I am Switzerland.
I was born to be Switzerland.
Too small to be significant,
but for my gentle
refusal to take sides.
Neutral.
Choosing,
by choosing not to choose.
I am appeasement.
I learned to be appeasement.
Stretching minutes
of Munich Agreements
into uneasy
pieces of peace -
at any price
priceless,
but impermanent.
I am America.
I grew up to be America.
More powerful
than I know how
to justly be
sometimes, but trying,
always trying,
for a quiet moment
on all fronts.
A rough draft for Midweek Motif~Neutrality/Objectivity at Poets United
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
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About Me
- Maude Lynn
- Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days. ---Flannery O'Connor
11 comments:
Neutral or Appeasing or Powerful -- It's a toss up which can produce a just quiet. Is it possible that nothing ever can?
This is such an incredibly brilliant write, MZ 💖
really luv this poem; a passionate write
much love...
Sadly a man with a stick always feels he has to use it.
To be peaceful and look from the sideline or to be powerful and and do something That's the question
Great write
Really like your analogies here. Really, sometimes I do admire Switzerland in its neutrality, and other times I think 'she' has taken the easy way out.
There is not neutral. Nicely captured.
America, more powerful than it knows how to justly be. I like that.
We need poems like this, with the election coming up...
Whenever I think about Switzerland, I am reminded of Dante's lines:
"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis."
Well-penned!
I read this, back when you posted it, but I guess i was too muddle headed too comment. I have no idea of this is meant to be personal or not, but I have often thought you are more Switzerland than you let on.
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