Premiere Contest WinnerThe View From Up Above

From high above the mighty eagles soar
and gaze with teary eyes upon the land;
a proud and peaceful nation thrived, before 
the bombs began to fall with czar’s command.

Their saddened eyes see blood upon the sand
as innocence lay scattered on the shore;
they’re witnessing the slaughter now at hand
from high above as mighty eagles soar.

Her cities lay in ruin from the war;
her leaders pleading for a helping hand;
the world in horror watches evermore, 
and gaze with teary eyes upon the land.

Atrocities and pillage deftly planned
erasing all the joys from days of yore;
the villages and townships now unmanned
where proud and peaceful nation thrived before.

I cannot see the reason for this gore
nor endgame of this despot’s evil hand,
and history repeats itself once more
as bombs begin to fall with czar’s command.

And what will be the outcome of this stand
when smoke has cleared the war which we deplore;
and who will be the next at his demand
as angel’s tears begin to fall once more
                                             from high above?

July 1, 2022
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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12
Ashley Avatar
September 12, 2022 at 3:02 PM
Dear John, an exquisite poem full of potent passion and powerful imagery masterfully executed in the perfect frame of a rondeau redouble. Your poignant pen shines with artistic empathy and intensity. Congratulations for your excellent win in Mark’s contest. Warmest wishes, my friend.. ~Susan
Gondolf Avatar
September 13, 2022 at 6:05 AM
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Susan. Your thoughts always brighten my day. Hugs, John
La France Avatar
September 12, 2022 at 10:11 AM
John, wo, I love this poem and congratulations on your win in the contest, blessings~
Gondolf Avatar
September 13, 2022 at 6:03 AM
Thank you so much, Constance, I'm glad you liked it. Hugs, John
Toney Avatar
September 11, 2022 at 9:05 PM
John, a very poignant message with an interesting perspective, "The View From Up Above" including eagles and angels. "What will be the outcome of this stand when smoke has cleared the war which we deplore ...?" Man dominates man to his injury now, but I believe that one day soon man will learn war no more. Congratulations on your win on Mile 13 of my 2022 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 14 has already started!
Gondolf Avatar
September 12, 2022 at 6:21 AM
Thanks, Mark, I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thanks for hosting this great race! John
Alex Avatar
September 11, 2022 at 8:35 PM
"who will be the next at his demand" - Very beautiful. Congratulations!
Gondolf Avatar
September 12, 2022 at 6:19 AM
Thanks, Christuraj, I appreciate it. John
Seeker Avatar
September 11, 2022 at 8:30 PM
Back again with warm congratulations on your win, John!
Gondolf Avatar
September 12, 2022 at 6:18 AM
Thanks, US, I appreciate it. John
Proxenos Avatar
August 8, 2022 at 5:13 AM
John this is poetry at its best and there could be no doubt that the sponsor recognized that this masterpiece certainly warranted a trophy win. I love your eloquent words used and send you huge congratulations my friend, Jennifer
Gondolf Avatar
August 8, 2022 at 5:36 AM
Thank you, Jenn, I appreciate it so much. Hugs, John
Dietrich Avatar
July 21, 2022 at 10:17 AM
Superb writing. Big congratulations on your trophy win!
Gondolf Avatar
July 21, 2022 at 10:27 AM
Thank you so much, Andrea, I appreciate it. John
Lawrence Avatar
July 18, 2022 at 7:17 PM
Wow John so poignant, melancholy, intense and beautiful all at once. The eagles gaze is a brutal reality with much joy erased.This is a fav for me . Big congratulations on your win. Blessings, Susan :)
Gondolf Avatar
July 19, 2022 at 2:49 AM
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and comments, Susan, and thanks for saving it to favorites. Hugs, John
Marcum Wong Avatar
July 17, 2022 at 1:55 PM
Wow,wow,wow John! This difficult form was exemplified perfectly by you in this amazing Trophy poem. The passion and empathy was felt in every line. Bravo John and congratulations on your fantastic win! A Fave for me my friend. Blessings xxoo
Gondolf Avatar
July 18, 2022 at 6:02 AM
Thank you so much for your wonderful comments, Connie, I appreciate it. And thanks for saving this to your favorites. Hugs, John
Clark Avatar
July 15, 2022 at 10:52 AM
Hi John, I'm happy I checked out your work, this poem is beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time, thank you.
Gondolf Avatar
July 15, 2022 at 1:55 PM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments, Eileen, I appreciate it. John
Baker Avatar
July 14, 2022 at 4:27 PM
Excellent Rondeau, John. Congratulations on your "Trophy" win! Timely topic written from the perspective of a soaring eagle. Such a tragedy, power mad men around the world threaten our existence for selfish and needless reasons. The terror of war and possibility of the end, just because Putin and a few other world leaders think they can do whatever they want to get wht they want. Humanity is the price and it doesn't matter to them. Thanks for sharing your thoughts through your poetry. Bill
Gondolf Avatar
July 15, 2022 at 1:54 PM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments, Bill, it is truly a sad situation when a person's ego and greed for power are more important than their compassion for humanity. I'm not sure that Putin has ANY compassion for humanity. Perhaps one day the Russian people will realize this and overthrow him. Have a good weekend. John
Rodgers Avatar
July 10, 2022 at 8:28 PM
Congrats on your win. From high or ground truly the war that changes everything.
Gondolf Avatar
July 11, 2022 at 6:18 AM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments, DW, it is hard imagining this happening in the 21st century, yet here we are. I wonder where it goes from here. John
Radice Avatar
July 10, 2022 at 2:12 AM
For fear of just repeating all that has been said John, I'll just add the words "Sheer Brilliance." Cheers - Gary
Gondolf Avatar
July 10, 2022 at 7:34 AM
Thanks so much for your kind words, Gary, I appreciate it. Cheers.
Fowler Avatar
July 9, 2022 at 6:40 AM
Awesome and congrats! This flows beautifully. A well-deserved win! Linda
Gondolf Avatar
July 9, 2022 at 8:15 AM
Thank you so much, Linda, I appreciate it. John
Kauffman Avatar
July 7, 2022 at 11:28 AM
John, you have lifted us above the fray to give us your birds-eye-view of chaos all couched in your poetic wisdom. Congratulations on your trophy win. Blessings!
Gondolf Avatar
July 8, 2022 at 2:56 AM
Thanks so much for your thoughts and and comments, Sam, I appreciate it. John
Rodrigues Avatar
July 7, 2022 at 8:24 AM
You’ve hit the angst, suffering and historical repeat nail on the head! Congratulations on your top trophy!
Gondolf Avatar
July 8, 2022 at 2:48 AM
Thank you so much, Kim, I appreciate it. Hugs, John
Agustin Avatar
July 7, 2022 at 4:52 AM
Congrats! Thanks for sharing this... a grim reality, exposed and expressed poetically. God bless you.
Gondolf Avatar
July 7, 2022 at 4:56 AM
The situation in the Ukraine is a sad reality, it's hard to believe this could happen in the 21st century yet here we are. Thank you for your comments, Beata, I appreciate it. John
Rose  Avatar
July 6, 2022 at 3:24 PM
A well written Rondeau congrats on your 1st place win dear John
Gondolf Avatar
July 6, 2022 at 4:18 PM
Thank you so much, Vie, I appreciate it. John
Seeker Avatar
July 6, 2022 at 12:51 AM
An amazing write in a difficult form and so relevant to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Congrats on your top win, John!
Gondolf Avatar
July 6, 2022 at 4:55 AM
Thanks so much US, I appreciate it. John
Bueckert Avatar
July 5, 2022 at 9:07 PM
Congrats on your win, beautifully written
Gondolf Avatar
July 10, 2022 at 5:24 AM
Thanks so much, I appreciate it.
Nicole Avatar
July 5, 2022 at 4:48 PM
Congratulations John, with this top win in the contest. So deserving, my dear sweet friend. My best to you. Hugs, Brandy
Gondolf Avatar
July 6, 2022 at 4:54 AM
Thank you, Brandy, I appreciate it. Hugs, John
Rowe Avatar
July 5, 2022 at 11:48 AM
An apt poem on the subject done so impeccably. Well done and congrats on your top finish.
Gondolf Avatar
July 5, 2022 at 1:01 PM
Thanks, Jesse, I appreciate it. John
Fowler Avatar
July 5, 2022 at 9:32 AM
Wow John. This leaves me speechless. Great work and congratulations! Linda
Gondolf Avatar
July 5, 2022 at 12:18 PM
Thank you so much, Linda, your comment leaves me speechless. Hugs, John
Alex Avatar
July 5, 2022 at 8:39 AM
You are such a wonderful writer. Congratulations!
Gondolf Avatar
July 5, 2022 at 11:48 AM
Thanks, Christuraj, I appreciate your kind comments. John
Hankins Avatar
July 5, 2022 at 7:36 AM
John, my congratulations to you for your first place trophy win in my contest. This poetry form is not easy to navigate, but you have do so very well, and I'm proud of this poem. Your theme is timely and your rhymes were excellent.
Gondolf Avatar
July 5, 2022 at 7:41 AM
Thanks Milt, I appreciate it and thanks for hosting the contest. I did find it to be a challenging form to write, but it's good to challenge ourselves once in a while. John
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