Nature of War

Susan Mayer Brumel

Lyric

“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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Collection

Written on October 19, 2023

Submitted by susan.brumel on November 29, 2023

: 37 sec read
: 50 Views

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

Full analysis for Nature of War »

Susan Mayer Brumel

· 1955 · Newark, New Jersey

A few years ago, I retired from a thirty-five year career in hospice counseling, at which time I began writing poetry. My poems are influenced by my patients’ journeys, the compelling beauty of nature, and the human condition. 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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6 Comments

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yelskwah
The poem's strength lies in its ability to capture the stark realities of nature and the emotional toll of witnessing suffering.
LikeReply22 days ago
ladyygracious
Mercy lost in nature's darkness.
LikeReply2 months ago
- susan.brumel
  Yes. It was so difficult to hear.
  LikeReply1 month ago
philmaund
Your empathy and compassion shine through in so many of your poems. You must have been a very good hospice counsellor. And a courageous one to do it for so many years!
LikeReply 14 months ago
- susan.brumel
  That is so sweet of you to say, my friend. Thank you so much for all your thoughtful comments and for reading my poetry. I am deeply touched.
  LikeReply1 month ago
A.Rey
It’s the nature of war.
LikeReply 18 months ago
- susan.brumel
  Sadly, true. Thank you for reading my poem. Peace.
  LikeReply8 months ago
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... more »
LikeReply 111 months 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. more »
  LikeReply11 months 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! more »
  LikeReply 111 months ago
Caliconine
Beautifully sad truth. I could really feel it. Thank you for sharing. Write on
LikeReply 11 year ago

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"Nature of War" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 22 Mar. 2025. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/174567/nature-of-war>.

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