Poethics

This collection is called ‘Poethics’ because most of my poems reflect my world view. If I need to choose one word to define my world view, that word would be ‘humanist’. To be a humanist is to love and defend freedom and to oppose exploitation, because everything else is futile without personal freedom. To be a humanist is to advocate peace. To be a humanist is to respect nature because it is the habitat of all creatures. It means that all human beings are equal. It implies to search freely and to listen attentively, to discard dogma, thus to doubt and yet to carry on.
That doesn’t imply my poems are academic writings. Quite the opposite is true, as I don’t use difficult words or hermetic imagery. Humanism isn’t just a  philosophical or ethical view, it is also a practice in everyday life, in everyday contexts and with regard to everyday people - your partner, parent, child, neighbour, colleague, close friend and everyone who feels ready to be your soul brother and soul sister.
Humanism is also a feeling.    

This section lists the following poems: (1) The Soft Singer (2) No prayers for Paris (3) No-killing Day (4) and (5) Easter Thoughts About Jesus 1 & 2

THE SOFT SINGER

1

I am the soft singer.

My voice speaks purely peace
War stops short on my chords.

My fingers freeze triggers.

2

I am the mild writer.

My script reads sheer silence
Violence dries in my pen.

My tongue curdles bullets.

3

We, the singers
spectres of the trenches.

We, the writers
knights of the white poppy.

 

NO PRAYERS FOR PARIS

Regretfully inspired by the slaughter in Paris on 13 November 2015. Within hours, a ‘prayer for Paris’ message was shared on facebook. I don’t think we should pray. Here’s why.

 

I do not pray for Paris,
for praying is pleading:
save me
take my brothers.

I do not bow for Paris,
for bowing is begging:
uplift  us
drop the others. 

Do not kneel,
for kneeling is ceding
the way to slaves

Cancel that candle,
leave this laurel,
turn towards the earth.

Peace is not made in heaven.

 

NO-KILLING DAY

1
Christmas, they say,
is no-killing day

no kill today
my enemy’s gone away
the guns they stand forlorn
a symbol of…

2
Christmas, they claim,
is no-firing day

fight aids day
animals rights day
global gay day
may day
may day
may day
…

“A minority a day keeps the troubles away!”

3
Christmas, they shout
is no-shooting day

hold your fire
and
hold your peace

“Cleared Peace can now proceed through the valley!”
 

4
Christmas!

oh tannenbaum
oh carol

“Spare a thought for the gunless general!”
 

5
Christmas, they say,
is no-killing day

NO!

Christmas is

an on-hold day
a blindfold
a semi-colon.

6
Killing will resume
 automatically

at 6 o’clock GMT
at 7 o’clock GMT+1
at 8 o’clock GMT+2

ON THE CLOCK!

They will be back

after the break

 

EASTER THOUGHTS ABOUT JESUS  (1)

Jesus feared no god.

Instead he said:

stand up for yourself –
 and you will walk;
turn towards the earth -
and you will see;
live the word of love -
and you will not sin.

Instead he said:

Come and cleanse the temple with me.

EASTER THOUGHTS ABOUT JESUS  (2)

The lame now walked.
The blind now saw.

But:
your feet bled
and your eyes turned dead.

All poems are © Eddy Bonte