17 June 2012
MIDST MORTAR SHELL AS ROCKETS FELL
THE VISITOR WALKED ALONE
THROUGH RUINED MOSQUE AND SYNAGOGUE
PAST TEMPLES BATTLE BLOWN
AND ALL THE GUNS FELL SILENT
ON THE STREETS OF SHATTERED STONE
FOR EACH AND EVERY SOLDIER
SAW A COMRADE OF HIS OWN
HE SPOKE TO THE ISREALIS
THE SUNNIS AND THE KURDS
AND EVERY TRIBE OF EVERY TONGUE
COULD UNDERSTAND HIS WORDS
I KNOW NOT, HE SAID FROM WHENCE I CAME
OR WHAT I AM MEANT TO DO
I HAVE NO NATION OR NO NAME
NO GODS TO PRAISE, LIKE YOU
SO ALL THE WISE AND HOLY
AND THOSE OF POWER AND WEALTH
ACCLAIMED HIM AS A SAVIOUR
BUT ONLY FOR THEMSELVES
THEY PLIED HIM THEIR RELIGIONS
REGALED HIM WITH THEIR DEEDS
ALL HOPING HE WOULD FAVOUR THEM
THEIR LORDLY WANTS AND NEEDS
THE VISITOR LISTENED PATIENTLY
TO ALL THAT THEY HAD SAID
THANKED THEM FOR THEIR TROUBLE
THEN KNELT AND BOWED HIS HEAD
AND THEY WAITED IN THEIR CITADELS
THE TEMPLES MADE OF GOLD
SEATS OF POWER AND PALACES
WITH RICHES MANIFOLD
I HEARD NOT WORDS, THE VISITOR SAID
OF PROPHET, GOD OR SEER
JUST MANS INTERPRETATION
OF WHAT HE WANTS TO HEAR
THERE IS ONE VOICE I LISTEN TO
A SOFT AND SILVER SONG
THAT COMES FROM DEEP WITHIN ME
AND TELLS ME RIGHT FROM WRONG
IT TELLS ME, THE COMPASSIONATE
ARE AT ONE WITH MANY THINGS
THOUGH DRESSED IN RAGS ARE EQUAL
TO COURTIERS AND KINGS
TO CARE FOR THE MIGHTY OCEANS
THE RIVERS AND THE TREES
FOR AS CHILDREN OF THE MOTHER EARTH
WE ARE AT ONE WITH THESE
TO RESPECT ALL NATURES CREATURES
THAT SWIM AND FLY AND RUN
EACH HAS ITS PLACE, AS WE DO
BENEATH THE SANGUINE SUN
RELINQUISH GREED AND HATE AND WAR
FOR LOVE AND PEACE INSTEAD
SO THE HOMELESS CAN BE SHELTERED
AND THE STARVING MAY BE FED
I KNOW NOT, HE SAID FROM WHENCE I CAME
OR WHAT I AM MEANT TO DO
EXCEPT PERHAPS TO ASK YOU
TO FIND YOUR OWN VOICE TOO
AND MANY FOUND THEIR SILVER SONG
SO FOUND A BETTER WAY
AND LISTENED NOT TO WEASEL WORDS
THE GUILEFUL HAD TO SAY
THEY CAST ASIDE THEIR WEAPONS
AND TOOK THEIR BROTHERS HAND
STOPPED FELLING ANCIENT FORESTS
CEASED POISONING THE LAND
RICH MENS WARS GREW LESS AND LESS
THE WHEELS OF GREED GROUND SLOW
THEIR BOUNTY BORNE ON SUFFERINGS BACK
WAS FALTERING IN ITS FLOW
SO THEY PLOTTED IN THEIR DARK DOMAINS
THEIR EMPIRES OF THE NIGHT
TO END THE WORLDS SALVATION
ENLIGHTENMENT AND LIGHT
THE CYBERNETIC SOLDIER SENT
COULD HEAR NO TENDER VOICE
COULD SEE NO FRIEND OF COMRADE
JUST VICTIM OF THEIR CHOICE
THE VISITOR LISTENED ONE LAST TIME
AS HIS TIME ON EARTH WAS THROUGH
IT SIMPLY SAID FORGIVE THEM
FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO
TOM MAY
THE VISITOR • Opuss № I