War & Peace

”War does not determine who is right – only who is left.”Bertrand Russell


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Weight of War” by: rob kistner © k10/24/23

 
War

my ruined eyes
crisp from the day’s cruel sun
burnt by devastation’s fires
scorched by images of relentless horror
blurred by stinging tears of sorrow

take refuge
in this late-evening rain
thick with battle smoke
falling heavy as a shroud

clinging
opaque
mercifully obscuring

I am sustained
by this damp pall
that descends cool upon me

wraps ‘round my pained countenance
fevered with fatigue
twisted with despair

drawn
by a faded memory of honor
a faint echo of duty
a frayed thread of human dignity

I’ve stumbled
collapsing here
broken by this sin I shoulder

not of my making
but of my charge

now my sin

unleashed by others
those above
those in warm dry offices
those removed

who would impose their delusions
to advance their selfish agenda

those who would rule the world



Original DDE™ surrealistic triptych: “The Brass”
by: rob kistner © 10/24/23

a world now broken
corrupted by their illusions
spoiled by their vanity

a world in chaos
as darkness deepens

this nocturne
I have but this ruin-riddled
highway of blood

of dying dreams
violated innocence
merciless destruction

of horrific death

this path of my duplicity
of my guilt
my shame

oh
for some water pure
to wash this unspeakable
from my eyes

but only the soot of death
is falling from the skies

and so
I stumble on
bent by the weight
of this falling evening

by the relentless weight
of this war
drowned in its drenching sorrow

my spirit hollow and empty
I slink exhausted
into this coming night

and
the next night

and
the night that follows
that always follows

captive on this road of murder
of brutal
human
arrogance

a prisoner
of this lost highway

seeking forgiveness


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Peace?”
by: rob kistner © 10/24/23

 
Peace

What is SO funny about peace love and understanding?

war is life out of balance
war is love out of balance
peace is life in balance
love is life in balance

life is balance
the keeping of it
the regaining of it
when lost

life is awesome
an experience of the profound

it is the mystery
we are not meant to solve

rather
to celebrate
with grace
and wonder

so wonder powerfully
and dream ferociously

let fly those dreams
from open arms
so promise’s winds
catch them to soar


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Love Set Free”
by: rob kistner © 10/26/23

bestow those dreams
wings of faith
to carry you
to wisdom’s shore

share those dreams
with an open mind
resonate truth
inspire others to be more

offer those dreams
in peace to all
in love to all
love is the door

the gateway
to the great mystery

love is all you need

in the end
the love you take
is the love you make

so share love
make love
love with great freedom
with great abandon
with gratitude
with the power of the spheres

just as the butterfly
lights upon the petal
so too
hold love
tenderly

love is the truth

love is the balance


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Love’s Elusive Butterfly”
by: rob kistner © 10/26/23

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rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse