Nature of War



“Nature of War”

I kindled my Sabbath candles,
as sun set behind the wood
Peace of golden respite shattered,
as only death screams could

Perhaps a fox, or gentle fawn
was ambushed by coyote-
Her desperate cries in darkness,
sent terror shooting through me

Looking from an opened window,
I begged him, go away!
Too impassioned though to hear me,
he clawed harder into prey

Waning light of candles flickered,
but by quickened breaths was stoked
I prayed her suffering would end,
that swift mercy be invoked…

But her whimpers, like damp breezes
weave through autumn’s dying leaves,
still call to me as rising suns
cast shadows on the trees

About this poem

As I wrote this poem describing an animal attacking another at the very moment I was lighting my Sabbath candles, I realized it was a metaphor describing the suffering of innocents caught in the crossfires of war.

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Written on October 19, 2023

Submitted by susan.brumel on November 29, 2023

37 sec read
35

Quick analysis:

Scheme X XABA XCXC XDCD BEXE XXXX
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 649
Words 124
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Susan Mayer Brumel

I am a retired hospice social worker, who began writing poems about 2 years ago. I am married, a mom of two sons, a Bernese Mountain Dog, and grandma of two grandchildren who are the loves of my life. A lover of all animals and most people, I enjoy spending time in nature, long walks, and reading Pablo Neruda, Blake, William Carlos Williams, James Joyce, Mary Oliver, Emily Dickinson, Maya Angelou, Leonard Cohen, and more. Baudelaire tells us to ‘be drunk’ on something every day; I am drunk on poetry and intend never to be sober! more…

All Susan Mayer Brumel poems | Susan Mayer Brumel Books

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Discuss the poem Nature of War with the community...

2 Comments
  • JokerGem
    I have to say, this makes me think about how the killing in warfare seems unnatural compared to the ‘predator vs prey’ of the animal world. But then, one must wonder where the ‘killer instinct’ even originates from... 
    LikeReply 128 days ago
    • susan.brumel
      I suppose the killer instinct is there for survival in the natural world. But creating wars and killing innocents not for sustenance but for greed- this killing must be carefully taught. I appreciate you taking the time to read my poem and share your thoughts about it. 
      LikeReply28 days ago
    • JokerGem
      indeed and those death cries (no matter by whom) are as unfortunate as the reprehensibleness of meaningless conflict.
      I would have commented regardless but it is encouraging that the site is now offering rewards for increased interaction....hopefully bring the community a little closer.
      good day Susan! 
      LikeReply 127 days ago
  • Caliconine
    Beautifully sad truth. I could really feel it. Thank you for sharing. Write on
    LikeReply 14 months ago

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"Nature of War" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/174567/nature-of-war>.

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