Arise and Behold!

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: POEMICS

Arise and Behold

 

Arise and behold

In the twenty-first century

Millions of people live in squalor

Millions have no medical care

Millions die for want of food

Millions drink from poisoned water

 

Arise and behold

The depths of our despair

WE CANNOT GO ON

We hold our breath and stare

PRETENDING NOTHING’S WRONG

At those who die for lack of care

SINGING YESTERDAY’S SONG

We’re trapped inside a lair

FOLLOWING THE MINDLESS THRONG

We demand what’s only fair

 

Arise and behold

We are the blessed and the bright

WE ARE YOUNG THEY ARE OLD

We take what’s ours and say goodnight

THEY ARE SOFT WE ARE BOLD

Trust our leaders will do what’s right

WE’RE THE SELLERS THEY’RE THE SOLD

Pick and choose the righteous fight

WE STAY WARM WHEN THEY ARE COLD

Keep our loved ones within our sight

NEVER WILL WE FOLD

Always reach the highest heights

THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY’RE TOLD

Always know we’ll be alright

 

Arise and behold

We are the greatest force on earth

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

An empire greater than Charlemagne’s

A BLESSING OR A CURSE

Possessing wealth beyond imagination

GUARDIANS OF THE EARTH

Knowledge and technology

NEVER KNOWING WHAT ITS WORTH

The envy of all the gods

NEVER CARING WHO WE HURT

And yet we suffer from anxiety

TIL WE AWAKEN IN THE MORN

We suffer from insecurity

FORSAKEN AND FORLORN

We suffer at our own failure

STRICKEN TO THE CORE

To ease the world’s pain

 

Arise and behold

Or bow down and fold

We know we can do better

 

 

[Note: Jack Foley pioneered the multi-voiced poem or poetic duet.]