Away

Nightly the familiar march,
sunset suffused with dawn.
Crushed the moments in between.
Neither praised nor cursed but
merely lost amid their myriad kin
and dreadfully forgotten.

Misplaced lives amid unreckoned days—
for sale by merchants of expired skill
who barter time and wrest unseemly bargains,
their words aligned with porous deeds,
maintained throughout in darkness
yet crumbling from within, seamy side disclosed

Frightful that our nobler minds 
must daily banish all the fetid rancor 
those in power tediously summon 
from nether cursed realm that they purvey, 
absent notice or concern 
for those they step upon and maim. 

Have you heard the cries of innocence
of all earth’s precious life?
Won’t you join me now outside, 
as once again the light of day is stolen,
and ponder all the vast but unseen 
intellect that permeates the sky?

The speed of thought is infinite 
and fills the boundless depths of space. 
To all the guardians of infinity 
I nightly urge my fervent aspiration—
And hold aloft a sign of just one word,
and that word is AWAY.

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Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 5/13/2019 11:35:00 AM

Your third and fourth stanza so cleverly exposes the greed of the powerful in their lust they care only for that which benefits them. This poem is brilliantly written Mark. My small brain had to read it more than once to grasp its valuable message, however. This is outstanding Mark! : ) xxoo

Mark Peterson
Date: 7/1/2019 2:54:00 PM

Thanks ever again so much Connie. As far as the brain is concerned, yours is superior to most. Or as my favorite philosopher said, “They say we only use 5% of our brain. Imagine what we could do, if we used the other 60%.” Yogi Berra.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/11/2019 1:34:00 PM

this is very deep. I was taking it one way (more literal), but now i think you meant another. Elegant writing!

Mark Peterson
Date: 7/1/2019 2:50:00 PM

Any interpretation that satisfies is all right with me. I honor and respect your words with gratitude. “The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit. Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.” Quote by Omar Khayyám

S.Zaynab Kamoonpuri

Date: 3/8/2019 2:22:00 PM

Your word choice is spectacular and your muse ponderable thoughtprovoking wondering and reflecting so poetically. The speed of thought is indeed infinite wow yes. Kudos. So nice to read from u again, Pleez do comment my newest poem too.

Mark Peterson
Date: 3/8/2019 6:44:00 PM

You are such a devoted friend and follower of my work. I am trying to follow up with a number of my favorite poets but Appreciate when people stop by out of the blue. You are one that I enjoy following. I’ll review your new poems shortly.

Lawrence Sharp

Date: 2/23/2019 1:49:00 AM

Fantastic poem, Mark, every word chosen and timed perfectly. Excellent work, this.

Mark Peterson
Date: 2/23/2019 1:04:00 PM

Lawrence, thank you so much. You were the first person I thought of when I wondered who might respond.