Devils of Resentment

We've dreamed in vivid shades of shame, 
These thousand years since we did fall;
Our visions feast on hate and blame 
The cost; our power, pride and all

Oh, why did you forsake us then?
Did we lose our faith, then lose your way?
We fell as angels, now merely men
We once believed; have we turned away?

Have we lost the lessons that you taught
Of love and peace and pride and virtue?
These precious things that can't be bought
Now when we dream, it's not of you

The devils live now in our dreams 
They taunt and tear away our reason
These jackals feast upon our screams
They scourge our souls; they say for treason

They tell us we must smash our brothers
Take all from them that they possess
Kill their children, kill their mothers
Kill them if they won't confess

They tell us we must raze their cities
Burn their homes and scorch the earth
Take all they have and show no pity
Leave them, as us; of little worth

Take down the signs that they were men 
Take back what was, take what will be
Take all that shows that they have hope, then
Take back from them, that they are free 

Once, we lived so proud and virtuous 
Once, our hearts were wise and strong
Now, we run in packs, so merciless
Now, we use our strength for wrong 

All was taken, from our people
All will be taken back again
Fear's our temple; Hate's the steeple
Those dreams have driven us insane
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Breidenthal Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 9:57 PM
The fourth stanza is vivid and very powerful. This is an amazing piece. "Now when we dream, it's not of you"...wow.. Always, Laura
Brown Avatar
May 11, 2015 at 7:02 PM
Thank you Laura, you are most kind. I hesitate to post works like this as you never know how people will interpret, so glad that you enjoyed it.
A   Avatar
April 25, 2015 at 6:04 AM
David, this is a deep topic. powerful..LINDA
Brown Avatar
April 25, 2015 at 6:49 PM
Thank you Linda, I am glad that you read and commented, a difficult topic can be polarizing.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace