white robes cast in red

white robes cast in red

 

 

 

Christ-like composure

the man with the golden poetry book

in hand,

reading verse

as bombs decree

there will be no peace

Churches will be obliterated

religion as an excuse for warfare

 

he reads some lines

just before his lips are blown off

his teeth scattered

the book in pieces on the ground

as the newscaster

trudges through the rubble

of another annihilation

of human life

 

there are plenty of loaves and fishes

but no one left to feed

 

what kind of miracle is that?

 

 

erin-cilberto

10/14/23

Reviews

[Weeping willow]

Wonderful write as religion and war seem to go hand in hand with destruction blowing around. It seems to me that it should bring peace instead of war;-]

[jacob erin-cilberto]

You would think so willow, you would think so.
Thank you,
j.

[M]

Waging war in the name of chosen systems of belief is the dumbest thing humanity has ever achieved. Thousands upon thousands of years and still it happens. Maybe that is the miracle? That we, of such developed brains and advanced knowledge , can actually be so dumb and resort to endless violence and bloodshed in the name of religion. I think that book is not golden but rather rotten. Impressive and relevant poem.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your understanding review, Makhabat,
j.

[emmajoygreen]

This powerful and finely written post is so very jacob. But sir, who builds the weapons and pulls the triggers? We, like it or not, were created to have the essential make up to choose right from wrong. Some would say that choice - Conscience. comes via faith. science or natural evolution. Even in placing my thoughts - as have others, I am struck by the gravity of your very visual and understandable words, but, need add another side to the eternal question. Why does Man kill?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

like in Donovan's song Universal Soldier...He's the Universal Soldier and he really is to blame.
read morelike in Donovan's song Universal Soldier...He's the Universal Soldier and he really is to blame.
You have a point...
j.

[emmajoygreen]

If we put out faith into Mankind instead of God or any god, there will still be war(s). Proof of that is rampant across the world here and now. The Universal Soldier? A debate rather than a poem, jacob?!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a song...but definitely can be fuel for debate.

[Chris Shaw]

A powerful write dear J. Reminds me how religion for centuries has resulted in the evils of warfare. A bible in one hand is pretty useless when a bullet is coming in your direction. Ohh, the futility of warfare. The innocents suffer.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, quite futile,
thank you, Chris,
j.

[D]

Where is the place for religion, if no worshippers are left? What is the use of a bounty, if no children are left? Your words are powerful and evoke a desperation in the reader. We must always condemn war and describe it in the most despairing way and you have certainly done that here. I loved it!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, we need to just mind our own business, live and let live and quite killing each other.
thank you, Divya,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob... we were raised in an atmosphere where Hope had Wings... to fly and gather flowers of Mercy. Now the feathers float above the wounded and quiet who have passed. It is a sad time for everyone. The children and young Scholars have become the Angels who are left with seeds to sow and grow in sunshine and rain. Peace and Love, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

the feathers have molted...
Peace, Pat,
j.