one cannot help start wondering
about some leaders' meandering
rather than take decisive measures
they pander to their selfish pleasures
claiming they are in full control
and never mind the rising toll
of deaths, infections, unemployed
during the crisis
                              they avoid
acknowledgment of actual danger
instead fan hate, divisiveness and anger
ignore all human suffering
but only aim at buffering
their own political survival

it seems high time for the arrival
of real statesmen who can stall
that deadly downward spiral
and save their nations
     from being driven
full speed into the wall

driving home to you
unfortunately I died
~ text said I love you


driving and texting
new car for graduation
~ hi guys guess what I'm


busy city streets
need to text spouse I'll be late
~ pedestrian hit


can't wait to see you
didn't see car stopped ahead
~ text never sent




© 2020 Mark Toney.  All rights reserved.

https://www.stoptextsstopwrecks.org

avoid military service
due to a bone spur
for which there is no evidence

have managed to tell
an average of 16.5 lies per day
since elected into office

slander possible opponents
and everybody else who
has a different opinion

divide their country
at a time when unity
were most desirable

sets police on peaceful protesters
just so they can pose for a photo-op
before a church flaunting a bible

but only for self-aggrandizement
    
     no prayer
     no empathy
for those who suffer most
    the victims of racist violence
    the thousands of deaths from the pandemic
        caused by his delayed actions
    the 20 millions of unemployed

people there are who
are simply too incompetent
to lead a country

Screams, screeches, groans and wails,
Brutalities, agonies, torture, and blood,
Tear Gases, pallet guns, bullets and bombs
Humanity sobs, world is falling apart

Kids are blinded
Men are jailed
Women are molested
The old are tortured

Luckily, you have food
Billions are starving
You have a warm blanket
Trillions live under the frigid sky

Dreams are murdered
Voices are  unheard
Wishes are being blurred
Every heart has become graveyard

Sweet melodies step down as Sighs take over the throne
Rainbow of Joy is washed by the deluge of tears
Soul of humanity becomes a pray of endless wild Forest of Wars
Even the Sun refuses to rise above the Plumb, snowy mountains

Yet you say world is beautiful??
For you are at peace….
Come out of your palace
You will see….
Sky painting itself red!
Butterflies renouncing their dreams
Birds with trimmed wings
Blood oceans, barren trees, burnt houses,
Teared eyes, and shattered bodies

Earth is ugly
Earth is savage
Earth is a cage
Earth is a jinxed place
                  (Paghunda Zahid)

The glen where felled men slept
Where the creek’s deep bed trembled, reeled
Where the green ferns, restless, crept
Where the breezes blew, flew, wheeled
Where the trees, the sweet elms wept
Where the gentle red wrens nested
Where the elks, when freed, then stepped
Where the fleet, serene deer rested
Where the scented bells were kept
Where the jeweled, fresh dew met green
The glen where felled men slept,
Where men were never seen

Irha woo……..;
A rhyme reserved and isolated to only tough days,
Days of war;
Moments of unclothed horror,
Unforgettable fables of black and red.
Irha woo……
The secret lover and admirer of vengeance.

Would a man scare a leaf tossed by the wind?
Should a man hurt a child, and still stop him from shedding tears?
As water evaporates from the surface of an ocean,
So has my fears and weaknesses hidden her paths from my heart.
Till the heavens are no more, never again will they venture out of their slumber.

You have laid claim on a treasure you can never possess.
You have dared a dark part of me,
One, even the devil, in his drunken state will never venture equality against.
You have treaded on a path that even the bravest of lions will never tread on.
Irha woo………
For this single and ultimate reason,
I will show you how fragile and brief humanity is.
I will lead you astray from the path of life,
And introduce you, to one that leads to the wilderness of eternity.

For light, I will shut you from,
And in the most horror-some darkness, that human nature haven’t imagine,
I will keep you.
Till the heavens are no more,
Never again, will you appear.

Muffled sobs and pretty crying
Dressed beautifully in black to stand by boxes treasure of the heart-
And to imagine it ripped out time and time again before the preacher starts- so start

Throw soil onto mahogany box all symbolic and sane- I don’t know if I’d do it the same
What to say? I’ve never been to ash funeral of bright summer day-
To stand and cry in laces dress smart suit hat on head- conceal the dreadful fact we are all now dead
To stand and cry in pain.

For the one million dollar, no! To little-
Precious delight lies safely on velvet  mattress
So pretty.
The dichotomy of two so contrasting so ironic-
Sad crying but sad and beautiful-
Dead and cold by dead- beautifully dead Wait!
Pampered face and fluffed chest- never start controversy of the contour on his face the pain on his lips her neck-
We try so hard to preserve and keep- why?

To not celebrate the day with all the broken hearted that bleed, for you left! So yes, cry.
Cry angry Cry sad Cry pretty beautiful
But remember always remember this end
The ritual made, was made one day over a few many days-
This end of the movement of life is all made by us.

So party-
                   For the ones that lived!
                                                  - and remember me.