Once I believed that peace was the absence of war,
that weapons were waste,
that science of arms was harm
that forging swords into plow bills was always the best.
Once I believed that humans were good
that we were better united than forever apart
that borders were useless since we all want the same
that bridging our chasms was simply a matter of talks.
Once I believed that trust could be built over time
that fact could be turned into actions
that greed was more sin than a virtue
that religion could be the solution rather than cause.
Once I believed … but now I’m confused
cause sometimes wars have to be fought
cause weapons are needed again
cause plow bills are useless in minefields
cause borders are closing simply to keep us apart
cause facts are ignored simply to keep what we have
cause we act without having a cause.
cause greed and religion have merged to a pact
a pact of division ignoring what’s good
a pact to confuse, to grab more than we need
a pact that keeps us forever apart
Once I believed and please, dear world, help me to find
somewhere
someplace
somehow with someone
a way to fix what is broken
again.
Alfred Freddy Krupa
Today I host MTB at dVerse and the topic is to use rhetoric devices in poetry for a cause.
“Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either — but right through every human heart — and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained. And even in the best of all hearts, there remains … an unuprooted small corner of evil.
Since then I have come to understand the truth of all the religions of the world: They struggle with the evil inside a human being (inside every human being). It is impossible to expel evil from the world in its entirety, but it is possible to constrict it within each person.”
― Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956
August 17, 2023
Björn Rudbergs writings 
A powerful rhetorical poem, Björn, with effective use of repetition, alliteration and internal rhyme.
Thank you… I tried my best using the devices I know. I also remember that you should always use the number of three arguments.
“that greed was more sin than a virtue”
For me, this is one of the most striking lines. I like how it ends with a hopeful, even if somewhat despondent, plea to fix what is broken, and fix it again. Very good summation of history–people breaking things and fixing them, then breaking them again.❤️
The way that greed has become virtuous is probably the one thing that makes me sick sometimes.
This is really good. Reading your words helps to clarify what rhetoric is. Your words ring very true. One of the things it made me think of is the situation in the Rio Grande where the Texas Governor has put deadly traps to keep immigrants out. Why would anyone do that?
That sounds dreadful, but he has been elected to that I guess
your use of repetition here was what made the point you were making stand out for me.
Yes, what’s repeated is also remembered,
Heart-wrenching and oh so powerful! This one hits home… such truth in such a well-crafted poem. Amazing work!
This is an amazing poem.
I have mixed feeling about Sweden no longer being neutral. It’s something I never could have imagined in my lifetime. And yet, as part of NATO America (I, We) will come to Sweden’s aid as we would always want to, if Putin continues his insanity. Threatening Finland was a huge mistake.
Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956. I read that book many many years ago. I don’t remember a thing.
It was good to read the quote after your profound poem
Much💖love
A heartfelt plea within your poem Bjorn. Well expressed.
A powerhouse poem/statement of purpose. Your poem is about losing faith, where mine today is about sustaining it. There are some things beyond human understanding that carry us through. Profound quote by Solz… and one I can get behind.
Powerful poem.
“To grab more than we need”….reminds me of a Pearl Jam song. This is haunting and I’m sorry to believe that religion has always been more cause than solution. Thank you for this and for the prompt
I appreciate the questions you rhetorically wrestle with here, Bjorn! Humans and culture are complicated and you raise puzzling conundrums here. I believe sinful human hearts can be transformed by a relationship with God.
This is a wonderful poem and I ask myself those very same questions. I love the repetition of the questions and that was the device I used too!
Brilliant composition and desperate sentiments!
This is very powerful and also because it charts the move from the idealism of youth to the confusion of later life Björn – your poem sees religion as part of the problem though I see Solzhenitsyn turns to the religions of the world to root out the evil. As a humanist, I find it difficult to do without the concept of evil…
I think the concept of evil is crucial with or without evil… and religion has a lot of teach us, but also religion has been used for some of the worst atrocities the world has seen.
“Once I believed” must be three of the most impactful words here … perhaps everywhere in today’s world. Powerful, Bjorn.
Wow Björn. Just came to read and was startled how close to this subject we both landed, excellent write my friend. ✌🏼
Such a powerful piece Björn ❤️
“cause greed and religion have merged to a pact’ . Such a heartfelt, powerful poem, Bjorn. Wish we could find a solution to put everything alright.
I’m glad to here that “evil” is a function of the “human” heart. Other species do not know evil, let alone be able to differentiate beween the two. The domesticated dog is the most forgiving one that I have known of.
I’m sorry to have missed the writing for you. Please host some more, I will try to do better.
I am glad to hear that you are cutting back on your work load. I don’t know your age, I cut back at age 46 and then taught college business courses, specializing in law and entrepreneurship. That was a lot less stressful than being an Aerospace Engineer at NASA Houston. At age 68 I retired. A lot of fellows after retirement at NASA did consulting work doing similar work as while full time. Will your new venture be in the same line as when you had the job. Starting a business can be very stressing, how much depends mainly on the size money-wise of the investment and the dependency on the income there will be. Reputation and ego factor in a little also, and of course the hardness level of risk.
Best wishes!!
I hope you will be very satisfied and it will be nerry profitable!!!
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Oops! I meant to say and it will be VERY profitable!!!
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Oops! I meant to say “and it will be VERY profitable!!!”
I have no huge ambitions with my venture…. max working 30 percent of my time I hope. My financials are still quite secure.
“cause greed and religion have merged to a pact”… a strong poem… greed – for wealth or power or identity has led us into a mess that’s hard to unravel at this point. And the losses keep mounting. Great poem, Bjorn.
I see how much idealism seems to disintegrate into presumed righteous conflicts