Voices of Poets on War and Peace

(Quote from The River of Winged Dreams. Art: 2022 Digital version of detail from Luca Giordano’s 1666 painting “The Fall of the Rebel Angels” by Bright Skylark Literary Productions.)

PLEASE NOTE: This post is a continuation of Voices of Poets on War and Peace started in the blog post titled: Angel of War and the Year 2022. The full text of the poem "Angel of War," from  the book The River of Winged Dreams, is in included with the original post. Responses from different commenters have been included because nearly all are accomplished poets in their own right and what they shared go beyond reactions to a single poem to the kind of thoughtful meditations on the nature of war and peace many may find useful in light of Russia’s current invasion of Ukraine. Their words begin below the video. (To view original post with poem please click here.)

Voices of the Poets

 
Reviewed by Sage Sweetwater
"Wings of centuries
flutter chaos through children’s
bones, dreams, screams, and blood."

The CHILDREN'S CRUSADE of 1212. The story is that an outburst of the old popular enthusiasm led a gathering of children in France and Germany, which Pope Innocent III interpreted as a reproof from heaven to their unworthy elders. None of the children actually reached the Holy Land; they were all sold as slaves, settled along the route to Jerusalem, or died of hunger during the journey.

Angel of War outlines the fall of man which has existed for centuries. After the Christianization of the Vikings, Slavs, and Magyars, meant that there was an entire class of warriors who now had very little to do but fight amongst themselves and terrorise the peasant population and time hasn't changed it. The Church tried to stem this violence with the Peace and Truce of God movements, which was somewhat successful, but trained warriors always sought an outlet for their violence. The Crusades were every way a defensive war. The Church tried to stem this violence with the Peace and Truce of God movements, which was somewhat successful, but trained warriors always sought an outlet for their violence, a defensive reaction to an injury perpetrated by another. Angel of War has elements of the nine crusades, Aberjhani...would be nice if this could be a turning point write for countries to reunite in Peace, rebuild both structure and mankind, and reinstate pilgrimages.
Sage

Reviewed by Linda Luna (Reader)
Thank you for this excruciating howl - questions right on...painful reality expressed as always so well..you have put words to the confusion of why? Why do we continue to seek this 'angel' to save us when there is no forgiveness for what is done in war's game.
LL*

Reviewed by richard cederberg
A brilliantly executed, and scathing indictment against war, laced also with vivid images, and the regrettable onset of confusion that such calamity invariably brings to the psyche and heart.

Most comments below have added succinct realization and opinionism to the quandary of your biting construct Aberjhani. People are very passionate about this. Children are not the only innocents that become collateral damage in the madness of warfare.

"If missiles are faux dildos ... " I would suggest to you that anyone splattered by bombs, children or otherwise, are the diseased evil orgasms of the war-mongering, profit-mongering intelligentsia. There are no easy answers, and even reviewing these horrid realities ofttimes seems a moot point!
Richard Lloyd Cederberg

Reviewed by Jerry Bolton (Reader)
Dittoes Eileen. I am about aorn out trying to make sense of everything which is going on in our world these days. The only sense it makes is, if you believe in the Bible, it is prophecy. "There will be wars and rumors of wars." Maybe, in the long run, we have no choice in the matter. I DO know that some much of the blood shed these days come from religious teachings. I also know that some of the absolute worst man has done to man has been in the name of some damn godor other. Will we someday beat our swords into plowshears and study war no more? I haven't the foggest idea. I would sure as hell like to think so. The poem was your usual excellent write, Aberjhani, I am just to weary in my heart today to give it that much attention, except to say what I have.

Reviewed by Sandie Joyce
This poem is metaphoric! Yet, it speaks of the purposeless wars and the way it affects the nations. Aberjhani, you have spoken volume with this poem!
Sandie May Angel a.k.a. Sandie Angel :o)

Reviewed by Tinka Boukes
Masterfully done Aberhjani!!
Love Tinka

Reviewed by Andre Bendavi ben-YEHU
"Angel of War" bears the voice of a heart that pumps knowledge from the veins of intuition
and heedful obeservation of reality. Its words dance with intelligence in the cadence of life
and depicts the colective infifference of our days.

"Hear... oh, sailors furtune hunter of life’s voyage,
You can still dive to find an oyster bearing pearl;
Wear a diadem of flawless huge brilliant cut diamond,
And tear the web of scorn with a sharp sword of love!"
LXII – “The Humanity Of The Gods”

I Salute You, Poet.
Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU

Reviewed by Susan de Vegter
We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory.
-Bern Williams

In this poem you call the shots. The power play of those making the moves on the great chessboard of our world forget one thing...they can be taken down one at a time when WE stand up and decide, universally, to stop being their pawns.

You are the master of words, thoughts and passion. Your deep thoughts are the inspiration we need for action.

Love, peace and a kiss for our Savannah Lady.
Susan

Reviewed by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
WOW! That's all I can say, Aberjhani!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :D

Reviewed by E T Waldron

I agree with Peter, a masterful indictment of war!
To me war is anathema...But the nagging question that I can't answer, if someone attacked my family especially my children, could I let them continue to annihilate us all without any defense. When so many want to commit genocide on another nation, must they accept it withiout a fight? Where lie the answers? Heart breaking write Aberjhani!

Reviewed by Peter Paton
Aberjhani A symbolic and allegorical master class write that condemns the absurdities and machinations of mindless war and aggression..

From your gifted pen, flows the innate wisdom of the ancients my friend.. 
Kudos and appreciation to you for championing the cause of the oppressed and suffering in humanity.. When will we ever learn ?..once sang Marlene Dietrich..

Shalom
Peter

My deepest gratitude to all of the poets above for sharing these comments and their own writings their much-needed wisdom and love for humanity.

And my sincere heartfelt prayers and good wishes for a peaceful resolution to the war crisis in Ukraine. It is never too late to #GivePeaceAChance.

Aberjhani
Author of The River of Winged Dreams
Creator of Original Silk-Featherbrush Artstyle