Comment from adewpearl

Excellent

What a fascinating idea - to make the world's longest peace poem - I like the section you contributed - especially the line about peace as your first choice. I wish I truly believed there will be world peace one day - I keep working for it despite my cynicism. Brooke

 Comment Written 21-May-2009

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reply by the author on 21-May-2009

A lot of the poems on the sheet were political and a few actually either wished Bush harm or apologized for having him as president. The bulk though were poems or prayers about peace, but struck me as unrealistically attainable if not out right dangerous. A couple even suggesting that it would be better if we adapted the terrist's understanding. I walked away with a headache and pined for most of the convention. It's not that I was anti-peace, I wanted my words to not only mean something outside of idealism, but state that if the conditions were right, peace is definitely attainable. I penned it just before the banquet dinner and the exhibit hall closed. Even penning the words on the sheet, I was hesitent. What was funny is that HD Snodgras, the convention's celebratity poet and Pulitzer prize winner watched me and the read it. It got an acknowledgement and compliment, until he realized that I recognized and he tried to run away.

My opinion is that nobody wants to fight, but at times it is necessary. I resent when it isn't done correctly and we make the problem worse and have to go back time after time. It sucks, some peaces will never work out, that is why we need to take a look why and fix it; hopefully that will create less victims in the future.

Thank you so much for reviewing this poem. It means a lot! Mike

Comment from milushka

Excellent

You know my dear MikeK that I am a forever pessimist. You know how many artists sang, wrote, books, poems, protest songs, painted painting? To what results?
It is in a man to war, to fight. Take a village dance, ending always with a brawl.
Neighbours, hating each other. Clans, tribes, religions, the God is dead, otherwise what a perverted God it would be? Now, hate me.
I am so skeptical about humanity. On one hand, creating beauty, on the other, destroying it.

As in every nation, Russians have giants and snakes, not unlike Americans. Praying won't solve anything, never did.
Love,
Mila

 Comment Written 21-Aug-2007

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reply by the author on 21-Aug-2007

Are you reading while I type. Damn your fast! I just sent the message. Thank you very much for your wisdom and review. I did the best I could with this poem, i feel that indeed it is up to man. I do agree with you on God, could God permit these things to happen for our lack of learning; maybe God has limited control, but I do believe in him. I tend to be a very spiritual person, not religious but many have broadened my understanding. Again thanks and also for reminding me about the Czech Invasion of Russia, it makes me feel sad for a proud people.

reply by milushka on 21-Aug-2007

All over and done with. It was freedom they wanted, now they want to be Germans. Funny.
Mila

reply by the author on 21-Aug-2007

Still socialist.

reply by milushka on 21-Aug-2007

Who, me?
Proletariat. No, I am neutral, had enogh partying.

reply by the author on 21-Aug-2007

No silly, our homeland.

reply by milushka on 21-Aug-2007

Last time I heard, they didn't have a government since last fall. My ex. Adolf, was acting as a deputy for minister of culture, he is an actor and went back before the Velvet. Last week he got kicked out, th president doesn't like him. Hvel, the writer who was a president before this one is not there, he just writes. Communists are still strong as now peple want the good old times back.
Figure,

reply by the author on 21-Aug-2007

Thanks so much for the update, it sadens my heart but I get the same sentiments from my father's German friend. On all of my family, my great grandparents and grandparents got out because of the good ole times times. I use them as inspiration when things get tough for me because they really had to have the metal to work harder then me for what they got. Czechosloviakia sort of went by the way side for me, I really appreciate you being my cultural minister to this facet of my life.

reply by milushka on 22-Aug-2007

Ha ha, love being the cultural attache, the liaison, what a position.
I am seeing if my doctors are all right early in the morning. They keep calling and calling.
I did not know you made me so famous, my goodness, college kids will learn me by heart; another reviewer told me.
Suicide, my only way out, ha ha.
Good morning.
Mila

Comment from Polly_Pisces

Excellent

Peace starts with each one of us, I say!
When everyone of us can realize this... Yes indeed, I love your aura, I always have, it's beautiful...I normally don't do this, nor is this a shamelss plug, it's something has compelled me to share this verse I wrote in regards to war with you, don't feel as if you need to leave a review...take care...Polly

I admire your stand, indeed...you call a spade a spade, with style.

http://www.fanstory.com/displaystory.jsp?id=157486&userid=221243&tf=0

 Comment Written 17-Aug-2007

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reply by the author on 17-Aug-2007

Thank you very much for your compliments and review. This was one of those poems that I wanted my name to stand for something real and jostle a little thought.

Comment from mshugh

Excellent

Way to go Mike - you have hit the nail right on the head when you say that world peace begins with each of us - that's weher it all starts - then with families, communities - if we build it that way - we will have world peace

Nicely done

Michael

 Comment Written 16-Aug-2007

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reply by the author on 16-Aug-2007

Thank you very much for your review and compliments.

Comment from GerryMacNeil

Excellent

This is not only an excellent poem, but the Author Notes that accompany it make a great statement about knowing what is worth standing up for! So many say, world peace would be "nice", but what would you do about Hitler? The same thing God makes the waves say, "Thus far andno farther! Good job, MikeK! Gerry MacNeil

 Comment Written 16-Aug-2007

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reply by the author on 16-Aug-2007

Thank you very much for your review and compliments. I think if the world would have been more proactive, there would have been a lot less cost to WWII. I have to keep this in mind with terrorism. We forgot our reasons that we entered Iraq, but maybe keeping a foothold there is preventing a much higher cost in the future. God Bless! ... and I think that it may still be more safe then Baltimore City, all you have to do is research our murder rate.

Comment from mslink1

Excellent

I do love the concept of your poetry and wish that it would come to pass, but we know that it will not. There will not be true peace, and I hope I'm wrong, until the end time. Mary

 Comment Written 16-Aug-2007

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reply by the author on 16-Aug-2007

Thank you very much for your interesting review; I do fear that you are right. Your statement has me thinking about Judgement Day, maybe we will not be judged on our results but our efforts. Have a blessed day!

Comment from Chester McEnroe

Excellent

Wow. The author notes were more interesting than the poem, lol just kidding. You did kind of write a little story there, though. Anyway, this piece was well written and stuck to traditional poetry form.

 Comment Written 16-Aug-2007

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reply by the author on 16-Aug-2007

Thank you very much for your kind words and review. I tried to keep the notes to the mimium, just to illustrate the logic behind the poem. Imagine something interesting like the notes happening about three times a week for a year in a half. I used just the end.

Comment from DawningOne

Excellent

Sometimes facing our worst fears can bring about the most exciting transformation. When the government took the control of the parents away from us raising our children, they set us up for a terrible, selfish society that will be coming very soon, even worse than it is now. I raised six children and half a neighborhood full of kids, but only one of the six is on the right track. I doubt we will ever see world peace but, I did really like your poem. It was well-thought out.
God bless you my friend.
Much love,
Dawn

 Comment Written 16-Aug-2007

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reply by the author on 16-Aug-2007

Thank you very much for your review and compliments. I agree, most people are quite capable of raising their own children, but in a few cases there is a need for the government to interfere. So what happens, the government becomes cockeyed and creates an outlandish policy and convoluted priorities. The police would sit the step daughter and myself down and explain to her what I couldn't do. This really benefitted an out of control kid, taking away any means of a parent maintaining authority. I was told that in the past they favored the parent and now things have swung around to favor the child. I recomended a little leadership on the part of the police and a little common sense.

Comment from TrueBeliever

Excellent

Hey there Mike, Beautiful words penned here in this well written well thought poetic rendering. I'll bet the convention was a blast. I went to one a few years ago. Great job on this cool write for world peace. Regards, Ondra

 Comment Written 16-Aug-2007

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reply by the author on 16-Aug-2007

Thank you very much for your compliments and kind words. The convention was indeed a blast and there is another piece in my portfolio regarding it. "Shy Quiet Woman," is more lighthearted. What could happen at a poetry convention?

Comment from mmichelle97219

Excellent

Peace won through violence is not peace. It is one side giving in until an opportunity presents itself.

I loved this entry and your author's notes explaining it. You sould a lot like myself. I found this to be so perfect.
Michelle

 Comment Written 15-Aug-2007

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reply by the author on 16-Aug-2007

Mmichelle, Thank you very much for your compliments and also the review. I just wanted to add a poem among many that was enlightening. They didn't review things there and I am now glad that I decided to post this on FanStory. It lets me know that indeed I have said the right thing.
- Your right peace won through violence is not peace. But one may not know peace unless they defend themselves and the values that creates sucess. What was included in the notes is only part of the story, I was encouraged to give in or tolerate my step daughters activities and to some extent I did, but that led to things becoming crazy and more lop sided. I figured that I have to stick to my values and the belief that I am responsible for her future sucess. I remember her stating, "I don't know why your even trying to talk to me, I'm not going to listen.
- I stated, "I'm not talking to [the step-daughter] before me now but the [step daughter] who will appreciate this three years from now when and understand that I truely care. She is doing much better as she made the effort in righting herself and occasionally visits.