Crimson

edited version

Crimson rivers flow from
Young black bodies down,
Staining concrete sidewalks
Iron brown.

Crimson poppies growing in
Foreign fields... betoken
Young Warriors bones
not forgotten.

What crimson tribute
Represents discarded youths;
Who fight and die for
Absurd truths?

Reviews

[David O Whalen (O Haol..]

A great political statement written with great impact. Crimson was the best adjective you could have chosen to use as the theme for a poem of this nature. Your views are well expressed both poetically and politically! Well done! I wish I could express my feelings as well as you did here!

[Vishuddha]

It is inevitable that a predator be violent and we are what we eat. We have teeth made for meat. It's in our blood, like it or not, so blood will be spilled.
The worrisome part is "absurd truths" (or, nowadays, known as "Banksters")
Wise words.

[Bloom]

Short but effective. Very nice.

[captain]

Crimson is the color of a heavy message. Powerful words spoken here.

[Mockingbird]

bleak imagery of war and the absurdity of the reasons for going to war. i picture senseless blood shed with the emphasis on crimson. great job.

[Jack Dawkins]

It's true I seam to have put the empasis on crimson, I was experimenting using different colored type, the real emphasis should be placed on Absurd truths. Thanks for the read and taking the time to comment.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

a good, thought provoking write

[Jack Dawkins]

Thank you for taking the time.

[Larry Dyson]

reminds me of the parks in Denver in the spring time..about now with bright red flowers ...mostly tulips I think ..yes so much unnesscessary blood shed .." nice contrast in verb painting"Staining concrete sidewalks
Iron brown"...

[Cherrie Palmer]

both sides of the grave always cry, very well done. great use of color.

[Jack Dawkins]

Sorry about taking so long to respond to your review. I appreciate you taking the time to read and make a comment. I forget what motivated me to write this poem, most likely something I read in a newspaper...Which is why I don't subscribe or read newspapers, articles politicallly predjudiced and good deeds and good people do not sell papers.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I must agree the paper is cut on a bias and printed on one as well, :)

[Jack Dawkins]

Everyting we think say and do have to pass through filters of our up bringing and experience and what come out is prejudiced by that. I'm not judging other points of view,

[Cherrie Palmer]

that is so true, my dad was a WWII dad and that colors my world in a way that others cannot relate to.

[icelandicblue]

There is so much power and misery in that color. Those absurd truths? send so many to early graves. I like the societal ruminations in this piece.

[Neville]

A truely delightful and well written little poem Jack & whilst I too detected a touch of 'Flanders Fields' about it, it did not detract from the powerful message it conveyed regarding what is essentially absurd 21st century bloodshed and young wasted lives.

All Good Things, Neville

[Jack Dawkins]

Thanks Neville, I grew up in a heighborhood that must have had a least a dozen gangs and they fought all the time but I can't remember anyone being killed.

[Neville]

Well there you go then, doesn't that just prove individual perceptions or interpretations may vary..