Grief’s Companion: War – November 2017

From Shaman’s Circle, 1996, by Nancy Wood

 

The death of children amidst the cross fire of ideas is evil’s

grandest gesture. Not even the loss of love nor a

summer without flowers creates a grief as deep

As the theft of children’s laughter. No horror speaks as loudly

as the final cries of children, who, like birds,

seek to spread their wings even when the sky bleeds

Dead dreams. In these dark moments, the Earth’s great heart

 

Stops beating. In the void that evil leaves behind, a question

arises: If fools make war on innocence,

then who becomes grief’s companion?

 

A single shaft of sunlight, falling on a drop of blood. A bird

rising higher than danger. A blade of grass, defiantly green

after fire wipes clean the face of desire. But most of all,

Music created by children’s tears.

I am two pieces of a whole split – January 2017

 

From War Cry on a Prayer Feather, 1979, by Nancy Wood

 

I am two pieces of a whole split

For the sake of convenience into

What is perceived as obsolete and

What is proposed as advantage.

I am divided between a world I never knew

Yet believe to be a fruitful existence

And a world I know through experience is

A world which endangers the species.

I am caught between a sensible decision

And the vagueness of affirmation.

What affirmation amidst decay?

What possibility lies within

Impersonal reports of catastrophes

Internal reports of committees set up

For the conversion of natural law

Into a formula for easy dominion?

I am the convergence of illusion and delusion

Holding me to a thin line of stamina

While I become content with less

While growing less content with more.