Man's Greatest Enemy

Why, the greatest enemy of man is man
for man has subdued everything else
Fear not the tiger, fear the murderer's plan
Just hearken well to what history yells!

At times twas jingoism, at times a rancorous desire to do harm
Fear just man's malice and his ugly evil
If his dagger blow fails, he'll get you by black magic charm
His heart and mind alone well shelter the devil.

For how many fall prey to lions or snakes
one could even count them on fingers
Man invents a cure for smallpox but missiles too he makes
and he mercilessly kills without harbingers.

Man invented as many things for his destruction and harm
as he did for his benefit and good
He's inventor of bombs as well as tractors on the farm
And doesn't he detest acting as he should?

Man alone is behind the bloodiest of bloodshed
The angels too had foreseen his wars and battles
From the gory battlefield to the humble homestead
with the shrieks of murder our earth forever rattles!

Close your doors and your home secure
not to deter beasts, but to lock out the robber, the thief
For no greater danger than man lurks there for sure
Fear not the fierce bull, that you can turn into beef!

Wild beasts might be known to gobble us up
but isn't man as well found to be a cannibal?
Gosh, humans too on human flesh do sup
Man tis far more fearsome than any poor animal.

The greatest enemy of man thus is man himself
How much blood has he ruthlessly spilt of his own kind
Look out for the bottle of poison on his shelf
Till the deed is done, no knowing what goes on in his mind.

The poor young lady refrains from venturing out at night
How now, what does she so fear?
She fears nothing but assault by man's might
so rarely is she stalked by a grizzly bear!

Fortunately for us, this ain't how it always ends 
man can always be the best of friends
So we can still count more on buddies and cronies
instead of focusing on foes and fiends.

For man he can be a hero and saviour
if judicious he is about right and wrong behaviour.

Besides religion as I know, infact does actually foretell
That the end of ALL killers and murderers
is that inferno of divine wrath we all know as hell!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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One Avatar
January 19, 2020 at 7:34 AM
you are right and i agree with you.. Congratulations on your placement in the contest..
Kamoonpuri Avatar
January 21, 2020 at 10:07 PM
Thanks soo much for the placement silent one! Best wishes and happy new year!
Jangid Avatar
October 6, 2018 at 6:48 AM
Nicely composed work. inspired me Thank for sharing
Imtiaz Avatar
March 22, 2018 at 1:36 AM
Hi Syeda It is a nice explanation of the cause of Unrest and Atrocities done by man on Earth. Man has always provoke God's wrath.
Ajmal Avatar
February 25, 2018 at 12:35 AM
It again again a nice poem od yours, you are right that men greatest enemy is men himself, no matter what happens, the world will never come to peace, destruction and chaos will always remain until Jesus Christ,Hazrat Isa ( I m a muslim) descends and will finish everything weong thing and will bring peace to this world,
Peterson Avatar
January 3, 2018 at 4:38 PM
A stinging indictment of the base urges of man, all an abuse of that great gift of free will. Why do we so readily trade what we really want for what we want at the moment. How astute are your messages and rhymes yet ignored by those who struggle to open up and heat a can of beans. Someday, I suppose a great schism will occur and many will find themselves in thrall of dull surprise, standing in the junkyard of their belief and wondering where the rest have gone.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
January 5, 2018 at 12:16 AM
Cont/. Not many are rational enough as you to understand it this way and they instead unreasonably blame all the evil on God and complain about Him doing nothing about it huh. While it's the abuse of the free will we have. Thanx soo much for the comment.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
January 5, 2018 at 12:14 AM
Wow I like how u added to this poem with your super thoughts, u put it so nicely n true. So philosophical n eloquent too. Abuse of free will yay exactly!
Blanca Avatar
December 21, 2017 at 9:56 AM
Oh Zaynab, your way of writting touches my inner being. This reminds me of what Samyuel Butler wrote, "Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat unil he eats them."
Anish Avatar
December 6, 2017 at 2:55 PM
I believe that it was Aristotle who said that the answer to 50 enemies is one friend. There are some good people out there. Stimulating work here! Peace & Blessings Matthew Anish
Deschler Avatar
September 20, 2017 at 6:06 PM
Man can become a monster at times, one more frightening than any we can imagine, and so he erases all the good that he could have done... A very expressive write and one we can all learn from...as well as a nicely rhymed quatrain. Great work!
Scott Avatar
September 9, 2017 at 4:16 PM
Could not agree more not really evoked since caveman times though not all think that way thank God maybe good was drunk when he made man thankyou for your comments on nine xx
Kamoonpuri Avatar
September 9, 2017 at 11:55 PM
Thanx. Hmm well dear majority of humans are peaceful n don't commit heinous crimes n God made them perfect but a few rotten apples even if they are 20% of the human race are those that heed more to satan than to their Creator and that's the problem . Even satan was good before then turned evil rebellious coz God didn't create him or us as saintly robots. Free will had to be there. Cheers friend.
Cozart Avatar
August 7, 2017 at 4:26 PM
I agree. Not all is doom and gloom. But if you have something you want to say, whatever ever it is on whatever subject, for or against, you might need to be posting poems more often that you are. Just sayin'.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
August 8, 2017 at 3:18 AM
Hi dale, thanx for your comments. Just got busier with new baby and that has slowed my poetic endeavours a lot. But I'm sure I will go on a poetic spree in some years. But I hope readers will not get tired or bored of my stuff and that's why I don't post more too. Cheers n best wishes, I say your name is quite poetic, melodic I must say.
Raynes Avatar
August 6, 2017 at 9:30 PM
Wow. You've covered just about everything, but this doesn't cover the good done by folks too much... Not all is doomed. :) good writing Zaynab.
Donovan Avatar
August 6, 2017 at 1:17 PM
An introspection of the mind of all mankind. Terrific poem thank you for sharing
Bateman Avatar
August 6, 2017 at 12:23 PM
Zaynab, A very powerful and passionate Quatrain write here. You've presented much indeed to think about. Mankind is its own worst enemy. Yes, I'm very sure that all killers and murderers shall have a front-row seat and place in Dante's Inferno -- both metaphorically and in reality too!! Man, ultimately has the key to his salvation through God. But he's still responsible for his actions in the end. Great Work My Friend!! A FAV!! Best Regards, Gary
Duet Avatar
April 29, 2017 at 12:05 AM
Sad but true, Zaynab. Man's bloodlust and greed are matched only by his stupidity. However, let's hope and pray the Holy Spriit of Love will prevail in the end. Peace....
Kamoonpuri Avatar
April 29, 2017 at 12:42 AM
My warmest Thanxx for a great reply pal.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
April 24, 2017 at 4:19 AM
Oh why the lies and falsehood. There's only me on the kamoonpuri account. NOBODY ELSE. THE REPLIES. ARE ALL BY ME THE ONE WHO WROTE THIS POEM AND THIS POEM IS IN FAVOUR OF ISLAM. THE HATERS HAVE TRICKS. Won't work , Bartholomew.
Vinson Avatar
April 17, 2017 at 5:52 PM
"the greatest enemy of man is man" - no question about that.
Severo Avatar
April 2, 2017 at 8:53 PM
Finally a woman to speak up against Islam and the culture of diminishing women, we have suffered enough under all man, is time that Islam accord us our rights, and stop the bombings of innocents, many have made war, many have done harm, now we suffer under Islamic extremism. Free humanity and free women of this. Thank you for bringing this to light.
Ajmal Avatar
February 25, 2018 at 12:38 AM
Hey calm down here, it s only was a misunderstanding and well Zaynab you should have to be polite, make peace not war that s what your poem says, you see not all Muslims are true believers,there are extremist who torture people of other faith, it s not what our prophet taught us, so it s wrong
Schmek Avatar
April 17, 2017 at 9:13 PM
There are more than one person on the Kamoonpuri account. The very childish reply below was not written by the same one who posted the poem.
Severo Avatar
April 3, 2017 at 12:12 AM
Sorry I misunderstood, I thought you were against repression not for it, I found a much better expression of the ideal. https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/enemy_of_humanity_889171
Kamoonpuri Avatar
April 3, 2017 at 12:00 AM
What a HATER OF HUMANITY U R!!!! So dumb and stupid OF YOU TO THINK THIS IS AGAINST ISLAM U FOOL,,!!! This poem is in favour of Islamic calls for peace and against Christian and other jingoistic world imperialists. Our Muslim women have the real freedom. U are just puppets to be played by men in the disguise of freedom.
Pinet Avatar
March 31, 2017 at 10:03 PM
Your words enter my mind resonate there and force me to feel their weight. Emile.
Robinson Jr. Avatar
March 31, 2017 at 7:09 PM
Very righteous poem, Zaynab. I share your sentiments as expressed in this marvelous poem. You eloquted your case admirably. Powerful words, a gem of a poem. Love always, my friend
Daniel Avatar
March 31, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Well written beautiful quatrain, Zaynab:) deserves a 7:)
Kendrick Avatar
March 31, 2017 at 10:16 AM
Yes, man, mankind or woman are very destructive to their own kind(not all but some)..It is sad to hear of some of the horrible homicides that happen all over the world..War is a hell of its own kind..God does not desire that anyone but punished that is the reason that He made a way for mankind to be saved but not all accept the so easy salvation that He offers..Thanks for the visit to my page..Sara
Sergi Avatar
March 30, 2017 at 3:51 PM
Hi S. zaynab: Sometimes man's evil to man is inspired by one supreme evil person e.g..Hitler Hopefully, a future society will create a more god like person. Great Write!
Lindley Avatar
March 30, 2017 at 2:08 PM
Thy pen inks truth and rightly accuses the guilty party. Man, fallen man is evil in his soul... the old saying that, "war is but a necessary evil"", is true simply because man is a fallen creature that has evil at his core.. Super 7 on this fine poem my friend!A7
Pigeon Tart Avatar
March 30, 2017 at 1:32 PM
You speak the truth with conviction my friend. Excellent write, thank you so much for leading me here, so nice to see proof that such truth exists outside of my own head ;) xomo!
Hamilton Avatar
March 30, 2017 at 10:05 AM
Very well said, a lot of truth here, thanks for posting this thought provoking piece.
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