We
..protest the right of others to protest
while defending our right to free speech
shout down the voices of others
exercising their right to speak freely.
.. pick at the feast of democracy
like children playing with their food
in cafeteria-like rebellion
dining on peace while waging war.
.. rush past a fallen flag
to pick up litter
tape it to our bandolier
of PC “merit” badges.
..riot in the streets
reeking havoc and destruction
upon our neighborhoods
and our neighbors.
..slander those who do not think
as we do, act as we do
question the motives of all
but ourselves.
..pray to gods
unknown
to those who pray
to other gods.
..walk past one another
unable to speak
for fear a greeting
may be offensive.
..huddle – herd like
in our “comfort groups”
fearful of
a stampede.
2/2/2017
submitted to – Theatre of the Absurd – Poetry Contest
For your charges
Wear a bandolier diagonally
From shoulder to waist.
Fill it with rounds
Of crayons
The color of a rainbow
With that arched calm
Following a terror rain.
Let this be a lesson
To ring from bell to bell
For children
Without number,
Without interruption.
I awoke this morn to a beautiful bitterly cold wintery delight
Shrouded by nights darkness a Pogonip fog crept in to cast its magic spell
Wielded a wintery wand placing a frosty shawl upon all within my sight
Trees branches hung low encased in icy jewels as if an elegant crystal chandelier
While a spider web displaying a frosty garland glistens in the morning light
High above a flight of geese are strung across the sky as if some vocal bandolier
Pogonip did dazzled us with such visual delights but they are not meant to last all day
For a dusty sun has risen through this frosty morning haze
And later today this sun’s rays shining down will melt it all away
Here we remain like an unbreakable chain,
our thoughts are like each link in the bind,
We never need to ask to accomplish a task,
and we will never leave a man behind.
When there is a fight and nobody is right,
we drink to honor those who carry our name,
setting anchors out to sea we would agree,
that our lives are like a maze we overcame.
Some may say we are like puppets on display,
and we can never figure out our favorite tune,
for we see the beauties in the call of our duties,
as we have been loyal every night since June.
In the very end we know what to defend,
for our friendship is nothing less than rare,
so pour out some beer and load another bandolier,
our real movement is without any compare.
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.