Why ?

I vote for Peace and this poem ;) here here richard ... and nicely done too ;) Much love Jayne .. sorry for the short comments Richard am very tired this week I have been a slacker lol (hugz) ..

I think that line would make a better title than "why?" I really like your closing line. The subject matter is critical to any feeling, thinking person, and it is often in my mind. To me, war is an abomination and religion has often been an excuse for imposing one's will on others. Good poem, Richard. Always, Cat

Richard, it may not be you at your most effective but there is all your usual relevance, your work is always so topical for me moonman. Agree a title change might draw some more reads maybe, might I suggest a marriage of your original and Cat's idea to use line from poem? 'Why do the banners still fly?' Know you won't mind :) hope you're well Richard, much love b xx Ps If you have time, read my latest? 'You carry..Your Poetry' there's quite a bit of you dear man in it :) x

Hi Richard, though I had almost stopped thinking(fro sometime) about all these questions and things concerning war, killings and peace, but still this poem made me read it to the end... It was nicely done Richard. The last two lines were "hurting" for me... Yeah congrats on the AEC. Sincerely, "Culture, location and beliefs; All vanish with love!" ~Afzal Shauq~

Look at our own country..everyone divided on every issue. This is a sensational write. You are so right...we follow the color of our flag, be it right or wrong, when we confront other nations, yet we cannot settle issues on our own land because of 'self righteous', 'devils advocates' and special interest groups who believe in the power of capitalism when it best suits them. Powerful subject, Rich. Powerful wording!!! PINT

I once wrote many poems, my alter ego was a red ant, carrying a banner. Most of them were lost when my computer crashed and the archives were lost. My dearest Moonman, as soon as we are for something it automatically puts us against something or another. Some sort of war begins always with every choosing of sides. How can it not? I'm still working on that one. We all should be. Thanks for the poem. You touch places even poets don't often want to go. ~A "There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic." Anais Nin

the banners continue to fly against the wind quietly stuck in the middle of the poem. For me, this sums up the whole poem - noisy, whipping flags that seem to be moving against nature. My only issue here is the punctuation/capitalization which seems a little arbitrary in places. I though the ending couplet was strong.

ever see the colourful Tibetan prayer flags? once bright and perfect of thread, now shredded and faded... like that..... Peace, Anna "There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic." Anais Nin

Richard This poem excites and igites. As you say. Why, I find the answer is the same. It is the same anywhere and everywhere in the world. It is all down to power of goverment and money. I wonder where we would be with both of these Happier I hope Electric Blue

This is your usual thoughtful rendition of a huge question; but I'm afraid it is one that isn't going away anytime soon. It seems freedom must be fought for in order to keep it. It's like gravity--always requires effort to stay upright, or we would be lying flat on our backs. Or it's like running up the down stairs. I just hope we don't get too tired. Yours, Deelilah

for the right-thinking to let the wrong-headed have their way than it is to put them right"* The rest of us have to stand on the sidelines and ask WHY? Good, provocative write! Boni *de la Roche Foucault

I like this piece because it seems to attack the 'underpinnings' of the dangers of 'immutable truths', but without being caustic in its delivery.

Hi there, I read this and must say I would of liked the line: 'yet, on every side, someone is asking why'. to have been repeated throughout as that really is the truth about this piece of work. I really liked the style and structure and the way you were able to keep it to a rhythm despite many multi-syllable words. If I had to offer some constructive feedback, I would say that maybe you were aiming this poem at religions of the world and forgetting the many out there who are caught up in the confusion of it all and also losing their fight for survival, and don't follow a God or religion. Maybe religion is the evil in the world? Just a thought! I liked the use of 'Banners'. Logos and flags have many hidden meanings in them and yet people openly follow them without knowing the truth behind the imagry in the banner/flag they follow. Enough of this...I could go all day...did I say I liked it?...because I DIDN'T!...I loved it! I would liked to add you as a buddy if you don't mind? regards, HS

Just wanted to add my two cents, in saying that you have asked the question in a way that cannot offend anyone. I was thinking about you today after reading another's blog, and decided that not having you on my buddy list was why I haven't read more of your work. That will be remedied as soon as I leave here. I have so many buddies that I really don't have time for anything in the stream. That has led me to believe that I am losing out. I will have to allocate more time for that. However, just to make sure I get enough of your wonderful mind, I have to add you to my buddy list. [ I am going back to read all the stuff you have written in the last month or so]. Gee.

How true. With so many different beliefs, yet they are all for one belief, peace, you are right, how many more must die and, Why?. Great write from the heart. Lyz.

I suscribe to the truth of being, which is the truth that animates our life and thoughts. Everybody carries the same truth, although dressed up for convenience sake. And we'll all go to the same positive ending. There is no question about it, whether you believe in emptiness or you believe in God. What we call suffering is really transitory. And what I wrote doesn't necesarilly have to be the only truth, but is nice to say it, anyway. Sincerely, Hugo