been reading Nizar Qabbani's "A Lesson in Drawing". A real downer lol.

[Bright Ocean Star]

very funny, X.....What would you do with Dante's Inferno?

[lost girl]

Do you think this is what the story of Noah is all about? I am star struck with this piece. There is still so much I wanna feel through before I render all my thoughts ...but I had to throw that question out there:) my inquisitive mind is never quiet.lol

[m.s.early]

That is a very poignant thought. Very possible me thinks...

[lost girl]

I watched the old movie and then saw the new this past weekend. I am now studying the verses in the bible so I can better explain it to my sons when we learn more about it in religion class. Since I also teach them a wider range of thoughts. I am trying to gain better perspective from a artist view ,a spiritual aspect, as well as scientific...not just religion. Your work is helping me through..opening more windows. Your such a blessing :)

[Sami Khalil]

Maisanthrope is someone who mistrusts or hates mankind for some reason or another( I could be wrong on the definition).
We all have some things that we dislike about some group or people or even individuals but personally speaking I do not hate them but I disagree with them or just avoid them. For example I dislike extremism in any form and religios hatred and so forth.
This was a thought provoking poem...:).....

[m.s.early]

Thank you Sami. I've understood a misanthrope to be one who a hates or mistrusts humankind. Though I am not a misanthrope, I can sometimes see why one would be (especially after global news). I thought it would make for good subject so I gave it a shot :)

Thanks for reading. :)

[Sami Khalil]

Wow. So true. You are welcome...:)...................