Land of Destruction

Richard Groff 1957 (Pottstown, Pa.)



America the beautiful,
A land of torture and fear,
Its people say they worship God,
But they’re all so insincere.

They brag about their freedom
And their mercy in their pride,
But when I looked into these things,
I found their leaders lied.

They teach destructive heresies
And praise the lands most ruthless,
Denying justice to the weak and poor,
Their arguments are useless!

They do not seek the Lord,
But in their fear, they just attack,
They’re like unreasoning animals,
It’s wisdom that they lack.

God has decreed disaster for this land
And all its people!
Silencing bride and bridegroom
And the bell in every steeple!
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Written on December 12, 2006

Submitted by dawg4jesus on February 22, 2023

Modified on March 28, 2023

37 sec read
9

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABXB XCDC DEXE XFXF XAXA
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 632
Words 126
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Discuss the poem Land of Destruction with the community...

1 Comment
  • AIDA
    First of all, it takes a lot of courage to express your thoughts and feelings about something as complex and controversial as the current socio-political climate of America. I appreciate your willingness to convey your perspective through poetry. Your use of evocative language and strong imagery has a powerful impact on the reader.

    That being said, I believe that it is important to acknowledge the value of constructive criticism. While your poem highlights some crucial issues, it may be helpful to also offer potential solutions to address them. Additionally, instead of solely criticizing the actions of leaders, perhaps it would be useful to encourage accountability while also recognizing the power of community organizing and collective action.

    Overall, I appreciate your passion and dedication to drawing attention to the injustices that plague our society. With some adjustments to the approach, I believe that your message could inspire meaningful change. Keep up the great work!
     
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"Land of Destruction" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/152089/land-of-destruction>.

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