Ziggurats tower high above the world of diplomats and bureaucrats,
Above the clouds of earthen concerns of loud crowds of plutocrats,
Above republicans, democrats, and dealers in their corporate habitats,
Reaching up to heavenly borders where gods reside and angels abide,
Far from the clamor of dramatic glamour with no enamor, no upside,
And will we have to descend from this place we cannot comprehend
But love for the peace it affords to bind our chords to the world again?
Bent beneath a load of care, you dare to smile a mile wide,
And let nothing get you down, no frown for you, tis true!
And you dance in the rain, prance through big puddles
To muddle things up a bit, then you laugh, split half your side
To abide in your self-made heaven . . . You dare to smile
And he’ll keep me warm and safe tonight against this unholy, frozen blight,
Frightening though it be for me, tightening of the throat, and face whitening,
You can trace the lines of fear of things far and near, and in my heart hear terror,
Except for the wings that cover me, bringing calm peace, singing serenity,
Giving me new identity in an absurd outpouring of love, mercy and grace.
When peace flows below like the subterranean river
And makes you quiver with delight in sight of everyone
Blessed are you so truly among the mortal throngs
Ne’er to be wrong in any choice, only reason to rejoice
Oh the price you pay today for happiness without satisfaction
For your joy is not joy, just a toy with which to fiddle like a riddle
But you can never solve this puzzle since you muzzled Wisdom
And drove her into the ground without a sound, pound for pound,
And you’ve taken leave of your sense, sit in a corner and grieve,
While fair young Peace stands ready to give you new lease on life
Not rife with pain without gain and no strife, gift of gold not cold
If only you’ll make bold to kneel and kiss his tender, lovely feet
And wrap tightly round him, within him, bound to him forever
And to never pay so high a price for what only looks to you nice
From where does evil come, to lurk so deep in the human heart?
From where or whom was born the dark art, this diabolic part?
Why does humanity so suffer, and where is the heavenly buffer?
Why so much sin that begins again and again with no end in sight?
And how do we fight our depraved nature, light our own dark path?
Why so many white-washed sepulchers in endless rows in sight?
And who hears the newborn cries of life as another aged dies alone?
Mark an appeal to the God of mercy amid the controversy of existence
In persistent chase after an answer without resistance, but assistance,
But how shall we know that holy quiesce never having tasted peace?
So comes the Prince of Peace to grant us lease on an eternity of serenity,
And joy without tears, fear, spears of war and battle gear for earthen drear
That day comes when love wins over hate, light begins to shine in darkness,
When goodness triumphs ore the bad, and gloom and sadness disappear
From the heart of humanity, and reason drives out all wrecking insanity,
And this day we work toward that so that day will, indeed, come to succeed,
And we cannot grow weary, frightened, or dismayed but advance with cheer
And determination in reclamation of our collective salvation . . . this day,
Then that day will surely come when love wins over hate, light ore darkness,
When the final fight is won, and faith, peace and goodness reign supreme
Crying for peace, churning for goodwill, chasing another year
And will I see you there on the flipside, new ways in new days
Can we put our hearts on the line again to begin again, new again
And trust heaven will rain down on our drought-stricken souls
And leaven our sleep with better dreams, cream of the gods
After tears flowing for years to hear now a promise door open
To an altogether better future of love and nurture
And blessings from above
Bullets fly, blood flows, and screams ascend to shatter the peace of heaven
As we leaven our lives with sacrificed innocence unattended by penitence
In wars we fight day and night, continuing the horrifying plight of people
All this world over, sending children to graves enslaving their very souls
Till at last we battle for peace in a peaceful combat without mad violence
In quietness yet with determination to save ourselves from extermination
No matter opposition from proprietors of conflict inflicting pain for gain
And surely splendid love in all her glory will heal this war-weary world
There’ll be no more turning away from the weak and weary
I am here with all power from the higher regions of heaven
To leaven your life with light and life, love, truth and beauty
To fulfill my sacred duty to serve all people with no reserve
And I see your eyes and hear your cries before all love dies
And I know your pain with no gain in life or in immortality
And the seeming banality of your humdrum daily existence
As you persist in trying to find meaning with little resistance
And I’m here for you to do for you what you can’t do for me
To place my hands on your head to make a bed for serenity
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Pink Floyd for inspiring this poem with their song, “On the Turning Away.”
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