The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.
Elie Wiesel
We stand divided, not from borders fenced
with razor-wires, but fissured deep inside,
a river Styx that’s running wild with sense
that hate can grow from love and though we try
we either break apart with hearts too tense
or grey indifferent and wonder why,
that hate and evil grows in neighbor’s sons
while we build higher walls and ask for guns.
Emotions, Indifference by Erte
Today Frank will tend the bar and brings us the Ottava Rima at dVerse, use it as a stanza or as a single poem. Come and join the fun with us at 9 PM CET.
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May 25, 2017
Such a great line “wonder why,
that hate and evil grows in neighbor’s sons
while we build higher walls and ask for guns.”
Well done.
Ha. My daughter just got that quote inside a fortune cookie last weekend. 🙂
This is a very good poem. I like this part best:
“fissured deep inside,
a river Styx that’s running wild with sense”
I like that line break after “sense” … the contradiction in running wild, but with “sense.” I think we totally do that — let our thoughts go insane inside of us, but practical thoughts, trying to do the right thing, trying to figure out what’s most prudent and practical. But yes, there is absolutely a wildness, an out-of-control feeling (in the brain) associated with making sensible choices. I think that’s because it’s unnatural; we’re fighting against our impulses when we choose sense over sensation.
I think this is exactly what I mean… the contradictions that divides us…
This is so pertinent at the moment, Björn. Living pretty much in the middle of nowhere, we don’t get to see the reactions in Manchester and other British cities up close but we can see them on TV, listen to them on the radio, read them on the Internet and just feel them in our hearts and souls, fissured deep inside, as you say. But I don’t want higher walls or guns.
I liked the sound of the final two lines and the parallel thoughts of neighbor’s sons and guns. I don’t watch TV, but my wife told me about the Manchester tragedy the very morning it happened.
Wow, Frank, in this day & age, to step away from the daily media shower is quite the accomplishment. Bjorn, love the tone & the message which seems to morph from one relationship to a universal metaphor was smooth & effective; nice illustration of the form.
Love the entire content of this one — and especially this line
“or grey indifferent and wonder why,” the idea of grey indifferent is intriguing. Your post fits with Elie Wiesel’s quotation eloquently.
This is so philosophically profound, Bjorn. So timely, and so true.
“grey indifferent” – love the verbification of “grey” in this…so much better of a word than “grow”.
Profoundly beautiful!
walls and guns indeed divide us. 😦
spot on!
You use the form very well, and make important points.
Words of wisdom indeed.
Really amazing poem! Some sad truth that is!
Folks down here in Texas go crazy over guns. They have a permit to carry a concealed handgun. It’s kind of crazy. I think it would be more dangerous for the criminal than the victim kind of good in a way but crazy
The River Styx as a component makes this a stunning poem. I think we wish more people would try harder.
I like it and I am still struggling to create with this form, you have done well. It flows nicely.
Deeply thought out, Björn! A poem that begs to be read again, and meditated upon.
we either break apart with hearts too tense
or grey indifferent and wonder why
What can be understood human nature takes some time to emotionally progress from love, indifference to perhaps eventually hate! Yet may not readily acknowledge having done so!
Hank.
The fissured depths, how very true. A matter of heart comes first for actions to follow; not the other way round.
a country that looks united to the world, only the locals see the inner divisions, very contemporary and descriptive of where I live
I’m blown away by your work on the rhyme of this ottava rima. The closing couplet, especially, packs a wallop that leaves a sting.
The people who know better, do nothing.