Battle Hymn

poem

Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash

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What do I do when the world bends
and trembles?  I grab a pen and write
my poetry, fiction, and nonsense

and send it to strangers and friends—
some words are strong, others are slight.
What do I do when the world bends

and cracks? I count dollars and cents
to buy books. My shelves are lined
with poetry, fiction, and nonsense—

words are my best and only defense.
Libraries and bookstores are the shrines
where I worship when the world bends

and breaks. But words don't prevent
war, famine, disease, or political strife.
Sometimes, words are just nonsense—

just pebbles hurled against armies immense.
And, sometimes, words are just bread knives.
But I'll keep writing as the world bends.
Lord, I'll be the Warrior of Nonsense.