Civilized Killing

A poem I wrote last year is getting published in a small collection of poetry from The American Poet's Society. It's always an honor to get published. So, I thought I'd repost it. :)

Civilized Killing

Ancient Arrows
Former slayers in the wars of men
Now mounted on the walls of their dens

Useless arrows
Too impractical for the modern age
There are easier ways to pierce a flesh-bound cage

Savage Arrows
Too barbaric for the modern man
You lack the dignity of the bombs in our hands

Hang, shrouded in mystery
Teach us something of our history

You are a senior citizen of war
Knocking on death's door
Lingering on life support
To indulge our indignant thrill

Show us how far mankind has come
As we polish our efficient guns
Those brutal savages knew none
Of the civilized ways to kill

Hang, shrouded in mystery
Teach us something of our history

A Poem Of Many Slant Rhymes

A Life of Circumstance

Broken arrows on the floor
Awoken shadows upon the door
Hollow lies soar the skies
Swallowed pride roars to rise

Whipping winds slave to divide
Gripping sins crave my demise
Latent tears inspire true rage
Patient fears conspire to cage

Oh, these ocean waves never cease
Though, devotion saves severed peace
Hoping faith will sing, though thirsty
Groping grace will cling to mercy

Mortality

Crumbled castles with rusted thrones
In the fallen ruins that remain
The vines of time entwine shattered stones
Mortal hands are powerless to change

In the fallen ruins that remain
A shallow shadow is left behind
Mortal hands are powerless to change
The finality of mortality is unkind

The vines of time entwine shattered stones
And crumbled castles with rusted thrones

Guarded Heart

Within the crystal ball, I see the snow
I shake and shake it, but I cannot pass
Your guarded heart is where I cannot go

How to free the captive, I do not know
Spoken bullets bounce off the nose-pressed glass
Within the crystal ball, I see the snow

Locked away, where whipping winds cannot blow
Your love is a prize that cannot be won
Your guarded heart is where I cannot go

Dwelling where there is neither friend nor foe
In the clear cocoon, you are safe, but numb
Within the crystal ball, I see the snow

When stifled water has no room to flow
At the gate, you will not bid me to come
Oh guarded heart, why won’t you let me go?

Grief defeats, I release the lonesome glow
I know your throne is beyond my grasp
Within the crystal ball, I see the snow
Your guarded heart is where I cannot go

The Remnant

In this concrete-clad forest
A carved tree trunk traps
The last remnant

The Autumn Reaper kisses
Frail widow branches
Sending their amber spouses
To open emerald graves
At last, the bare bark is clothed
By the looming shadow of a skyscraper

Autumn leaves and aluminum cans
Crunch beneath my fleeing feet
Before splashing into the cement river,
Whose current drags me home

Civilized Killing

Ancient Arrows
Former slayers in the wars of men
Now mounted on the walls of their dens

Useless arrows
Too impractical for the modern age
There are easier ways to pierce a flesh-bound cage

Savage Arrows
Too barbaric for the modern man
You lack the dignity of the bombs in our hands

Hang, shrouded in mystery
Teach us something of our history

You are a senior citizen of war
Knocking on death's door
Lingering on life support
To induldge our indignant thrill

Show us how far mankind has come
While we polish our efficient guns
Those brutal savages knew none
Of the civilized ways to kill

Hang, shrouded in mystery
Teach us something of our history