I am grateful for being one small part of humankind
which in itself is a miracle so sweet…
that it makes me want to do my best
to be kind to every human whom I meet.
I love the word humankind because of the message it creates.
There is no prejudice in that word…it does not discriminate.
It affords every human being upon this planet Earth
the same meaning…the same value…the same importance…the same worth.
It means no matter how we try to separate ourselves….
what arbitrary labels we’ve assigned…
we will always be a member of the same…one…humankind.
When I see humans who by other humans are mocked, abused and cursed
I wish those people doing the mocking would realize we are all humans first.
I love that humankind is a compound word…
with two definitions to keep in mind…
one…reminding us we are all human…
the other…reminding us to be kind.
There is a distinction between the two words…
and that distinction is the key…
Human is who we are…kind is who we ought to be.
Which means the message in that compound word is a simple one…
there is always room for growth…
and when it comes to humankind…
we should strive hard to be both.
Humankind
In an article, the question was what is the meaning of life? Many answers were about personal fulfillment and what made a person happy, but no one could answer that question. This I think is because we in the West are not religious, we do not believe in a God we are alone and that is scary and has an echo of colossal loneliness and the universe is empty
Night and day, light and dark, the fundament of
In all religions, perhaps the question of the meaning of life was asked and not answered
How the man-animal came into being is academic
But it was an animal that could think and become a human-dominating the living world
We can assume they were not friendly and had clans going around killing each other as we do today
The meaning of life is this, with a bit of love thrown for the sake of procreation, that it has no meaning, we live and die and are dead forever
Humankind
8/9/2023
How oft’ have you been told, to not
rock the boat!
Just go along as an obedient, mute
billy goat.
Just chew on the green, fresh, cud,
Or smile always , be it in rain or in
thick mud.
This may be peachy keen for goats
you see.
But we are special, we are humanity.
When our brothers freedom and rights
are being stolen.
We must stand as one, for tis the God of
the Universe to which we are beholden!
Our minds are a mirror's fragments now facing each other
Reflecting rays of thoughts and passions from each ever-turning face
Building a house named "Sympathy" built from those shaky beams
Inspired by a passage from David Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature, Book 2, Section 5. "In general we may remark, that the minds of men are mirrors to one another, not only because they reflect each others emotions, but also because those rays of passions, sentiments and opinions may be often reverberated, and may decay away by insensible degrees."
What we regard we might revere,
the sense of it will not be clear
without a setting in a phrase
to show if it’s to deem or gaze,
or natural esteem sincere.
Is Earth our Mother or a mere
resource for mortal profiteer?
For as it’s seen, we’ll thus appraise
what we regard.
The stars look down with stare austere
upon our customs cavalier,
while moon with each celestial phase
is witness to our worldly ways.
Yet life could thrive if cherished dear
what we regard.
~ Harley White
* * * * * * * *
The poem is a rondeau…
Some sources of inspiration were the following…
“The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it. If a mountain is a deity, not a pile of ore; if a river is one of the veins of the land, not potential irrigation water; if a forest is a sacred grove, not timber; if other species are biological kin, not resources; or if the planet is our mother, not an opportunity -- then we will treat each other with greater respect. Thus is the challenge, to look at the world from a different perspective.”
~ David Suzuki (born March 24, 1936)
Give me a quite room with a pen and book
Let me tie my shoes and reminisce about old school,
Underneath these massive rocks of my mountainous youth
Let me unleash the hidden truth.
What will come after modified food?
Let me meet the man behind the essence of this rule,
In those mountains serving as mirrors
To see those wonderful creatures living outside our loop.
We cry not for those who had to choose.
Give me the higher purpose in these lanes
To reveal those hidden names.
What about the edited books?
With thousands of words omitted
Dozens of pages missing, facts that were never quoted
And the summary of twisted words
From those distorted hearts and souls.
We are divided by neighborhoods and classified like stooks.
Centuries of homicides, genocides
And piles of dead bodies lying by the valley side,
Out of all animals we are on top of the food pyramid
We decide who live or die as our extinction approaches quick.
Few fear the words they remember when they are pissed.
Is there a stellar orb that’s last,
beyond beyonds of cosmic vast?
I can’t imagine such a thing,
no matter where my thoughts take wing,
for always there would be one more
at least, if not an endless store.
Yet let my flight of fancy soar,
through door beyond the furthest door
and plumb the muses’ reservoir
where heavens’ portals are ajar
by searching yon the farthest star
to where celestial dreamers are
with everlasting repertoire.
Oh I would wave a wishing wand
o’er stars beyond the last beyond,
and sail the seas of welkin’s realm
undaunted by the waves that whelm
with vision to perceive unseens
beyond illusion’s shrouding screens.
~ Harley White
* * * * * * * *
This was newly written for a poetry contest on All Poetry with the same name as my poem's title…
humankind is loyal to mankind
humankind is humankind loyalty
loyal is loyalty to mankind
loyalty is a honor of loyalty
loyalty is a honor of mankind
to honor loyalty is to honor mankind
respect is in honor of mankind
respect is in honor of respect
mankind respect is humankind respect
mankind respect is humankind honor
mankind respect is humankind loyalty
glory is glory of honor
glory is glory of humankind
humankind is glory of humankind
mankind glory is humankind glory
mankind is mankind glory
defeat is defeat of humankind
defeat is defeat of glory
glory defeat glory
glory honor the defeat of glory
honor, honor the defeat of honor
The three coyotes
Watched this all unfold
Waiting for Sam to disappear
They knew they had a half
An hour
Before the OSP would appear
They pounced on Maria
Snarling hungry scarfing her
Drinking up her fresh blood
Ripping her Up for dinner,
Enjoying their unexpected
venison feast.
Jason the head coyote,
told the others
“Well, Sam might be a good guy,
For a human.
Tried to do the right thing,
But he killed her
And she died
For us to enjoy dinner.
Such is the way
Of the world
My brothers.
But he did us a favor
Maria is fresh meat
And we will feast well
Tonight, my brothers.
We will eat her up
But leave some
For our brothers,
The vultures,
Who are circling above
Patiently waiting
Their turn to have dinner.”
The OSP came
In due course
Saw the vultures
Finishing their dinner
Chased them off
Heard the contended coyotes
Howling at the moon
They called Sam Adams up
Said there was nothing
They could do
But let nature
Take its course.
Thus ended Maria’s
Close encounter
With humankind.
All those times
Mouths of different
History of war,
Mistrust,
Insecurity.
Ten thousand years
Excuses for killing,
Mocking,
Insecurity.
The Stupid's brethren,
Bloody children.
If everyone left, at the same time, right now!
There’d be a sigh of relief, from the whale to the cow.
Buildings would crumble, and towers would fall.
But earth wouldn’t need us, wouldn’t miss us at all.
If we were to vacate, depart, and call it a day.
The rest of the natural world would awake and make hay.
The trains wouldn’t run and buses would stall.
But earth wouldn’t miss us, wouldn’t miss us at all.
With every soul gone, left, and out of the way.
All the pets would survive, roam again free, dogs to stray.
The birds continue to sing, the waters come clear.
Mountains stay tall, and the endangered will cheer!
So, let’s face facts, the world doesn’t need us more.
Don’t kid yourself man, this ball didn’t die without the dinosaur.
Nature will rage and blow, moan and recover.
The world doesn’t need man, we’re not nature's lover.
The Great curse has befallen upon our land
And even the tiniest of creatures are bedazzled
As we are struck down by this nemesis
Dark clouds have appeared in everyones' minds
It is of no solace to be reminiscent of better days
Alone, shut off off the rest of the world
We count the dead and the days
As the days become dead as each one brings new death
Not even time to mourn, but with all the time in the world
In the darkest of days we count Sun's rays
Hopefull that soon there will be no more counting
It is a passing thing
Dry twig snapping under sheer pressure of time
Passing days shall bring forth passing of plays
Dark clouds shall once again be torn apart by strong winds
Dark thoughts shall once again be torn apart by strong wills
Grassy meadows shall once again be ever so green
Shining brightly showered by the pure gold of the great Sun
Waters will wash away the horrors
And the unison of all humankind will be painted on everyones' smile
May it never wash away again
There is no curse strong enough to whitstand a sincere smile
And an open heart
THE VICTORY OF HUMANKIND!
Heights great achieved progress abound,
To the skies’ stretch, to the oceans’ depth;
Not a speck undiscovered, conquered all
Of the unending expansive cosmos vast!
Shivering quivering beings all,
At the mere mention of a creature small;
Reveled in pride at the terror instilled,
Convulsed the peaceful tranquil harmony!
Resentment annoyance displeasure around,
Tolerance compassion long bygone;
Triumphant victorious yet vanquished by thy own kind,
Is this the success coveted by man!
No quashing nor suppressing earthlings all,
But endearing tender affectionate love;
Empathizing sympathizing, establishing compassionate bond,
Leading thus to The Victory Of Humankind!
We imprisoned ourselves, then we complained,
The lack of freedom,we didnt expect it to stay,
Now we can slightly imagine, how they feel everyday,
Their whole lives spent enslaved,
Never seeing the light of day,
From the moment they are born,
Used, abused, bred until they can't anymore,
When they are of no more use to us human scum,
Then we dispose of them, empathy not involved at all,
We deserve what is happening today,
We deserve a lot worse,
Humans,
Are the only virus on this earth...
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