Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Week(s) (02/10/11)
-
TITLE: Stupidity | Previous Challenge Entry
By Benjamin Graber
02/11/11 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
For six days;
Like tin soldiers we’ve marched silently,
Without a sound
Except the rhythmic beating
Of our metallic feet.
We let our banners wave
As we encircled Jericho,
As if we could scare
The veterans behind the walls
With a display of color
And silence.
Like little boys, we make our moves,
Believing war is just a game,
And end up looking as stupid
As a toddler
Who marches in his Daddy’s boots.
Today the game continues;
We will make our rounds seven times,
And then when our little legs get tired
We’ll stand and shout at last,
And then, like little boys,
We’ll run to the walls,
Pound them with our fists,
And, oh so stupidly,
Die beneath their shadows
With real arrows in our backs.
Like little boys, we play our games,
But war is the business
Of men.
Instead of wasting time
Playing tin soldiers,
We should join our minds
Like men,
To probe the weaknesses
Of this fortress
And strategize until we find
The most effective way to give our blood
Like men.
Instead of playing ring-around-the-rosy
Until our heads get dizzy,
We should prepare weapons of siege
Like men,
So we can knock down those walls
Like men,
So when the right time comes
We won’t be forced to beat them
With our fists.
What stupidity
To play the games of boys!
’Tis stupid
To throw away our lives
In needless waste
Because a stupid general
Never grew up.
’Tis stupid
To trample common sense
Through the endless marching
In our fairy tales.
Oh, stupid general,
Who leads a stupid people,
What do you expect to happen
When you shout your lungs out
At those walls?
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
But hang on, weren't these the same people who grew up from infancy in the desert, being fed and led miraculously on a daily basis by a pillar of fire...?
Still knowing human nature, your's is probably the more realistic scenario.
Can I ask, are you thinking of maybe doing 'Stupidity: the sequel," showing that their stupid, childish game actually brings them victory? (Will it help if I beg and plead for you to do a sequel?!).
I don't think I'll be writing a sequal. I employed a little poetic technique that I don't use very often, but I think it can be really powerful if it is used right: that is, taking knowledge that readers already have (such as what happens after the Israelites shouted at the walls of Jericho), and leaving them to "finish" the poem in their own hearts. I end the poem with a question; the reader should know what the answer is, and hopefully be inspired to step out in faith themselves, even when it seems "stupid".
Amazing job and congratulations on your win!