Peace Poetry at Paper Poetry

Peace Like a River?

An unfinished blank verse poem

This image was created by the author using Midjourney.com . Prompt: An old woman sits on a bench. It´s a back view. There is a river bed that is dry and cracked as the result of a long drought. The woman wears a black coat. The mood is dismal and foreboding.

If peace is really a river
It has forgotten how to flow
Or perhaps a drought of kindness
Has left its bed cracked and dusty
Greed and a hunger for power
Have scorched the earth and human souls

Since November 5, 2024, I have been experiencing a severe case of “post-election depression.” It’s a real thing! Google it!* I have not wanted to write poetry or even read it. Don McLean’s song, “American Pie,” introduced the line “the day the music died”, and for me, my inner poet went on life support on election day.

Since then, after the inauguration of the current president of the United States, each day brings a barrage of hatred and a total lack of human kindness from the White House and the lackeys in Congress. I wanted to end this poem on an “up note”, but it just wasn’t in me.

Please read the prompt that

Carolyn Hastings

wrote for March. As usual, her eloquent and gentle words inspire. Maybe I didn’t get beyond one stanza, but Carolyn inspired me to dip my toe back in the poetry pond for a moment. I encourage the following beautiful souls to offer their poetic thoughts on “Poetry as a…