Annihilation
The world is burning
Minds of leaders are flaming
Earth is crying for its children
who seem so set on destruction.
I look out and see a gentle drizzle
With backdrop of rising sun
Such beautiful and peaceful display.
So right and so contrary to our news.
Missiles are flying here and there,
the stupidity, the cruelty of it all.
Why, oh why do we choose them?
Leaders with frozen hearts
Who live only on hackneyed rhetoric.
Death, tears, despair fills the lands
as their people are flung across the world;
many dead, others can hardly walk.
Seeing the destruction of human beings
and of Earth, I think
What do we and the leaders do?
Just accept annihilation,
cede and lay down – tearless now
All dried out or burnt
Just like Earth.
© miriam ivarson
My Window 
Well expressed, Miriam. Unfortunately, “‘T were ever thus.”… and, I fear for the future as I grieve for the past.
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Thanks for your heartfelt comment, Roland. ‘T was indeed always thus and history hasn’t helped much to stop.
Hope and more awareness might possibly create a base for more sense.
We can’t give up on us and our world.
The choices belong to mankind wherever they have a voice.
Miriam
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Your words were put together beautifully. I had just finished reading a devotional about God’s turning the world topsy-turvy behind the scenes right now. That helps me balance things.
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Thank you Anne for your kind ccomment. I really am glad if it helped you balance things. Sadly cruelty and wars have been around as long as we know. One thing with modern time is that people have education and knowledge and in democracies can make their voices heard.
Bless
Miriam
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If I could change the world? Maybe change myself first?
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Thank you so much JC. Yes, any change of the situation would have to
start with all of us. Just imagine if everyone were treating each other with
respect and kindness.
John Lennon’s song ‘ Imagine’ comes to mind.
Miriam
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Lovely piece, Miriam. I’m not sure what the leaders do, but I rely on my faith.
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Jill, thank you so much for commenting. It is wonderful to have the comfort
to fall back on, as you say about your faith. The thing is that every country professes a faith albeit in different names.
That would be wonderful if the core message would be at the heart of actions.
Miriam
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Wow Miriam – you have certainly hit the nail on the head with this one. Unfortunately I cannot see anything much changing and we are probably, as a race, all going to hell in a handcart. I believe that, as individuals, we can only do the best we can in a very uncertain world and hope for a better future.But I’m not holding my breath!
Mike
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I thank you so much, Mike, for your frank and open comment. At least
with a handcart it won’t be too fast. 🙂
I also despair often but with a basic positive view of life …. most of the time, I hope that the growth and longing for something better will prevail.
Miriam
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Poignant musings Miriam. I waffle between hope in individual people who desire to help and despair in those who want to keep their money and power.
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Thank you Brad for your thoughtful comment. I understand your swings between despair and hope. Power and greed has often proven to be the winners. Still, like Don Quixote, let us go on doing our positive best.
Miriam
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Tilting at windmills? 🙂
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So true.
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Thank you so much Ken, I appreciate to have you on board.
miriam
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Amen, Miriam. It sounds like we are of much the same mind.
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And, Amen back to you, Jennifer. I often feel the same when I read your posts and your answers on mine. 💕.
Miriam
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Wow! Miriam, a superlative heartfelt poem that encompasses so many of today’s tragedies in the world. Whilst most people feel the grief, disasters keenly, we are equally aware of the lack of care and attention by so many of our leaders. We feel impotent with the overwhelming sadness which our precious world is experiencing. Your second stanza gives us a glimpse of hope at ‘Such beautiful and peaceful display” of the rainfall … one can hope that will be a starting point to bring us all back to sense, to life itself. xx
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Annika, thank you for this beautiful and deep comment. You have in such a strong way picked up the message I am putting forward and run with it.
You show with strength how deep you feel and how impotent we seem
with the overhelming sadness.
Thank you for noticing the light in the second stanza which shows how little
it takes for us to feel joy.
Let us believe and hope. 🤗.
Miriam
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Sad state of affairs… you’ve captured it! 😦
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Thank you Bette for your kind comment, I am glad you feel the poem rings
true to you. It is without a doubt sad state of affairs and so unnecessary.
Miriam
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A powerful message! We do need windmills and solar power, and leaders who reject nonsense. Too often we think we should turn to “strong men” when in fact they are the worst leaders of all.
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment. We certainly need to use the
natural gifts given by nature. We also need to use our own inherent inner
strength. Say no to all cruelty.
Strong men and women can often look very gentle. All depends what strength we seek.
Miriam
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Never give up, never give in. I am somewhat heartened by today’s youth. People can and do make a difference. I’ve seen it all of my life, Miriam. The worst thing we can do is give up. Once again, thanks for your thoughtful words. Hang in there. –Curt
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I am very heartened by your positive and beautiful comment, Curt.
Thank you. Like you I feel a lift when I see the goals many youths are fighting for. They make a difference and as you say, people make a difference. Each
one of us. Thank you for your encouraging words, I will write down your words “The worst thing we can do is give up”. They gave me courage today.
Miriam
( hanging in there )
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Wonderful dystopian poem, Miriam. I sure hope things get better.
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Thank you Jaqui, maybe the second stanza will give more of utopian. 😊.
I haven’t given up hope by any means that we can and will find ways to
improve the situation of the world.
It is all within each one of us to help.
miriam
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A lovely, heartfelt poem that evokes many sad emotions. I do think creativity is reflective of the present moment. In other words, you are telling it like it is. I also believe in hope, and I truly hope this too shall pass.
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Thank you, Erica, for your kind and thoughtful comment. It is true that the present events and swings always have reflected in e.g. Music, writing and all arts. Like you I have a positive outlook and hope that we can do better.
Miriam
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I hear fire in your words Miriam and for good reason. So much does not make sense.
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Thank you so much, Janice. You listened well. I feel both fire and sadness
when I see how often both man treat each other cruelly. It doesn’t make sense as you say.
Then we meet friends and people out and around us and realise how much good there is.
Miriam
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Wonderfully written, Miriam. I don’t know that we can depend on leaders for much. Power so utterly corrupts, that it seems even the uncorruptable are tempted and finally capitulate. Why they must always sink to the lowest common denominator humanity is capable of, who can say? Shadow intergration is necessary, but it seems as though only individuals can choose it. Then that small and growing Collective begins to sway and grow, until it gathers momentum of its own. It is in this knowing that certain of us continue. On.
Blessings. ❤
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Bela, thank you for your powerful and beautiful comment. You speak so clear
and true that I can but totally agree. May we all choose the power of love and peace. Caring for all and growth of the good and positive.
Bless. 💕 .
Miriam
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Blessings back at you! 💞
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It doesn’t seem to get better – we become more isolated and isolation keeps us from seeing the true world. We’ve set it ablaze in so many ways and don’t have the will to fill the water buckets.
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Thank you, Sharon, for your beautiful and deep comment.
There is more connectivity on the surface today, via media and such. Deep down though I feel you are right.
As to the blaze that has been created, may the will and the buckets be found.
Miriam
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I felt so moved by this poem. If I let myself, I could cry with the earth and perhaps I should. Yet she goes on giving us the “backdrop of rising sun…..So right and so contrary to our news.” I hope that she is bigger and more powerful than the mess we have made and that we come to our collective senses and fill those water buckets with more than tears. You reminded me of the song, “Beds Are Burning” by Midnight Oil. https://youtu.be/7FNzvP6j5BA
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Your comment is so wonderful and filled with emotion. Thank you JoAnna.
Maybe it isn’t wrong to cry tears for the Earth that is giving so much. I do also believe the Earth is more powerful than us and can survive. Can we?
Every day I see something beautiful and meet people who would help to fill those buckets. So let us go, the number of those who want good outweighs the non caring. 🤗.
I loved your song.
Miriam
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This is a beautiful rendition of where we all are Miriam. I’m not sure why we all don’t do more to save our own humanity, including myself. It seems so overwhelming, but I suppose the least we can do, as you’ve implied, is to stop voting against our own interests.
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It does indeed seem overwhelming, and it is overwhelming. However, many voices and hearts set on what is good for us and mankind, can be the sun
that melts the ice. Let us go.
Thank you Kate.
Miriam
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I hope so ❤
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I understand the angst and anger. And reading this, my feelings of powerless and frustration increase. Perhaps the “leaders” of the world (mostly white old men) have hardened their hearts so much their souls are sealed off to humanity. May they crumble and fall in elections, and may our countries find their Earth (and heaven) souls again.
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Thank you Pam, for your heartfelt comment. You are not powerless and none of us are really. It matters that we spread the positive and loving. Care for every human being and for this wonderful planet we are given. We are not as small as we think.
I like your word ” Earth souls”. Something strong and unbending in that.
Miriam
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I know you’re right. When I get really frustrated, I stop and think, “I can’t do anything BIG, but I can smile, be kind, love a lot” In the end, that may make a difference…. xo
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Lovely post.
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Thank you, it makes me happy to know you derived some inspiration
from it.
Miriam
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Miriam I completely agree with your profound and awesome post. What have these few emotionless and egoistic men done with our world and our beautiful human beings and nature. They have destroyed our Mother Earth and we the majority few have to simply look and even if we do something hardly any impact of positivity takes place. Amazing picture of our world rooted in forest fires.
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Thank you, Kamal, for your appreciative comment, It is heartwarming.
Positivity does matter, I really believe so. It doesn’t look like if, there I agree
but without trying and believing we are lost.
It does look dark often but light shines through.
Miriam
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Yes absolutely true and I agree totally with your valuable words, Miriam. Welcome 😊😊😊😊😊
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It is truly a crazy time we are living through right now, and some atrocious leaders. I appreciate your gentle thoughts and questions, Miriam, sacredness. I read the New York Times every day and read about it all, and what I also see are plenty of dedicated and hard-working people who fight for rightness, whether it’s on the fields or in congressional positions. There are oh so many good-natured and incredible people in this world too.
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Jet, thank yu for your kind and positive comment. You also see all these good-naruews and incredible people and together we are a force.
It is wonderful that you see and treasure those news among the dark ones.
🤗
Miriam
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Powerful, Miriam. And sadly, all too true. I like to think we can rescue ourselves. I pray we come to our senses in time. Well done!
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Thank you Julie for your lovely and appreciative comment.
I also believe we can rescue ourselves with positive and caring spirit and action.
🤗.
Miriam
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Your wonderful poem has inspired so many thoughtful comments. At times I feel totally overwhelmed… but fortunately at others I do believe that we can make changes…
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Thank you so much, da-Al. I think we all feel overwhelmed very frequently
except like a morning like this. The sun is back, shining warm and making
us smile and the flowers shine.
Of course we can make changes. The more who believe this and work towards the positive, the quicker a change can take place.
Miriam
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the alternative, to take no action, would be worst of all…
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