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THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
Scattered on the earth but you are
brothers born just from one couple,
who were parents and you're kinsfolk,
who have hatred you can't control.
What can fill the hearts with rancour,
breeding lots of of Cains and Abels?
Some are killed and some are roaming
losing calmness, changed to remorse.
Countries are hostile to neighbours.
Each is building strongest borders.
Why do races split the planet
each endeavours to be stronger?
All that occurs when man's conscience
is replaced by selfish mentors.
They can make man hate his brothers,
placing weapons between nations.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
____________________________________
.
Scattered on the earth but you are
brothers born just from one couple,
who were parents and you're kinsfolk,
who have hatred you can't control.
What can fill the hearts with rancour,
breeding lots of of Cains and Abels?
Some are killed and some are roaming
losing calmness, changed to remorse.
Countries are hostile to neighbours.
Each is building strongest borders.
Why do races split the planet
each endeavours to be stronger?
All that occurs when man's conscience
is replaced by selfish mentors.
They can make man hate his brothers,
placing weapons between nations.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
____________________________________
.
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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The author encourages honest critique.
Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
9th Sep 2021 2:05pm
"All that occurs when man's conscience
is replaced by selfish mentors.
They can make man hate his brothers,
placing weapons between nations."
So mentors construct a barrier that separates one nation from another that's made out of weapons?
is replaced by selfish mentors.
They can make man hate his brothers,
placing weapons between nations."
So mentors construct a barrier that separates one nation from another that's made out of weapons?
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Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
9th Sep 2021 4:38pm
A very apt message, JZ. I read this as both literal and a metaphor for the fathers of countries who instill war behind their comfortable desks and send thousands of citizens off to potentially die on foreign lands.
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Re: Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
9th Sep 2021 4:47pm
It is quite apparent that you are confusing the importance of the subject and the quality of the poem.
Perhaps you'd care to go on to speak about how and why and where this piece displays poetic art.
Perhaps you'd care to go on to speak about how and why and where this piece displays poetic art.
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Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
9th Sep 2021 5:22pm
Thank you very much, very dear Ahavati. The products of selfishness can be limited, concerning individuals, and international concerning countries.
Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
9th Sep 2021 5:45pm
I wonder if you realize that when you say:
"... but you are
brothers born just from one couple,"
you give the impression that you were asserting that the brothers you speak of were born in a state of righteousness.
Is that what you were aiming at? Or were you intent to assert that all brothers (but not sisters?) can trace their origin back to a particular couple?
"... but you are
brothers born just from one couple,"
you give the impression that you were asserting that the brothers you speak of were born in a state of righteousness.
Is that what you were aiming at? Or were you intent to assert that all brothers (but not sisters?) can trace their origin back to a particular couple?
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Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
These lines
... you are
brothers born just from one couple,
who were parents and you're kinsfolk,
who have hatred you can't control.
are very muddled.
Isn't it tautologous to say that the couple who birthed the brothers are parents?
Did you mean to say "your kinsfolk"? If not, if you meant to say "you are kinsfolk" (presumably to the brothers' parents), it's difficult to see why you would do this since you'd be stating the obvious for no discernable reason. Why not say
"you are brothers born .. . from one couple and have hatred for them that you can't control."?
In any case, as your lines now stand, it's unclear who possesses the uncontrolled hatred that you speak of, the brothers or their parents, not to mention whom this hatred is directed towards.
And what's with the use of "who" twice within 2 lines?
... you are
brothers born just from one couple,
who were parents and you're kinsfolk,
who have hatred you can't control.
are very muddled.
Isn't it tautologous to say that the couple who birthed the brothers are parents?
Did you mean to say "your kinsfolk"? If not, if you meant to say "you are kinsfolk" (presumably to the brothers' parents), it's difficult to see why you would do this since you'd be stating the obvious for no discernable reason. Why not say
"you are brothers born .. . from one couple and have hatred for them that you can't control."?
In any case, as your lines now stand, it's unclear who possesses the uncontrolled hatred that you speak of, the brothers or their parents, not to mention whom this hatred is directed towards.
And what's with the use of "who" twice within 2 lines?
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Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
10th Sep 2021 9:34am
Dear Baldwin,
May l know why you criticize only Joseph Zenieh and you don't criticize any other poet to practise your criticism?
May l know why you criticize only Joseph Zenieh and you don't criticize any other poet to practise your criticism?
Re: Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
Why should I tell you this, even if it's true that you are the only person upon whom I "practice" my criticism? For after all, the issue isn't whose "work" I criticize, but whether or not my criticisms are valid and why it is that you don't attempt to show (not declare) how and why my remarks about the way you write (and how what you write is muddled) are off the mark?
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Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
10th Sep 2021 8:43pm
Correct your English, Baldwin. PRACTISE in British English is a verb, and PRACTICE is a noun. I think l used it as a verb. May you have another look? BTW, l use British English.
Re: Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
Speaking of correcting one's English (and ignoring the fact that your response is a red herring that focusses on a comparatively trivial matter), you might want to rethink the way you've worded your question to me. Given the meaning of "practise/practice", you end up saying that what I do when I "practice" criticism to perform an activity or exercise a skill repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain a proficiency in critiquing postings rather than make remarks that I intend to be taken seriously.
Practice or Practise–Which Spelling Is Right?
GRAMMAR
Practice with a C or practise with an S—which spelling is correct? In American English, practice is always right. In British English, whether practice or practise is the correct choice depends on its role in the sentence. How can you know which form to use?
In American English, practice may function as a noun or a verb. Regardless of its role in the sentence, the correct spelling is always practice with a C. In British and other non-American versions of English, spelling may vary depending on the function of the word. For example, if you are referring to what a doctor does, you would say that they practise medicine. You spell the verb form, practise, with an S. However, if you are referring to the the doctor’s business, you can use the noun form, practice with a C. Nevertheless, language is always changing. In some forms of English, such as Canadian English, practice with a C is becoming more popular for nouns and verbs.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/practice-practise/
Practice or Practise–Which Spelling Is Right?
GRAMMAR
Practice with a C or practise with an S—which spelling is correct? In American English, practice is always right. In British English, whether practice or practise is the correct choice depends on its role in the sentence. How can you know which form to use?
In American English, practice may function as a noun or a verb. Regardless of its role in the sentence, the correct spelling is always practice with a C. In British and other non-American versions of English, spelling may vary depending on the function of the word. For example, if you are referring to what a doctor does, you would say that they practise medicine. You spell the verb form, practise, with an S. However, if you are referring to the the doctor’s business, you can use the noun form, practice with a C. Nevertheless, language is always changing. In some forms of English, such as Canadian English, practice with a C is becoming more popular for nouns and verbs.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/practice-practise/
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Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
10th Sep 2021 8:43pm
Re. THE PRODUCTS OF SELFISHNESS
10th Sep 2021 8:46pm