Revival of the Phoenix

 According to Wordsworth, " Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feeling..." and who am I to argue with experience?

Revival of the Phoenix

 Beirut! And this time who’s to blame?

The answer is always the same.

It’s somebody, somewhere somehow,

Enemy lurking here and now.

But truly no one really knows

Or that’s just how the story goes.

 

The innocent scream out in pain,

But their cries no compassion gain,

From criminals just casting dice,

Jaws set tight, eyes colder than ice.

 

Starving families huddle in homes,

Or what is left of family homes.

The vivid scenes before them scream...

The cries and sirens are no dream

 

And in the dark and deafened night,

They look back on the day in fright,

The ugly blast that just took place,

And all around it left a trace.

 

Some smoke a fire then a blast,

A mushroom cloud and then so fast

Destruction! Panic! Confusion!

Conclusion! Of course intrusion!

 

In every home for miles around,

The blast and debris outward bound,

And inward struck without a sound,

Muted by screams of victims found.

 

Shattered glass and tangled masses,

The grim reaper through them passes.

Takes his lot from the carnage got,

Chuckling, as this is not the lot.

 

And in the streets the people scream,

And live a nightmare of a dream,

And people fly out of abodes,

And cars are driven off the roads.

 

Beirut is now one big bloodbath...

Caught in an insane aftermath

With people missing, dead, unknown,

And families searching for their own

 

And in the streets the bodies lie,

And orphans scream and parents cry.

Headless corpses scattered around...

Tattered bodies are also found.

 

Hospitals shattered by the blast,

Caring for hundreds arriving fast.

Crying for help and supplies too,

Counting on help from me and you.

 

Bodies in streets and rundown morgues,

Waiting still as the world records

Such madness! Quite avoidable!

But not in hands so incapable...

 

 Dear Lord! When will this nightmare end?

And leaders to their people bend,

To love and serve as posts decree,

That Lebanon once more strong be.

 

And Beirut reigns as she should reign,

And once again her crown regain,

Receiving guests from all around,

Her hospitality renowned.

 

And people live in dignity,

Working in their capacity,

On land, in offices, at sea

Happy in Lebanon to be...

 

Change is necessary for growth!

A clearing of the undergrowth

Of ages stifling the change,

And limiting one’s able range.

 

An umbilical cord to cut...

An inherited door to shut...

Clutter that needs be cleared away,

To plan the course of a new day

 

Posts are gained not inherited.

Understand you are entrusted

With our futures, our livelihoods

Our families, our earthly goods...

 

I choose you not for who you are,

But for what you’ll do, just how far

You’ll go to make a difference,

And provide our deliverance

 

Is this a dream? I sure hope not.

An ambition so dearly sought

A life worth living to die for:

Our human rights and nothing more...

 

And in the streets the people cry,

Hungry unemployed they ask why...

But their cries no compassion gain,

From thieves unhurt, not feeling pain.

  

Beirut! And this time who’s to blame?

Who cast your carcass on the flame?

Who cares? It’s time to spread your wings

And rise from the ashes of such things

As slavery to archaic thoughts

And clinging to outdated “ought”s

 

 Let’s name and shame, not play the game

We know already who’s to blame

It’s time for we have had enough

Of thieves, corruption and such stuff

 

The innocent scream out in pain

But their cries no compassion gain

From criminals just casting dice

Jaws set tight, eyes colder than ice.

 

Corruption, selfishness and greed,

Have formed the politician’s creed,

Promises too soon forgotten

After people’s votes are gotten  

 

And in the streets the families cry

Bodies are carried shoulder high

The dead are buried, put to rest

And now we face the final test.

 

Beirut! And this time who’s to blame?

Your carcass swallowed by the flame.

The choice is ours, the choice is yours,

The phoenix from the ashes soars

The choice is ours the choice is yours

Are we to just forget our sores?

 

The envy of the East and West,

Beirut you have been put to test,

And battled wars and earthquakes too,

And now you face distress anew.

 

The ashes from your carcass lie

Still smouldering under God’s blue sky

The question is: will you just die?

And cry and moan and whine and sigh?

 

Or will you from those ashes rise?

Taking Enemy by surprise?

And with those mighty wings exact

Justice for all in word and act

 

Beirut! And this time who’s to blame?

Who cast your carcass on the flame?

Who cares? It’s time to spread your wings

And rise from the ashes of such things

 Your majesty once more revealed

To strive to seek and not to yield

                 -----------------------

And in the streets the people pray

That they might all recall this day

The day the Phoenix chose to fight

And finally end the endless night...