This poem is a white dove.
This poem is a peace flag.
This poem is an olive branch.
Oh, but this poem is not dreaming
of breaking bread with the enemy.
of keeping the gates open at night.
of drinking around a campfire,
singing in two languages (or three).
This poem does not believe in miracles.
This poem sets the bar low.
It asks that we put down arms.
That we put away uniforms.
That we still frown but smile sometimes.
That if we cross each other’s path,
we nod, give way, maybe even
shake hands one day.
This poem is a flag tied to the olive tree.
This poem is a dove perched on an olive branch.
A single strike can incinerate all three.
This poem burns
and becomes white ash.
Under the blazing April sky
it looks incongruous.
Like snow that
no longer
has the strength
to melt.
Really powerful words. You rise to the challenge of peace with a cutting poetic realism.
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Thanks so much!
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“This poem is a dove perched on an olive branch.’…the whole world is waiting to see this. The end is chilling, Rajani. I love how this Boomerang Metaphor form holds the content. Brilliant, as always.
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Thanks so much, Sumana!
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This poem brought me peace. Thank you.
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Glad it did 🙂
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This poem is a realistic take on the state of the world. ”Snow without the strength to melt.” Nice.
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Thank you, Yvonne.
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Beautifully penned, Rajani, without rose-colored glasses but with hope all the same.
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Thank you, Dora.
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My pleasure.
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A beautiful poem. Lots to think about. Thank you. annell
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Thanks Annell.
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Beautiful 💕
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Thanks so much!
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A fabulous poem, Rajani. I love all of it!
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Thanks so much, Kim.
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My pleasure!
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YES! The olive branch will do, until we are ready to “break bread with the enemy.” A powerful poem, Rajani!
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Thank you, Khaya… I like this boomerang form ..though I might not have followed all the rules!! I think it worked for this poem!
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This is a fascinating piece. Hard hitting and i love the line “This poem is a flag tied to the olive tree.” Perhaps that is what is needed. Well done.
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Thank you, Alan.
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Rajani, your pen is white hot. This poem will live in my heart for a long while. It is our best, most realistic hope at this point: just stopping the bombs would be a great start.
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It would be a great start… but it’s hard to hold out much hope. Thank you, Sherry.
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Really a good poem. There is nothing that I can single out as being particularly moving to me, as the entirety of the poem is moving. The last stanza though — oh, so powerful. Your poetry is amazing.
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Thank you, Mary. That’s very kind. Glad you liked it….
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Peace would indeed be a miracle, Rajani.
I am hoping you will add a link to our miracle prompt at “What’s Going On?” to your piece. Thank you.
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This poem is beautiful!
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Thank you, Sonia. Glad you liked it!
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Powerful.
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Thank you, Cindy.
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“A single strike can incinerate all three.” The miracle, I think, would be if that does not happen. But “This poem doesn’t believe in miracles.” And when it comes to war and peace, I cannot think of any.
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True… if indeed there is a miracle, it has already waited too long to show itself.
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No kidding. I wouldn’t have guessed.
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Beautifully said. Excellent illustration, too.
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Thank you, Pablo. The image is by an AI image generator… those things are getting better and better!!!
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