‘Hunger’ and Other Poetry by Cheryl Devaney The Society March 15, 2015 Poetry 1 Comment Hunger “Power grows out of the barrel of a gun” -Mao Zedong Power grows out of the plight of the poor Peasants broken-backed, burdened by hunger The blood stained earth screams of endless toiling A red flag flies for all those still dying Power cries out for all the silenced ones Those broken by torture and prison Forever silenced by liberation Power wielded by their brothers and sons Power grows out of the flames of history Lost forever—temples gone and turned to ash Ancient artifacts crumbled to decay All the stories reduced to only one Power grows out of this Great Leap Forward This great deadening of humanity Crushed by this deranged concept of progress Backward into hopelessness and despair Time turns against this heartless pantomime Powerful and weak alike turn to ash The earth is a silent witness waiting For the great unfolding of a new spring An Elegy for the Chairman Mao Zedong rests encased in glass, While visitors shuffle by en masse, To see his great, orange glowing head. Tyrant exalted among the dead. A pop-icon print hangs from walls. The face of some foreign place calls. For Tiananmen’s tortured remain, All of the faces with no name. While the living are crushed under tanks, The cruelest rises highest in the ranks. Cheryl Devaney a former English language teacher who worked in South Korea for three years, and currently a graduate school student. Featured Image: From the Nine Commentaries, Mao Zedong on the far right. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. One Response Durlabh Singh March 15, 2015 REFLECTIONS Reflections upon reflections Reflections in the mirror Multiplying manifold A single solitary image. The world became a deeper reflection of divine In its multiple misery and abundant canine Though a dull image with dusty overlay Mingled rigidly by senses to cover their outlay. We ourselves some images of very chance Reflecting upon reflections in our sultry calm But deeper down our soul we may dig its mire And throw away our superfluous winded attire. There will shine an image of our being Reflection upon reflection of mirror into mirror Of mirror into mirror of infinity to hand Of infinity of redemption in an intenser land. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Durlabh Singh March 15, 2015 REFLECTIONS Reflections upon reflections Reflections in the mirror Multiplying manifold A single solitary image. The world became a deeper reflection of divine In its multiple misery and abundant canine Though a dull image with dusty overlay Mingled rigidly by senses to cover their outlay. We ourselves some images of very chance Reflecting upon reflections in our sultry calm But deeper down our soul we may dig its mire And throw away our superfluous winded attire. There will shine an image of our being Reflection upon reflection of mirror into mirror Of mirror into mirror of infinity to hand Of infinity of redemption in an intenser land. Reply
