Something Better

It's hard not to look at the stupidity all around and not feel angry. I am no saint. Anger tore a gash in my side and settled in my stomach. But although it tries to burble up my throat when I speak, it doesn't have my mind, nor will it ever take my heart.

I have enough rage
to burn, but it won't help us.
Love's the only way
to smash a cycle of hurt
so something better can grow.

Song Choice: For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield

This poem was created for Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads' prompt, Wordy Friday with Wild Woman: Staying Strong in a World of Climate Crisis.


Love by Robert Indiana

72 comments:

  1. Yes, only love - and action - can save us now. And hopefully voting, if they can un-rig the process.

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    1. I find love is a good motivator for action, that goes for voting and working with groups that are actively combating things like gerrymandering.

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  2. Beautiful, Rommy. Uplifting. Difficult to do. xoxo

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  3. Love is indeed the most powerful of feelings and actions - happy new year to you

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  4. This is a very wise perspective to take. There is a lot to be angry about, but creative problem solving is a better long-term solution.

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    1. Exactly. Without love, there won't be a long-term worth planning for (or any long-term at all).

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  5. Hey, what IS that sound? Imagine.

    Great, uplifting message. Thanx.

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    1. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...

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  6. Love. that is inded the only things.

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    1. Anger and resentment shrink away when we recognize the humanity of others in their suffering find compassion.

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  7. Replies
    1. So, so very difficult. Especially for a hothead like me! :D But I can't not try.

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  8. That’s a great song choice, Rommy, and I felt the anger in your words, especially the gash and the burbling, which are familiar these days, even when we know how true it is that ‘love's the only way to smash a cycle of hurt so something better can grow’.

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    1. I root for my better angels to have the last words in the end.

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    2. I can understand those flashes of rage, Rommy, and how they cause a kind of indigestion of the soul – although they also give me physical gyp!

      Thank you for sharing an old favourite song of mine – I haven’t heard it for a while.

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  9. Love can do wonders. There is sooo much hate in our world today. Greed and hate tears down years of good works.
    ..

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  10. Rage is a needy fuel. It can help us move through life, but it can also burn too much (if we aren't forever vigilant. And who wants to live like that?). Love is always the way.

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    1. I'm too busy to baby-sit rage all the time, so I let love take over whenever possible.

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    2. Rage is like fire, isn't it? Fuel it too much and everything burns. Including us.

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    3. Yes, that's it exactly. And that's coming from someone who is often charmed by a fire. When it's controlled, when it has purpose, fire is a wonderful thing. But when it isn't/ doesn't...

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  11. Yes, Love is the only way! Big Hugs!

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  12. Replies
    1. Wretchedly, almost impossibly so on some occasions!

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  13. Much wisdom here Rommy.
    Love is the only way.
    Anna :o]

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    1. It's the best way to give something a fighting shot at lasting

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  14. It feels like a karmic bond is about to be set free and reunite again in new form, with love galore.

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    1. I hadn't seen that aspect to it, but that's pretty cool. :)

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  15. This is beautifully evocative, Rommy!💝 Love is always the way to go.

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    1. I think we should at least consider what love has to offer, yes.

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  16. I can feel the roiling! How rage lives in the stomach, but not the heart and mind. Something that can be swallowed and held down. Love the best tonic.

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    1. Held in check, swallowed, and harnessed, yes. But you're right that without that dose of love, all you'll have is indigestion.

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  17. to smash a cycle of hurt
    so something better can grow.

    Love comes away as a conduit so that its benefits can easily get better and better as it gets through it!

    Hank

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  18. As a person that ignores the adage: "slow to anger..." I need a reminder once in a while. Thank you, Rommy.

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    1. Yeah, I'm not always super successful at it too

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  19. So many of us are looking for something better to grow where now there is only death and destruction!

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    1. Hopefully there's enough anger to change looking to action, and enough love to know that a scorched earth doesn't yield much food.

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  20. I understand and feel your rage. Sometimes, I just don't know how to love enough to make a difference. I guess those of us who love must stay strong to overshadow the hatred that exists.

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    1. It's really hard for me too a lot of days. It helps when I start thinking of the things I love and want to protect. Then I get up and do The Good Things as I call them, and try to let my love for the people in my life eclipse the anger.

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  21. I love your positive affirmation .... and I join you in spreading the love.

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  22. Anger has always been my strongest emotion & I am consistently amazed by those who can suppress it to get something done (or fixed).

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    1. I fail at suppressing it. I can harness it. Use it to get to where I want to be. Of course, the trouble is keeping on top of it so it serves me and not the other way around.

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  23. Love indeed
    Happy Sunday Rommy

    Much❤🌷❤love

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  24. I think we need some rage in the world today... if it can be channeled correctly it's where our strength is

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    1. Channeled correctly, I completely agree. We need it. But I know that focusing on rage all the time isn't healthy for me. So for purely selfish reasons, I turn to love so I'm not consumed whole.

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  25. So very true! It takes courage to love when there is so much hate

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    1. Courage and no small amount of discipline.

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  26. Yes, love has to be bigger than rage or fear. It is the only way through to something better. I love your imagery and phrasing of this truth.

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    1. Here's hoping more people start realizing there's something better.

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  27. Oh, I know how rage poisons. There are times I need small doses so I can stand up against what is determined to shoot me down.

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    1. Small doses sure. But that's no way to live long term.

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  28. Sadly humanity is a very poor example of a civilised creature. In fact we mostly hate exach other, are greedy and live only for the competition and not to keep our race surviving but attempting to be better off that anyone else regardless of the consequences.

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    1. Unfortunately too many people are like that.

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