The dark clouds looming in the land of ostriches are invisible to many; in Darth Vader country, we humans fall short of our capacity for good. Too often, adults' negative behavior impacts the young and the innocent. Sadly, too many children draw inaccurate views of themselves and their world because of negative early childhood experiences at home and at school; therefore, the innocent become the wounded. Breaking this detrimental cycle is the key to a better life, a better world.History has a knack for repeating itself, especially when it comes to war. World War I was mistakenly called the "war to end all wars." That was a catchy phrase, but it fell short of the truth. Since the Armistice in November of 1918, millions have died in war. During World War II, millions of innocent civilians were killed in air raids in large urban areas. The list of modern wars is endless. Civilians seem to get in the way of the shrapnel and the bullets of war. The innocent, the non-combatants, are seen as collateral damage. The lessons of the past seem lost in the heat of battle; the proof of this can be seen in an endless litany of wars across the world during the past fifty years: Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan to name a few. Hatred not only fuels wars, it also fuels racism. Hate is alive and well in the land. Although death is a normal part of the human experience, sadly, too often, the Grim Reaper is the big winner in man's inhumanity to man.The tragedy of war and violence is that the impact for the survivors often can last a lifetime. The wounds from violence can be both physical and emotional. Society is beginning to realize the negative impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can be brought on by trauma caused by sexual assault, war, and a variety other causes. Sadly, suicide has become an option for too many people whom experience untreated PTSD. Tragically, war and violence dig their claws into the souls of their victims. In the land of ostriches, an Old Testament prophet would not be welcomed, but the job of a prophet or a poet is to speak the truth, regardless of the possible discomfort which it might bring to those preferring to bury their heads in the proverbial sand. Because my poetry is meant to enlighten and engage the soul of the audience, I am not concerned with presenting a soothing quality. The poems in the first six sections of Weaving A Wicked Web address some unpleasant topics; however, I close on a positive note; Lincoln was right about "our better angels." Yes, there is hope if we realize that the us-versus-them mentality is self- destructive because we are part of the same tapestry.When I write a poem about war, its nature and long-term impact, I invite the reader to peek behind killing's curtain, and these poems leave footprints on the long road home as I search for the beauty of this world that was murdered so long ago. My war experiences have impacted me both negatively and positively. For twenty-two years, I coped, sometimes in a negative manner, with the effects of my war experiences; however, all that which I had buried eventually came to the surface. Finally, I began to deal with my guilt, anger, hurt, alienation, and grief. Wrestling with the demons of my "Nam" experience has been difficult yet extremely rewarding. Shortly after my return from the war in 1968, I began writing about my experiences and how they had affected my life: hundreds of poems, a novel, and a memoir. Therapists refer to this as narrative therapy; I call it writing to come home.
The dark clouds looming in the land of ostriches are invisible to many; in Darth Vader country, we humans fall short of our capacity for good. Too often, adults' negative behavior impacts the young and the innocent. Sadly, too many children draw inaccurate views of themselves and their world because of negative early childhood experiences at home and at school; therefore, the innocent become the wounded. Breaking this detrimental cycle is the key to a better life, a better world.History has a knack for repeating itself, especially when it comes to war. World War I was mistakenly called the "war to end all wars." That was a catchy phrase, but it fell short of the truth. Since the Armistice in November of 1918, millions have died in war. During World War II, millions of innocent civilians were killed in air raids in large urban areas. The list of modern wars is endless. Civilians seem to get in the way of the shrapnel and the bullets of war. The innocent, the non-combatants, are seen as collateral damage. The lessons of the past seem lost in the heat of battle; the proof of this can be seen in an endless litany of wars across the world during the past fifty years: Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan to name a few. Hatred not only fuels wars, it also fuels racism. Hate is alive and well in the land. Although death is a normal part of the human experience, sadly, too often, the Grim Reaper is the big winner in man's inhumanity to man.The tragedy of war and violence is that the impact for the survivors often can last a lifetime. The wounds from violence can be both physical and emotional. Society is beginning to realize the negative impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can be brought on by trauma caused by sexual assault, war, and a variety other causes. Sadly, suicide has become an option for too many people whom experience untreated PTSD. Tragically, war and violence dig their claws into the souls of their victims. In the land of ostriches, an Old Testament prophet would not be welcomed, but the job of a prophet or a poet is to speak the truth, regardless of the possible discomfort which it might bring to those preferring to bury their heads in the proverbial sand. Because my poetry is meant to enlighten and engage the soul of the audience, I am not concerned with presenting a soothing quality. The poems in the first six sections of Weaving A Wicked Web address some unpleasant topics; however, I close on a positive note; Lincoln was right about "our better angels." Yes, there is hope if we realize that the us-versus-them mentality is self- destructive because we are part of the same tapestry.When I write a poem about war, its nature and long-term impact, I invite the reader to peek behind killing's curtain, and these poems leave footprints on the long road home as I search for the beauty of this world that was murdered so long ago. My war experiences have impacted me both negatively and positively. For twenty-two years, I coped, sometimes in a negative manner, with the effects of my war experiences; however, all that which I had buried eventually came to the surface. Finally, I began to deal with my guilt, anger, hurt, alienation, and grief. Wrestling with the demons of my "Nam" experience has been difficult yet extremely rewarding. Shortly after my return from the war in 1968, I began writing about my experiences and how they had affected my life: hundreds of poems, a novel, and a memoir. Therapists refer to this as narrative therapy; I call it writing to come home.
