These are dread times we're experiencing. This pandemic war we rage against each other.

Stand firm, for why you were born

Focus on your certainty, do not be torn

They warned of slogans and of war

And today, here they are

In the face of viral distractions

Hold your position and keep traction

Bear the brutality every day

Holding fast to your vital way

Healthy Body, Strong mind and clean spirit

Slow tongue, measured movement and sharp wit

Your business to mind, no time to mind mine

Our paths will cross at some point in time

I make my choices, you make yours too

To fall in, or stay out of line cos that’s what we do

But be careful, if you slip you slide

From your decision you can’t hide

Don’t own the need ‘cos it’s a lie

And always always ask why

Understand and love your root

Accept and respect the real truth

That’s when we will understand

Yourself man, is your law and your land

Anger and confusion fade away

To pity us who have lost the way

No weight in our actions, just words in a line

Like trying to understand the sound of the color nine

The few war with the many and the many war among themselves

The virus is a trending, trailing vaccine on the shelves

Something else to think about

Yet another cause to shout

From gentle coercion of hunger pangs

To the violent demons born of momma’s fangs

To sexes, and textes, and exes in boxes

And bosses who flosses while some feel the losses

And time it just passes like gasses from asses

Cracked spirits in glasses to splinter the masses

Those who rattle the box

Will their own key to the locks

Crack it open and break

Downed barriers at stake

Have the balls to blow when it sucks

And I could go on but I won’t

For some can do better but don’t

While some will sit tense

On every man’s fence

Thinking it safe defence

So all you can do for you

To thine own self be true

The seed that was sown, the way you were grown

Is what will take you through

Comments

Toni Newton (author) from Barbados, W.I. on February 21, 2021:

Thank you Janis. Really appreciate your kind words. You Hubbers are AWESOME!!!

Janis Leslie Evans from Washington, DC on February 21, 2021:

Bravo, bravo, bravo, Antoinette! Powerful expression of our state of being. Love it a lot. Thank you for sharing.

Toni Newton (author) from Barbados, W.I. on February 21, 2021:

Hey John. Nice! Thanks for reading. That's good eh? They say life is serious, and it is...but laughter and wit are good arms to bear through life's journey:-)

John Hansen from Queensland Australia on February 21, 2021:

Excellent work Toni. A very poignant piece of poetry and serious subject matter, but I could not help laughing at a few lines. Great job.

Toni Newton (author) from Barbados, W.I. on February 21, 2021:

Thank you for reading. Glad to know we can still inspire each other. I feel somehow as though humanity now focuses on "differences" as bothersome glitches to be controlled, rather than being in awe of each other when our paths do cross.

Toni Newton (author) from Barbados, W.I. on February 21, 2021:

Thank you Manatita. You are a wise, generous soul and I am blessed by your comments.

manatita44 from london on February 21, 2021:

An exquisite piece!

Somehow, it reminded me of this two lines from a illumined soul:

Only two things are to be taken seriously:-

Self-discovery and God-mastery."- Sri Chinmoy

Millicent Okello from Nairobi, Kenya on February 21, 2021:

Hello Toni Newton.

Wow. I must say that i am impressed. Marvellous. The poem inspires at this time of difficulties.

Those who rattle the box

Will their own key to the locks

Crack it open and break

Downed barriers at stake