a super-hero who fixes the world.
"The Great Eradicator", me, I'd eliminate
war, poverty, crime (and punishment), racism, abuse
of children/women/men, slavery, homelessness,
drug and human trafficking, all the fracking, mining, digging,
killing of this earth,
killing of this earth,
the senseless poaching, factory farming, animal abuse,
and anything I may have forgotten on my super-list.
Would I really fix the world? Be eradicated myself
by dissenters? Or become intoxicated with the allure
of power, prestige and possessions
transforming me into a super-villain?
transforming me into a super-villain?
But it's not a comic book,
this complicated world I inhabit.
Here I only have the power to change myself
using not my power of eradication, but creation
of a smile, a word, a gesture, a kindness,
a kiss, a look, a thought, an intention, an action
to be
the change
I want to see. *
(Susan asks us to write about power at Poets United.)
*("Be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi)
Words laced with deep wisdom. I loved reading your poem. Beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteThe Great Eradicator sounds like a powerful & daring individual and I m sure she shall succeed in destroying all forms of evil until only good is left in the world :D
ReplyDeleteBeautifully executed :D
Lots of love,
Sanaa
A wonderful journey from fantasy to a powerful truth. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteyou're not alone. We as a people have the power to change much, just never give up!
ReplyDeleteTrue. And I choose to eradicate a lot of those evils (including cruelty) in myself. One step at a time.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's from these big dreams that the importance of little actions become meaningful. Lovely lines X
ReplyDeleteThe only problem with power is that we can not change others, and I fear as soon as you eradicated one thing people would find something to replace it with. So true, we can only control ourselves - but as Margaret Mead said:
ReplyDeleteA small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has
We don't need super powers to change the world. A simple act of kindness has its own power and lingering effect
ReplyDeleteWe are such kindred spirits, Myrna. I love this. (I forgot about animal abuse on my diatribe, but it so fits under that umbrella). I love the closing, being the change as best one can, and hopefully a few billion others being the change as well. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteChanging oneself and being an example to others helps but we are dealing with a cruel and uncaring world of greedy cruel people, many of whom govern us and make up the rules to suit themselves. I'll see you in the revolution.
ReplyDeleteYou're more optimistic than I to even entertain such a fantasy.
ReplyDeletethis is a pearl of wisdom Myrna...we always need to play our part in a positive way....
ReplyDeleteWe can change the world around us by the tiniest of gestures, I like the message this brings.
ReplyDeletethe power of creation - yep - that might be much more efficient - if we just erase there is a void that needs to be filled again - if we do good things they supersede the bad in the most wonderful way
ReplyDeleteThe power to change yourself is all you need to be a positive influence on the world. Well written.
ReplyDeleteBy changing ourselves we undoubtedly change the world around us - a clever use of the quote and the cartoon was a definite :)
ReplyDeleteI love the wisdom of creation of ourselves ~ Really we can only do much, and within our control, only ourselves & those around us ~
ReplyDeleteOne can do so within one's own means. No amount of cajoling can make others change if these are not a fulfillment of their agenda.The tragedy is that their agenda can be destructive to others. Worst they have the power to do so! It is terrible double whammy!
ReplyDeleteHank
Hmmm, I think you are already a super heroine, Myrna. Your last verse describes (I am sure) what you are already doing! :-)
ReplyDelete