poemranker ::The Militarization of America by Quarton

DetailsThe poem, its numbers, and the conversation.

Free verse № 37173

The Militarization of America

Member since 2002 · Posted 20 Jan 2003 · 7 comments

America is becoming an immense arsenal, inside of which there will be nothing. Not a people but an emptiness, an arsenal of nothingness. While our real strengths, compassion and equality, defer to paranoia-- misguided perceptions of the perceived panacea that is militarization. If we continue a policy of guns before butter, neglecting the needy and oppressed in our society; perhaps in the vast repository of bombs, deep in the subterranean chambers of our missile fields, someone in that cavernous silence will remember a poem and recite it. Maybe a young soldier will hum a tune of tolerance and others will join in-- a chorus of hope and equality echoing ever louder, until it becomes a crescendo of love and compassion-- in time to prevent the carnage as the doomsday clock ticks closer to chaos. When billowing mushrooms from spent warheads transform existence to emptiness-- where oblivion resides.

Rate it

0 is the worst, 10 the best. Pick a number, add a comment if you like, then send it. Keys: 0–9 pick, Enter sends.

mean 4.60 weighted 4.95 rank 8914 views 214 View voting details →

5 votes so far. Yours would make 6.5 votes so far

7 comments

[0] god'swife 20-Jan-03/2:47 PM Reply
You're telling me, not showing me. Which turns important information into useless rhetoric. Our real strengthes? Give me some examples of what you've seen. 'A policy of guns for butter' you'd need more of these concrete examples. Make it more interesting, touch me.
[n/a] INTRANSIT 20-Jan-03/3:58 PM Reply
Sorry Q-man. We're with you at heart on this, just not the poetic angle. work it, baby, Own it.
[n/a] Quarton › INTRANSIT 20-Jan-03/4:17 PM Reply
You are, of course, right on with your critique. I may attempt to salvage this but will probably let it fade away into "nothingness."
[n/a] INTRANSIT › Quarton 20-Jan-03/5:58 PM Reply
paper airplane it first.. "guns for butter" shows us you can work it. Take as much time as you need. Think "fun" not "work".
[10] horus8 20-Jan-03/4:03 PM Reply
I believe this to be very poetic indeed GOLDEN Q-TIP AWARD FOR SINKING NAILS DEEP AND SIMPLE on this fine day. 10! did you ever think that you'd get one?(TGQ), i honestly didn't.
[7] wOrnella Mutiw 20-Jan-03/6:17 PM Reply
It reads like a speech for the Democratic convention. I like what you have to say, but then again I am strongly skewed to the left....7
[0] god'swife 2-Jul-04/7:48 PM Reply
'An arsenal of nothingness'

I'm no Isaac Newton but isn't that like totally scientifically impossible? Otherwise corn-filled mawkish tripe.