The news is grim; too much the norm.
The media converging, microphones ready,
people with cell phone cameras, and video,
like vultures swarming, taking their shot
posting to Facebook and Twitter get ‘Likes,’
repeats and coverage every few minutes,
again with all of the horrific details
that thrive on the feeds
of viral sites with streaming bytes.
~~~
Shouting, screaming, fists raised to the sky;
it’s another demonstration, another protest;
they rant, and rage at the opposing side,
and take their fight out into the streets.
“Stop the violence. No more guns.”
“Too many lives lost, too much bloodshed.”
“So much is wrong.”
“We need new laws.”
“Let’s find a way. Let’s work things out.”
~~~
Candidates throw their insults
at their running mates.
It’s a tiresome scene, their platform pushed
till despairing words tossed back are extreme
in hopes to win their party nomination
retracts a comment, misconstrued.
~~~
The issue of life at conception is heard
and once more it’s Roe vs. Wade revisited again.
“Punish the woman who takes a life,” a candidate says
“But, she has her rights. It’s her choice,” another argues.
~~~
The skies light up. Bombs explode.
Terrorists strike again inside
borders streaming with refugees that flee.
No country or people is immune to the threat
from wherever it comes, or intended place
there’s fear and distrust; it’s now what we face.
~~~
Will it be safe, to travel, be free,
to walk through airport terminals or streets?
God, give us a leader who is wise, and sincere,
who will stand for the things we once believed in.
~~~
At a nuclear summit with their tables full
leaders promise, “All will be better,
Just give it a chance. If we all can agree to
eliminate the threat by destroying the nukes.”
~~~
A new judge appointed to the supreme court
angers dissenters; they don’t agree.
The turmoil spills into the courts
where laws are muddied and can’t protect
those who stand to honor and abide
by their conscious convictions what they feel is right.
~~~
None can promise a way to spare
the country or world of problems shared.
All is in chaos wherever one lives,
memorial sites are erected for victims now dead.
~~~
Where are we headed?
Where is the foundation we built our lives on?
For what once was there is all but gone.
Is what we see, and what we hear
a repeat of the past, or more of the same?
~~~
There is no place where there is no strife,
where greed and corruption is not at home.
Where can one go where their soul is free?
Where there is no hate, death threats, or pain?
~~~
I lift my eyes and train my ears where cometh the sound
of a distant trumpet, and God’s Son appears on the clouds.
I’ll not worry, nor fear what happens on this earth,
or what one can do to me,
for what I know to be true
is that it is His Kingdom that will come and reign.
________________
Joyce E. Johnson © 2016
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