United, We Stand

👏👏👏👏👏
Greatness on paper i mean screen.

Aww, you really think so, poetic? 😊❤️
I try... Heh. I definitely spent a little more time with this one than its companion, so I'm glad that you liked it!  

Thanks so much for your continued support. I appreciate you very much!

Ooops....... Now i did...
Im multitasking.
Reading , commenting, eating and watching mission impossible  saturday maraton..😁

Wow, all at once lol. Such a talented lady :p

First of all the first paragraph has me In tears..
I adore your soft and raw hand...
U dear wonderful man have a piece of my soul ...
Absolutely love your perspectives oh man!
Listed with pleasure NB
Loves you brother ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Jackie xxxxx

Oh, wow! I was moved when I read your touching words... Thank you so much for your kindness and your flattery. You're too sweet! You must be a sensitive person like me, heh... 😊

I am so glad that you connected with me on this one! Thanks for stopping by to read and comment!! It really does mean a lot to me 👃

Much love ❤️

-NewB

Dear NB,

Speechless, that’s what I am. Mind you this is not how anyone would define me either ;-). This piece is art and beautiful. And so true. We waste so much energy on focusing about differences we neglect the fact we are all so very similar. You have captured that fact brilliantly. Well done! H🌷  

You defining my poetry as a piece of art which rendered you speechless is quite a compliment, H! You don't have to flatter me, heh :)

Thank you so much for your kind words and readership! It means a lot to me ❤️
This community is great; the great amount of love and support that I've received on here is impossible to ignore, and has certainly improved my cynicism a bit!
It's great to have so many people from so many different places agree on a common message. It really makes me hopeful for our future 😊

Hope you are right NB, but I'm an old rolly polly buddhakitty and its difficult to think people will treat each other with respect and common human dignity.


hugs,
buddhakitty.

Hey, Buddha! Thanks for stopping by again to read and comment!

Hey, pigs could fly someday too, eh? Lol
No, but seriously, as I said in a previous comment, this community has actually improved my cynicism. "Being around" more like-minded individuals helps a lot. And... Whether the rest of the world is willing to cooperate or not, I will continue to treat humans with the decency and respect that they deserve :)

Anyway, best wishes to you, and have a great night!

-NewB

If poems make change....

You are a big mover. ❤️🏅

A poem can only do much... my actions must speak in place of this poem :)

I am honored by your RL and your kind words... I am touched to be able to make you feel inspired! ❤️

That is such a great thing of you to do, sunsettown. I'm glad you found this poem to be pertinent, and worthy of the competition. Thank you so much!! You are too kind :)

It means a lot to me that you continue to stop by to read and support my poetry. It is much appreciated!

I wish so much this would come to pass...I think we can just all do what we can to make it happen.

Oh, man, would that not be just the most wonderful thing? We can only hope, and work on ourselves as individuals in the meantime... :)

Thank you so much for stopping by, Altair... your readership and contribution to this discussion are much appreciated!

If words could only change the actions. Brilliant write NB!

Awww, thanks so much, Goddess :)
I try my best to practice what I preach: kindness and acceptance
I slip sometimes, but we all do, eh? Anyway, I appreciate you stopping by again, and I'm pleased that you enjoyed this one!

I really liked this poem good job
This isn’t to offend anyone at all just an idea
it Really paints a picture of what happened is happening and sadly what will keep happening for some time.
I feel as though religion will be a thing of the past soon enough.
it’s a social normal at the moment just like how burning witches, racism, slavery,
women not voting till the 1920s, segregation...ect
At the time it was social standard normal.
but looking back now we see how truly misguided our beliefs actually were,
in 200 years maybe they’ll teach 7th graders
how their ancestors burned witches, had slaves, and how many people died alone in The Jewish holocaust, Armenian holocaust, in the Middle East all just from a simple belief there’s hope after we close our eyes the last time
Sorry it’s so long

Dear 0UTPUT_a_AURA,

There is no need to apologize for your lengthy comment - I really appreciate it actually; a good discussion is always nice! I understand what you are saying, and your speculations are interesting, to say the least. Who knows what the future may hold, really? It's still a pretty widespread thing though, and as crises rise in frequency, I don't really see people abandoning religion, as it's an emotional safety net for most people. In the face of death, most people, even non-religious tend to pray,

Thanks again for your contribution to this discussion - I truly appreciate you stopping by to read and comment...

Best wishes,

- NewB

You are right about that there is no such thing as a atheist In a foxhole, in dark low times everyone really wants to believe life isn’t this simple, fast, inevitable For no reason.  

I have a scenario that’d test humanity individually  
Let’s Say a breakthrough in technology that allows consciousness to be transferred into a computer  
For free pretty much live for ever  
they would put each person in a simulated experience of what their afterlife’s heaven would look like.
Before that person dies they chose if they want their conscience in the simulation or have faith in their religion  

My question is this,  
does this person facing certain soon death  
chose the for sure thing, with a guarantee  
to see everyone they love and live happily forever  
Or  
do they gamble on everything to lose for all eternity And die hoping their religion was real?

That is an interesting speculation, and you are very thoughtful and creative to have thought all of that out. A thought experiment!

I think the choice the person makes world depend on how strong their blind trust, or faith, is... Those with strong faith would choose to put their faith in God rather than man. It would definitely be interesting to see how that one would play out.

Thanks for your interesting ideas, output...!

PHENOMENAL!!!

Thank you so much for your RL entry add and your flattering comment! I'm so glad that you thought so, Ragnar! Your kind comment made me smile. I truly appreciate the readership :)

Very nicely done, wow. You are so good at writing beautiful and meaningful poetry. Thx F.

Thanks so much for your kind words, Fetchitnow. I am glad that you were able to find meaning in this. That makes me happy :)

Your continued readership and support are greatly appreciated!

Just what I needed to read ... feel this morning ... bravo my dear ...

I am pleased that I was able to brighten your morning... makes me feel good :)

Thank you so much for your kind comment and RL... it is really good to see you around!

the optimist in me adores this... the cynic (that bitch) is off on an internal rant iro how deeply carved the divide is.
it's rather schizophrenic.
much enjoyed.

Well, this poem ought to have been perfect for you...
There's this one, which is more positive,
and then there's "Divided, We Fall" which is simpler and a bit more negative. I try to keep my cynicism at bay, but it tends to rear its ugly head from time to time, regardless. Thank you for your heartfelt comment, shadoe :)

I wish this were true but the sad facts are people love to hate, to find faults in others to make themselves look better. It's ego driven and based on fear...I do my part but I'm worried about the rest of the world.

Hey Tim, it's good to see you here again :)

I definitely agree with you there. This divisive nature is certainly an integral part of us, perhaps a primal one, even. Maybe it's not something we will ever be able to overcome, but I haven't lost hope yet.

Fortunately, there are many of us who keep their egos in check; and although it's probably not the majority, it's still nice to see, and it reduces my cynicism.

I worry, too, though Tim... I really do. I can't control anyone else, but I can positively impact others, and I will continue to do my part! Thank you for doing the same!

Best wishes,

-NewB

The one thing we have in common is that we all have differences!

Heh, we have much more in common than that too... we just have to focus on the similarities instead of the differences.

Thanks for the RL adds + your comments... It means a lot, Viddax!

I'm truly lost for words this is truly how bad the world has gotten that we aren't even together as one unit. The world is so divided and so much heart ache is going on the we are losing sight in God himself. I must say you have preached nothing but the truth in this declaration and if we do stand together think of how at peace the world would be. Not only this generation but generations to come. Thank u for this piece and I am looking forward to read more from u.✊🏽✊🏽

Hey LibraSoul, thanks so much for your RL and comment. It's good to see so many people here who are on the same page (no pun intended) lol. I appreciate you :)

I can only hope that things get better... Here are some thoughts I had:

I honestly think technology is partially to blame for the disconnect. Technology, social media, the media in general, and the rise of cell phones gives us a false sense of community and connectedness. Instead of interacting with people in person, we stay behind a screen. Our news feeds are designed to show us mostly the things we like, and not much else, so we don't get properly exposed to the diversity of ideas that exist outside of our little bubbles... Creating a more narrow-minded view of the world. So, for example, Facebook has classified me as a liberal, so I see less posts that are considered conservative by Facebook.

Most of the time, too, if people are just standing around, rather than socialize and interact with actual humans, we disengage into our 'bubbles' on our cell phones to avoid this important human interaction...

And as for the actual media, it seems there is a bias for bad news... They aren't thing to show you all of the great things going on in the world, they're going to show you the worst of the worst, usually. Many of the major news outlets seem to be moving toward more opinionated views; rather than staying objective and reporting the news as is, they are pushing a certain agenda... And then, instead of reading and discussing this news with actual people, we read what people on social media have to say about it... Rather than doing our own research.

... That is only part of it, and I'm sure there's more to it than I can imagine.

Anyway, best wishes,

-NewB

Your not lying, everything u just said in this response is 100% facts. I'm apart of the generation Z era so I know 1st hand about my generation being social media and cell phone bound that they actually get out of touch of what reality truly offers. That they rather just text somebody then simply pick up the phone or actually physically see a person.  I personally feel that some social media outlets have tainted the minds of the youths bad and poisoned their minds to live based off societies standards and not their own.No problem this piece truly deserved to be added in my RL category. Oh and thanks for following me as well👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

SNap SNap ->WELL • done
Sorry were Never done BRAVO 👏

Thank you, sunlite, for your "applause" lol
I'm really glad that you get it...

Oh, and thanks so much for stopping by to read and comment!

NP

Beautifully elucidated NB, a really sweeping and penetrating insight into the zeitgeist. In your comments as well. Thank you for being here with us. Namaste. 💖

That's a beautiful comment, Daniel :)
So nice of you to stop by to share some love! I very much appreciate you! I'm so glad that you enjoyed this poem, and that it resonated with you. Thank you for being here as well - you are a light in the community, for sure :)

Best wishes,

- NewB

This is really great wisdom in effective rhymes, a hopeful approach to the new year..

Why, thank you kindly, PoetsRevenge! It's very nice of you to stop by to spread some positivity... I am so glad that you enjoyed the poem, and I truly appreciate your kind words! You're awesome :)

I really enjoyed this poem. It's well written and the structure is consistent,  an area I lack in when it comes to stanzas so I like this. Most of all i like the message in the poem. I'm moved by it.

Bluphoria… I am pleased to hear that you were moved by my poem. There are so many people that are saying the same, and it warms my heart that so many people feel the same. I love that! It truly shows that unity exists in some form or fashion. Your heartfelt comment is truly appreciated. You are very kind - thank you for your compliments, and for stopping by to read :)

Best wishes,

- NewB

Hey Ruben!

Thank you for your thoughtful analysis! It is much appreciated, and your compliments are very nice. You're dang right it's what the world needs... And we need it now, more than ever! If we could all come together we can change the world :)

I appreciate you stopping by,

-NewB

Thank you, Olivia!
Your kind words put a smile on my face! I'm so happy that you liked the poem. I poured my heart into this one ❤️
I really appreciate you stopping by again! It means a lot 😊

Nicely done, we are more alike than different, behind our shrouds.

Precisely the message which I aimed to get across :)

Thanks so much for stopping by to read and comment, TIG! You're awesome!

☝💜💜💜

I'm glad that this resonated well with you, Naomi! Thanks so much for the RL and comment 👍❤️

I would say I'm surprised to see so much response in such a short amount of time, but it's totally deserved. The message is both relevant to today's state of division, and so eloquently put. I cannot fight the critic in me: I wish the ABAB rhyme scheme didn't break, and that the syllables made for a more fluid, rhythmic read, but there is no room for musicality if you must sacrifice the truth to create it. You have earned more of my respect and no doubt, a regular pair of eyes on your page.

PS - shed a little light on a guy would ya ;)

Hey there, Benzy!

Thanks so much for your kind compliments... And most of all, your honest criticism. Believe it or not, I actually used to be rather obsessed with having the "perfect" poem. Some of my older poetry had near-perfect syllabillic harmony and rhyming structure...

I guess I just loosened up a little bit, and just realized that oftentimes I ended up losing the passion and emotion, and even some of the message, by getting too caught up on all the technicalities, and trying to be perfect structurally. It's been an interesting journey for me as a poet!

I really liked what you said here:
"there is no room for musicality if you must sacrifice the truth to create it." Pretty much a less wordy version of what I just said, lol. That sentence resonated well with me :)

Lastly, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a well thought out comment. Your kind compliments made me smile. You are very kind. And even your criticism is appreciated! 😊

Best wishes,

-NewB

Haha, "Newb"...I'd have called you a veteran based on your work, but I guess if you wanna stick with Newb, that works too ;)

"Instead of embracing similarities,
We see a disparity between each other."

How about we also acknowledge and celebrate these differences that we see, because truth be told, I can earn a lot from you as unique person and you can also learn a lot from me, as a unique person. Why should then these differences separate us?

This is a powerful piece and goes straight to the heart. We are one! I have a lot of Rastafarian friends who always say  
"One Luv Brada Marn. One Luv" and it always brightens my day when they greet me this way.  

"One love, one heart. Let's get together and feel all right" -Bob Marley

One thing I strive for in my day is to accept and embrace the similarities we have but also to accept and embrace our differences.  

All our blood is red, right?

NuBorn,

Thanks so much for your continued support!

You make a very good point, and I agree with you. We ought to celebrate the differences, but to do so we must come together. Diversity is so important to our society, and is important, genetically, as well! I also agree that we can learn a lot from one another... We all have our own unique perspectives to share, and as long as we keep open minds and hearts towards eachother, we can continue to learn and educate others to help to eradicate ignorance and hate.

I enjoyed what you said about your Rastafarian friends. It is a good message, indeed. Bob Marley had a great vision for the world... A great message to share.

"One thing I strive for in my day is to accept and embrace the similarities we have but also to accept and embrace our differences."

That is a beautiful statement, NuBorn. I hope more of us can do that 😊 

Much love ❤️

-NewB

Wow absolutely amazing. Would love share this onto my Facebook 💓🌟

Feel free to share, Shannon :)
I think this is a message that everyone should hear!

Thanks for stopping by... And I'm so glad you liked it ❤️

Just so you know I had already read this and was blown away. I didn't know what to say then I saw how many people liked it as well and at that point well yeah. This is extremely well written. War isn't just people dying. War is internal struggle. War is fighting for everything you got. We all get so caught up that we don't think about all the little things. Because all these little things become big things. In actual war, you choose who you would trust your life to. You believe they will have your back no matter what the cost. In real life we have family and some friends. We might not be putting our lives on the line but we still tend to keep to ourselves over things. Because war isn't just physical. It is mental, emotional, and extremely long. The truth is we all fight our own war. Some a little bit more but the point stands. We all are afraid of each other and that is where the true reason for war comes into play. It is pride, distrust, or just pure selfishness. People will unite and people will separate. But at the end of the day we all matter

Thank you for that really well thought out comment... And I'm so glad I could inspire your latest poem :)

I love your wordplay I love your imagery great poem overall I love your rhyme scheme keep up the great work

Malcolm, you are too kind! I always appreciate and value your feedback, and I'm really happy that you loved this one :)

Thanks so much for continuing to stop by to read my poems, and for your kind compliments... You're awesome, brother!

Holy moly NewB.
Wow! I mean stunning my dear.
We could be one unified persona. When all people start treating children with the power of love. I believe it starts there. With all of our future children.
Thank you for asking me to read this. I have been offsite awhile and this is powerful in its entirety.

Awww, you are too sweet, Lagertha! Thank you so much for your kind words of wisdom. You made me think of a song. Are you familiar with the song, "The Greatest Love Of All"? There are several versions, but I like the "alternate version" that Whitney Houston did... If you aren't familiar with the song, I think you would like it. The lyrics are as follows:

"I believe that children are the future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier,
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be"
It goes on to talking about self love... Overall just a great message  ❤️

https://youtu.be/y42g_eCiLlI

Anyway, it's really good to see you around again! Thanks for your incredible compliments! 😊

Simple, truthful, powerful. Well done 👍

Hey Adzy!

Thanks for stopping by to read and comment! I'm thrilled that you, and so many others, have provided such awesome feedback on my poetry. It really gives me hope for humanity to see that so many of us want the same thing.

Best wishes,

-NewB

An anthem of hope for our beleaguered age. This flowed perfectly as my eyes scanned each line. A truly great read for this lonely night.

John

Hey Goldenmyst,

I try to motivate and inspire others. It makes me feel good, and gives me purpose... I try to remain hopeful :)

It's pretty awesome to see so many people on here with similar feelings. The discussion on here is great! It's clear that we can all agree that we need to do better. Now, we just have to take action!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Your kind comment and readership is appreciated!

Best wishes,

-NewB

This would probably sound good as a read out loud performance, because it has a good rhythm.

Perhaps could have a little smoothing here  and there, by adding and subtracting occasional syllables

This would probably sound good as a read out loud performance, because it has a good rhythm.

Perhaps could have a little smoothing here  and there, by adding and subtracting occasional syllables

Thank you for that honest critique... although it was very well-received as is, I agree that my works always have room for improvement ;)

I appreciate your kind words, SeaCat, and I appreciate you stopping by my page again!

Truly an outstanding piece worthy of praise and prize for the comp. Congratulations NB, you really have written something wonderful that represents the harmony of the human spirit filled with hope for a better tomorrow.
Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for sharing this link! Standing ovation!

you're very concise in your message without compromising the pace or rhyming.