The Compulsion of Barbarity - by Bob Atkinson

The Compulsion

of Barbarity

(c)2015 Bob Atkinson

some see living in their dreams

a different world upon

which we rely

to carry ourselves toward dawn

some see peace and justice

as goals for which to rise

toward that institution

of derelict disguise

me, I find unusual

a soul who cannot see

simplicity of our germ of life

when we set it free

free to wander openly

beyond constraints of pride

free to send our children

toward the other side

free to search our feelings

for all who walk near us

and free to find sincerity

as a well defined plus

while jumping on those teachings

which never were that good

for faith in understanding

tells some what's absolute

absolutes have no place in life

leftovers from those times

when life carried less of value

than a pocket full of dimes

He Never Understood - by Bob Atkinson

He Never Understood

(c)2015 Bob Atkinson

he never understood this life

sometimes he would say

not any of its parts

whole dang thing displayed

never in his many years

could this or that be found

to eradicate his fears

of not finding hope profound

you'd think with advancement

he'd understand the rest

or at least diminish thoughts

put to a simple test

to find hope buried in a pile

of dust there on the stone

or under leaflets left on tables

or in his brother's home

no way in understanding that

which hid from his clear view

could this be the story he would seek

or could ignorance become his due

to tell the truth, it's not arranged

don't sit and wonder why

we all look for what's not there

as we eat our fruited pie