In the middle of the World
this is where a poet
should be
Eyes, ears, heart wide open
in the middle of the world
the poet should be
not a pleasant place for sure
but, because
this is where he belongs
it's where the poet will be
Difficult isn't it
It's noisy in the world
it's polluted in the world
one can hardly breathe or see
The poet though, cannot avoid seeing
so big, so huge, so overwhelming
and spread all over the world:
injustice, war, racism, hunger
Mother Nature plundered
abused, day after day...
Humanity it seems
has chosen our time
to show its darkest side
A disgusting place indeed
this middle of the world
hardly a place for his muse
to be
but, because
it's where he belongs
that's where the poet will be
"The best place to be
is where you are now" *
In the middle of the world
where he is now
the poet will seek and find
a quiet dwelling within himself
to pose and to reflect
and pray god for the strength
to keep alive his call
This peaceful place will teach him
where to find and how to sing
the hidden beauty of his time
Poetry, always, has sung Beauty
the beauty of nature, the beauty of
human feelings, the beauty of human work
the beauty of the victory
of man over himself
Poetry went to the barricades
singing then, the beauty of human rights
Poetry, since the darkness of Time
sings the Beauty of the infinite
Love of God for his Creation
What will the song of the poet be
as we reach the end of the 20th Century
The poet, solitary in his dwelling
but a man of his century
will see, coming to life
the consciousness of the world
In the plundering of the earth
he will read the denial
Remembering the Lotus Flower
the poet will lend his voice
to the aspirations of his time
The darker the night
the brighter the day
In the middle of the world
the song of the poet
will bring Light and Justice
will bring friendship
among nations, among races
will convey understanding
between cultures and religions
because his poetry
will be in praise of Knowledge
and of the exchange of Knowledge
his poetry will be
a never ending hymn of amazement
for the every day renewed
beauty of nature around us
for the every day renewed
beauty of the Human Soul
The song of the poet will be
a never ending hymn of wonder
for the tranquil beauty of
simple things around us
How beautiful the song of the poet
when in praise of a simplelife
in which generosity means
a word that brings peace
a simple life
in which human values
are restored and prevail
in which wealth means health
and peace of mind
and piece of hart
The song of the poet
will be a song
of Compassion
a song of Love
What other song could bring
in the middle of the world
a renewal to this jewel
of the human spirit
which is called
Civilization
* says Korean poet Ku Sang in a poem
Dante Illuminating Florence with His Poem -- Domenico di Michelino
