NEW/REVISED POEM "Stop and Start"

Revised and expanded a poem I wrote earlier this year, "Stop and Start", and rendered a background for it using GIMP.
I strengthened the stormy metaphor a bit and also tried to make it a little more inspirational, thus "Start being / An unstoppable force of change."

Stop and Start

By Richard H. Fay

Stop waiting
For our institutions to save us.
Stop hoping
That our legislators will rescue us.
Stop looking
To the government for answers.
Stop wishing
For others to end this madness.

Start planning
Ways to weather the fascist tempest.
Start forming
Means to survive the oncoming storm.
Start making
A better future for every one of us.
Start being
An unstoppable force of change.

Poem "In Anger and Hate"

 

In Anger and Hate

By Richard H. Fay

In anger and hate, I planted a seed

From which a sickly sprout sprang.

Nourished by strife, sustained by grief,

Tainted seedling grew twisted and bent

'Til corrupt sprout became warped sapling. 

Gnarled branches scratched a somber sky;

Black roots delved deep into my rotten soul.

NEW POEM "Rocket Ship"

 

Rocket Ship

By Richard H. Fay

Fire
Propels
Silver craft,
Man-made comet
Speeding through the vacuum of outer space,
Spreading humankind's presence out beyond
Our Earth to reach
Other worlds,
Distant
Orbs.

NEW POEM "Lethargy or Recovery?"

Lethargy or Recovery?

By Richard H. Fay

What looks to be indolent lethargy
May just be a case of recovery.
When vital energies dwindle to nil,
The truest answer lies not in some pill.
What recharges life's batteries the best
Is lying back and taking a sound rest.

 

NEW POEM "The Jejuneness of AI Art"

 

The Jejuneness of AI Art

By Richard H. Fay

Electronic minds lacking artistic souls,
Silicon intellects bereft true imaginations,
Produce jejune pastiches of human art.
Artificial brains lacking sparks of genius,
Algorithmic blenders of cultural creations
Generate dull slop devoid of deeper meaning.

NEW POEM "Creatures of Chaos"

 

Creatures of Chaos

By Richard H. Fay

Creatures of chaos
Craving disorder and disruption
Create confusion and woe.

Beings of havoc
Beget discordance and disharmony
Breeding division and strife.

Demons of misrule
Desire turmoil and turbulence
Dealing destruction and death.

NEW POEM "21st Century Religion"

 

21st Century Religion

By Richard H. Fay

Exalt the sinners!
Demean the saints!
Praise the perfidious!
Reprove the faithful!
Revere the idols!
Scorn the masses!
Worship the wealthy!
Profane the poor!
Honor the liars!
Shame the honest!
Bless the proud!
Damn the meek!
Pray for war!
Curse peace!