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Homework September: An Unenlightened Time

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 2:18 pm
by Catherine Lee
An Unenlightened Time

A strange hypnotic somnolence has overwhelmed my brain;
I welcome this and yearn for sleep, afraid I’ll go insane.
I’m much in need of sustenance, but no-one gives a damn—
as far as they’re concerned I’m just a sick, immoral man
who fell beneath the influence of one who lit my days
with laughter, hope and honest love, in countless little ways.

Sweet charity I never see from those whose help I’ve sought—
appeals for shorter sentence met with laughter from the court.
I’m shunned by all who knew me and reviled by many more,
while pleas for mercy go unheard - I’m merely shown the door.
I sit here like a moulded sculpture, nothing left to prove—
no further wish for action now, since statues never move.

The Artist of the Law has cast my heart in rigid stone;
the System’s turned its back on me, I’m left to grieve alone
for all I’ve lost and all I am, through no real fault of mine—
it seems the joke’s on me because, as many now opine,
in years to come my so-called crime will not be viewed as sin,
and love will be the only word that permeates within.

But now it’s nineteen-fifty, so I’m cursed and branded ‘queer’
and cell-mates taunt and spit on me whenever I draw near.
How little do they understand, these grim-faced, hardened blokes
who ruthlessly attack for fun and burn me with their smokes!
In isolation now, inert and numb I wait and pray
that future generations know a more enlightened day.

© Catherine Lee, Aug 2019

Re: Homework September: An Unenlightened Time

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 5:52 pm
by Terry
Hi Catherine
Beautifully written:
You're right the world we live in is ever changing,
who knows which way we'll lean in another fifty years.
Or which doctrine will dictate what's right and what's wrong.
It seems to me, that if man can stuff it up, he probably will.

Once again I really enjoyed your poem, quite deep and relevant to the world we live in today.

Terry

Re: Homework September: An Unenlightened Time

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 10:52 pm
by Maureen K Clifford
Now that's a path I didn't foresee with these prompts, but quite topical and certainly relevant. Very nicely crafted and sensitively depicted as well. Thankfully attitudes have changed in many places and love should certainly be the only word that matters.

I like this poem a lot Catherine - another winner IMO - well done you :D

And here I was thinking these prompts were hard - you mob make it look as easy as falling off a log :lol:

Re: Homework September: An Unenlightened Time

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 10:56 pm
by Catherine Lee
I totally agree with you there, Terry. Man has been doing his best to stuff things up for centuries in one way or another, and judging by the so-called leaders and powers that be of today, it seems we haven't learnt much! Thank you so very much for your kind comments, which I always sincerely appreciate.

Re: Homework September: An Unenlightened Time

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 11:01 pm
by Catherine Lee
Thank you, Maureen, for your lovely words. To be honest, I didn't quite foresee this direction either when I first read your tough prompts! And yes, I do believe that regardless of what we might believe in for ourselves, the bottom line should always be love.