Break its defense, be brave against fear
though what’s dear
become goosebumps in fog and gnawing of bones
though fingers are clawing
to open the noose constricting you breath
though death might be winning
the souls of both sinners and saints.
though corps-lights are lighted for innocent many
in Baghdad and Paris, Aleppo, New York
we must both forget and remember to
break its defense, be brave against fear.
The concert in the egg by Hieronymus Bosch
Linked to Open Platform at toads, somewhat inspired by Dylan Thomas “And Death shall have no dominion”.
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September 13, 2016
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Corpse lights lighted for innocents…l
So many lives everywhere…it’s impossible to understand the magnitude of global grief. Especially liked “..become goosebumps in fog..”
the magnitude of global grief – wow
Surely, its difficult to trust in goodness, when strike after strike of hatred confronts, as your poem states to cower is to die and let hatred win, to live is a chance at victory. Nice write, sharp
much love…
I like the circular motion of this poem, Bjorn, and the powerful repeated line: ‘Break its defense, be brave against fear’. It was a brilliant idea to use the Bosch painting to illustrate it.
There is so much fear… I hope I can be brave.
“Be brave against fear” – what a wonderful line that is. I like the lights lit across the world “for the innocent many”.
I think your form here is fabulous, Bjorn! There is such impact in the way you have laid out the lines, and the subtle rhymes and other devices all enhance this very stylish poem.
Maybe, one day, Bjorn, humanity will grow up and mature, as a species, so we don’t need to add to the list, you have start, in your poem, with Nanking, Granada and too many other communities that were raped, as an act of war and terror.
Man, I love this line: “become goosebumps in fog and gnawing of bones” … Awesome.
Also this: “we must both forget and remember t(w)o” … This really has me thinking about how being in a partnership means forgetting as much as it means remembering. Remembering the good, forgetting the bad. Also, “remembering two” means that you spend enough time together, focusing on each other. But “forgetting two” means that it’s just as important to spend time alone and also to spend time with other people … friends and such. I find this to be very wise marital advice, even if unintentionally and completely unrelated to the poem. 🙂
Ah I think the difference between marital bliss and world peace is probably not too small… both forgetting and remembering is needed…
For me, this has a medieval feel to it, also like a morality play. And the Bosch illustration is so effective. (Would love to read a psychological analysis of that man)
You have a lot in here,
“forget and remember to
break its defense, be brave”
nice advice, Bjorn. I think breaking its defense to make it stop is key here. It will take a lot of brave, motivated people to do that. Forgetting yet remembering will motivate.
..
The Dylan Thomas inspiration is interesting. I did pick up a bit of a UK fee-fi-fo-fum (Shakespeare, I think) vibe to the piece.
Your posts require my brain to become engaged, to think, to suppose and move. Thanks.