Teardrop

I ask you to mind our earth, heed our existence upon it, care for our lives and all that will occur if we cannot consider beyond ourselves, if we are guided by uncertainty, when we fear the unknown, when we shun those who differ from us in skin color, in sex, in persuasion, if we turn our eyes away, when we dance upon the hidden strings of politicians or cunning puppetmasters, when we swallow the lust of war, when poets languish in isolation, without ear or encouragement, when we torture, when prejudice blinds us to the humanity of another, when our deluded misconceptions will go public with ready trigger finger, when we mistake violence for the solution, when we fail the worthy person, when we won't bother to look past the wheelchair and to whom he really is, to say his real name, when the most expected thing we will share with him is discrimination, when we forget that here in space we are in this together, when tomorrow is the day that old and young will die in roaring explosions, in quiet corners without notice, when people are driven from their homes, when women must live in fear, when we steal identities, when evil hides in anonymity, when we rest in apathy, indifferent to the pain of others, when our fellow creatures are in chains for our profit and amusement, when hunger and hatred are accepted, when malice shrieks loud, when we cut baby girls due to generational gender inequality, from psychosexual ignorance and hard superstition; when we deny justice to one lonely voice, our world falls, stretching itself into a teardrop.
December 26, 2016 For FJ Thomas's contest - 'Concrete Crush'
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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12
Thomas Avatar
April 8, 2018 at 1:32 PM
Such depth, pain, and wisdom. ...a piece I still appreciate Doug :)
Thomas Avatar
March 6, 2018 at 9:47 PM
This is perfect in shape and content Doug :)
Staton Avatar
January 1, 2018 at 5:45 PM
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this poem.
Hagy Avatar
April 19, 2017 at 7:21 PM
Wow!! This is excellent! Masterfully crafted for tongue and eye :) I believe there is a day when the tears will stop.
Vinson Avatar
April 20, 2017 at 11:37 AM
Would be a mighty good one, Chris. : )
Williams Avatar
March 19, 2017 at 12:33 AM
In a word ' Awesome ' Powerful words and the teardrop is just brilliant
Vinson Avatar
March 19, 2017 at 12:50 AM
Hey Maria - I really appreciate that. Yeah, our world...
Rodgers Avatar
March 1, 2017 at 8:12 PM
Congrats on your win. An masterfl melding of form and content.
Vinson Avatar
March 19, 2017 at 12:49 AM
Hi Dave - cheers, man. : )
Duncan Avatar
February 26, 2017 at 2:48 AM
Nicely written and on the winners list as well :)
Vinson Avatar
February 26, 2017 at 7:36 AM
Thank you, Debbie. Had to keep beating on it with a hammer to get the shape.
Callus Avatar
February 5, 2017 at 3:52 PM
Pleased to be back with merited congratulations, Doug...well done! // paul
Vinson Avatar
February 6, 2017 at 7:08 AM
Aw! Habib! Thank you, Paul.
Allison Avatar
February 5, 2017 at 1:28 PM
Dropping back with my congrats Doug I'm delighted to see this on the winners list:-) hugs Jan xx
Vinson Avatar
February 6, 2017 at 7:06 AM
: ) Jan. Shoh Slaynt!
White Avatar
February 4, 2017 at 11:34 AM
I'm really happy to see your name on the winners list Doug :) Congratulations!
Vinson Avatar
February 5, 2017 at 10:31 AM
Cheers, Brother. : )
Roper Avatar
February 3, 2017 at 4:16 PM
Doug, congratulations on your win awesome write. Hugs
Vinson Avatar
February 5, 2017 at 10:32 AM
Hey Eve. : ) Gracias!
Polydoro Avatar
January 22, 2017 at 7:50 AM
A very powerful poem, Doug... so true.. brillantly written - hugs
Vinson Avatar
January 22, 2017 at 12:45 PM
Thanks, Claudia. There are some big questions - how do we deal with our own pain; how do we deal with all the pain in the world?
Agbogidi  Avatar
January 14, 2017 at 3:21 PM
Very deep I luv it
Vinson Avatar
January 18, 2017 at 8:07 AM
Hi Chadona. Thank you. : )
Fleming Avatar
January 11, 2017 at 7:26 AM
Impressive! Certainly makes an instant impact upon viewing, Doug...The content and sentiment are very good too. Extremely well done! All my best - Cheers! :) john
Vinson Avatar
January 12, 2017 at 5:38 PM
Ahoy, John. Thanks! : )
Hamilton Avatar
January 9, 2017 at 8:55 PM
Amazing work Doug, must have taken a lot of time!
Vinson Avatar
January 10, 2017 at 3:46 PM
Hey John. : ) Yes, getting the right line length was a thing...
Leffanta Avatar
January 7, 2017 at 1:08 PM
Well done!
Vinson Avatar
January 9, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Hi Rico. I'm glad you like it. : )
Allison Avatar
January 6, 2017 at 6:10 PM
Perfect poem for the teardrop form Doug I REALLY like what you did here:-) hugs Jan xx
Vinson Avatar
January 6, 2017 at 11:34 PM
Hey Jan, thanks! Once again I think about how sadness seems to be easier to write about than happiness. "Happiness" can too easily become sappy or maudlin, or is that just a sad way to view things?
Keegan James Avatar
January 4, 2017 at 7:31 AM
Doug, this is so inspirational & moving, teardrops for me are a genuine symbol of hope. Your words here capture so many different emotions in a sometimes very sad and lonely world. Loneliness is an isolation hidden behind a smile :)
Vinson Avatar
January 4, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Thank you, Janet. : ) Teardrops are just cool as heck - like the perfect sphere of a water droplet combined with gravity.
Kroll Avatar
January 1, 2017 at 10:18 AM
Doug, I am so impressed by the message within your creative teardrop. It's a message that should be read every day of the year. My brother is in a wheelchair now and the truth squares even more strongly with where I am. This is definitely a 7. Kathy
Vinson Avatar
January 4, 2017 at 12:59 PM
Thanks, Kathleen. There are some hard truths about our world, and about our nature, overall.
White Avatar
December 31, 2016 at 12:23 AM
I cry with you. I've seen too much of what you describe... I cry... But I wish you good luck, 7 and fav. Because it's so incredibly good!
Vinson Avatar
December 31, 2016 at 12:38 AM
Oh Darren. There is an ocean for me, and it is the sea of pain that is always out there. Not like I'm just a receiver/observer, for I've done evil myself. Main thing I can say is that I've gotten better as I've gotten older (and honestly, that could be a pretty faint thing). To think of the evil in the world - people have written books about this.
Roberts Avatar
December 30, 2016 at 8:54 PM
KUDOS GOOD LUCK
Vinson Avatar
December 31, 2016 at 12:33 AM
Hey Donna. : ) We will see what happens, as we always do. Meanwhile, keep writing, and welcome to PoetrySoup!
Chamatete  Avatar
December 29, 2016 at 2:24 PM
A solid 7! The flow is smooth and every line is a monster quake. Beautiful piece Doug
Vinson Avatar
December 31, 2016 at 12:31 AM
Kunda, thank you - that means a lot to me. You are a true poet.
Andresen Avatar
December 29, 2016 at 7:23 AM
- A perfect shape in a wonderful poem, Doug - Good luck in the contest - thanks for the year 2016 ... looking forward to a new year with new poems and friendship - Best wishes for a happy new year :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Vinson Avatar
December 29, 2016 at 12:03 PM
Oh Anne-Lise, that is so nice. : ) Best wishes, indeed!
Onclaud Avatar
December 28, 2016 at 4:06 PM
this is where content and visual language meet.. how wonderful, doug..huggs
Vinson Avatar
December 28, 2016 at 8:55 PM
(((Nette))) Soul Sister to so many - or at least we dream of that. :)
Nusker Avatar
December 28, 2016 at 6:32 AM
This poem of yours is very hard-hitting and inspirational. A 7
Vinson Avatar
December 28, 2016 at 11:29 AM
Thanks, Afzal. Not like a maze with no exit, I hope.
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