RICHARD DOIRON

RICHARD DOIRON

Credo

Speak in simple terms.

Seek to be understood.

Strive for clarity.

And be patient.

Keep an open mind, and

show empathy. Be kind.

The world needs gentleness.

Touch it with loving hands.

Remember: where you go,

others have surely gone,

as others will surely follow.

Cry, if you must, but seek,

after, the laughter.

When you balance things,

you will always find more good

than bad, more laughter

than tears, more joy

than sorrow.

This is your world, and

the world is also what you

make it. It is all quite

simple, really - as simple

as the terms you use.

Go, then, and speak softly.

-Richard Doiron ©

The Falacies Of War

A pantoum

For all the wars we’ve ever fought

There’s not a boast that we can make

We can pretend it’s peace we’ve sought

But this is flawed for heaven’s sake

There’s not a boast that we can make

When blood runs red across the lands

When we can’t count the lives we take

Such bloody stains upon our hands

When blood runs red across the lands

We can’t deny our dirty deeds

Such bloody stains upon our hands

And that’s the way it surely reads

We can’t deny our dirty deeds

The truth will out at every turn

If hell we reap we sow the seeds

It goes to show we never learn

The truth will out at every turn

It matters not we’d try to hide

Our world’s aflame we see it burn

Let fools be proud it’s foolish pride

It matters not we’d try to hide

There’s no escape from what we’ve done

Let fools be proud it’s foolish pride

There’s not a war that’s ever won

-Richard Doiron ©

What Matters Most

What matters most in life is that we'd live

the golden rule, our neighbour loved as we,

forgiveness sought, as well as we'd forgive,

the path we walk that shows us good and free.

Some people sweat the little things we know

but this one's not the mode to emulate,

to think in terms of what they'd have to show

when comes the day they're standing at the Gate.

The measured mile demands our very best

and that implies the passion that's pursued,

revealed in this the dreams that are addressed,

left food for thought the favoured kind of food.

Material things could never matter most

when Spirit speaks of beauty, not of boast.

-Richard Doiron ©

#5500 in series

Prayer For The Times

O Mother Earth, aggrieved before our eyes,

disasters wrought we need to recognize

as caused by us (custodians here to keep

alive the dream and not to make you weep),

forsake us not despite our woeful ways -

in measures yet extending of our days -

the Universe that's witnessing it all

aggrieved yet more perchance we'd fully fall!

O Father Sky, above us through the years,

let gentle rain replace the tortured tears,

awash the whole in gentleness anew

that we may stop the damage that we do,

tomorrow's world to prod on the spot

that we may take but that which you allot

and not to think that what we do is sound

who'd desecrate a single inch of ground!

O Brother Wind, now stirring up the trees,

induce us all to fall upon our knees,

revived in us the mandate where we prayed

in thankfulness where every bed was made,

the seasons come upon us as of old

brought back to mind the stories we were told

at Elders' knees whereby the river's run

no boasts to make before our Brother, Sun!

O Sister Moon, who link with us at night,

that we may pause yet linger in the light,

your silent sweep to meditate upon

and get a grip before the night is gone,

remain with us whence shadows would abide

perceived the tomb our only place to hide,

deferred the plaint that otherwise propones

a bottom line that bares our very bones!

O Gracious God, Creator said Supreme,

as Prophets speak in daring yet to dream,

each one in turn a message that's sublime

at Your command and suited to the time,

awaken us till everyone has heard

the sacred sound that is Your every word,

the first of which impels the loving lease,

the last of which is Everlasting Peace!

-Richard Doiron ©

A World Of Difference

In a world

of misunderstanding

the spirit of giving may be

eyed with suspicion,

exuberance may be seen

as bravado, and vision

may be deemed as folly.

In a world

that understands,

the music will be heard,

the dance will be experienced,

the poetry will be read, and souls

will be stirred no end.

The world

of the former

is rife with shadows

and little of consequence

happens there,

while the world of the latter

is rife with sunshine,

the same reflected

in the eyes,

observed in the gait,

heard in the laughter.

RICHARD DOIRON

RICHARD DOIRON: Canadian poet, published 56 years. Participant in national and international literary festivals. Work read at the UN University for Peace. Winner of numerous international awards; work published in over 100 books, anthologies, periodicals. Estimated 1000 poems published. Author of tens of thousands of poems, including over 5500 sonnets alone.