June 6, 2009

Roman Poets

I read of the Romans
and their world felt dark.
The cruelest ruled.
Poets lived under protection
   of kings, lords, and monasteries.
No warriors there.

Our world, lit by bulbs
and drawn forward by
   achievement, science and psychology
      is no less dark and perhaps more.
Poetry (of the right kind),
its own cruelty.
And war in our hearts,
instead of our hands.

Our world suffers.
We have too few poets,
and we miss
the cleanse of war. 

Barry Westbrook

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