October 25, 2011

Peace Plan

The official decree says we aren’t supposed to hold hands. The newspaper of record says it’s an act of treason to smile at each other. The politician announces that we are not allowed to assemble in public if we plan to do so for longer than ten minutes.

My flower power queen, I want to climb the nearest garbage truck and sing about us. I want to croon it to the haters doing their best to disguise their fear. I want to drape my arms over the redcoats and chalk pink hearts on their shields.

Experiencing the basic principle of this world is a tradition: You do what the man with the gun says.

The expectations dwarf me. The grand plans might wash us away. I was born under a purple moon and honestly, no one really wants to see us together. But I’ll go anywhere you lead me, no matter which world, no matter which brand of gun.


For dVerse Open Link Nite.

57 comments:

void said...

this is beautiful, Ed! Love your writing...

Brian Miller said...

ha what a beautiul dance...put your arms around the red coats and chalk hearts on their shields...nice touch...yes the guns have a way a making a point eh? smiles.

Jax said...

I love this! I'm team hippie all the way :) "You do what the man with the gun says." Sad, but true...and it's just the way people in power want it!

Claudia said...

oh i'm the biggest fan of chalk hearts ed...love that song kayleigh...do you remember..chalk heart melting on a playground wall...makes me melt as well..smiles
fine write...forget the grand plans and start painting chalk hearts...that's right up my alley..

Pat Hatt said...

Bah tell the man with the gun to shove it and pull the trigger, maybe that stick will blow to pieces..haha...great writing, really enjoyed this one.

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

This is so powerful. I feel like I could write a whole story about this piece alone. Thanks for inspiring me :)

Marion said...

Amazing poem, Ed, just amazing. xo

said...

My favorite by far is "born under a purple moon." I also enjoyed the pink chalk hearts on shields as well as your closing:

"But I’ll go anywhere you lead me, no matter which world, no matter which brand of gun."

Janie Junebug said...

Oh Ed Ed Ed, Every time I read your writing I want to make made, passionate love. If you're going to keep this up, then you need to send me a decent man.

Love,
Lola

Geraldine said...

Love WILL conquer all. Great post Ed.

Shosannah said...

"But I’ll go anywhere you lead me, no matter which world, no matter which brand of gun."
Me too :)
Beautiful write.

ayala said...

Wow, Ed. A beautiful write. Love conquers all! Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers. :)

Wine and Words said...

Love should have that kind of tenacity and fortitude. Love should be one bruiser of a soldier. Has to be. It ain't easy. But there's no bullets big enough to disintegrate big love.

Pretty piece Shutter Bug. Real pretty.

trump said...

I think there is a little hippie in most of us, and i hope we never lose that. Richard from Amish Stories.

Daydreamertoo said...

Well to this, you could always say:
'Sing it from the roof tops and be damned'

Flower power is still alive and well, even despite the men with their guns, they just have bigger guns is all... LOL
Nice write from you Ed!

hedgewitch said...

Many tests for love in this world--its power threatens so many who can't handle it themselves. Beautiful, and I feel, triumphant piece--(and I don't mean the gun, either. ;-))

Patricia said...

love how your passion just rolls off your tongue so smoothly...
good write, Ed. =)

Lisa said...

Passion in motion.

Snowbrush said...

This is beautiful--and I have me a new desktop picture too, assuming you don't object.

Yvonne Osborne said...

We are no longer allowed to assemble in peaceful protest. Ask the jailed folks in Oakland. Shout it from the top of a garbage truck! Keep writing.

Anonymous said...

Great write Ed...... I absolute love this part: "I want to drape my arms over the redcoats and chalk pink hearts on their shields..."

Betsy Brock said...

Lovely, Ed! We do need a little more love.

Jannie Funster said...

heavy duty, yet light as a field of daisies.

chalk-pink heart, that stopped my heart, and still does. Neat trio of words.

Hope you and your love croon loud!!

Ravenblack said...

Nice proclamation, freely to love and live. Love the last line, "no matter which brand of gun".

Unspoken said...

You are quite the romantic, Ed! I hope it is going well :).

Sheri said...

The romantic side of you coming out some more. This is mournful, sad and quite inspiring at the same time. How do you do that?

darlin said...

Ahhhh, the power of love... and here I thought it only existed in fairy tales! :-)

Unknown said...

I find this delightfully filled with love, and I say, shout it from the rooftops no matter who wants to hear it. Wonderful in every way :)

PhilO♥ said...

The last line struck me the most :)

Lovely piece!

Kerry O'Connor said...

Such a revolutionary oath of love - who could resist the words of this passionate man and his ill-fated love?

Anonymous said...

That's a great setup for something much larger. Well done.

suvaiba said...

ahh..!
i wish i can write like you..!
beautiful..! :) in hindi they say sundar and urdu they say khoobsurat
each and every word shows the essence of pure art in its most refined form..!
:)

Tashtoo said...

I could write a book about the responses this has brought forth from my mind...I agree this is the start of something even bigger. Freedom at the end of a gun barrel isn't really freedom, no matter how its painted or how many flowers are in her hair. This is a HUGE little write...and as a result, I'm rambling. Awesome link up!

Anonymous said...

"The expectations dwarf me." I really, really like that. Excellent writing Ed!

kaykuala said...

Flower power goes with drug abuse when drugs were freely accepted before. But not anymore. Now many are aware of the risks. But the guy with gun still call the shots?

Hank

Birdie said...

hi. i believe love will prevail. very lovely blog Ed. thank you for making my heart smile while reading your posts.

Ed Pilolla said...

thanks for the love.

i'm under a major deadline for my animal shelter story and haven't visited some blogs as quickly as i would like. i just need a couple more days. looking forward to it:)

Mary said...

Truly and impressive and unique perspective. I like it a lot.

Beachanny said...

A perfect love song; protest song, up with us song! Wonderfully written, and wonderfully inclusive.

Su-sieee! Mac said...

"I want to croon it to the haters doing their best to disguise their fear." Perfectly stated!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Sounds like love.... we go when 'the man with the gun' tell us...maybe

cj Schlottman said...

ed,

The second stanza is genius.

I feel the energy, can clearly see the truck and those pink chalk hearts.

"I want to croon it to the haters doing their best to disguise their fear."

So very visual and gut-wrenching. Thanks for another really good one.

Namaste........cj

Ruhi said...

Brilliant !

My Inner Chick said...

ed,
you undress us with your words. x

Alexandra said...

You make this seem like it's too easy.

Please tell us it took you 5 hours.

Please.

Susie Clevenger said...

marvelous...the expectations dwarf me...the last line a powerful punch...I'll go anywhere you lead me, no matter which world, no matter which brand of gun...

Claudia said...

hey just thought i'd say hi...and who knows..maybe you're leaving marks on flowstone cave walls even without knowing...smiles

Kunal said...

Gives a kind of same feel as in George Orwell's '1984'!! :)

Jyoti Mishra said...

Nice one...
loved that "Gun" line !!

Lolamouse said...

Love it! Reminds me of those photos of hippies sticking flowers in the ends of rifles! Beautiful.

trump said...

We in the northeast are getting ready for some early snow fall this weekend. The leaves are just about at their peek colors, and its great to be in the northeast right now and taking all of that in. Richard from Amish Stories

Stephanie D said...

"I want to croon it to the haters doing their best to disguise their fear."
This was my favorite line.

Unknown said...

Lovely! Who's not a sucker for chalk hearts! I like the hate disguising fear....so true.

I just dropped by from Toasting the Posts of the Week to say hello; hope you will find time to return the visit.

Everyday Goddess said...

Amazing, each thought gets right to the heart of the matter and ends with such beauty.

I gave you one of my Goddess Awards which you may choose to keep.

In joy,
Elise

JeannetteLS said...

A new fan here... This hit right into my core, in all the best ways. To my mind, all the best ways. I was part of that hippie movement. I was a flower child. What has happened through the years hurts my heart.

This is stunning.

Jingle Poetry At Olive Garden said...

charming post.

http://gooseberrygoespoetic.blogspot.com/2011/10/poetic-reflections-week-11.html

letting you know that your poetic reflection is posted this week.

welcome joining us any time when you are able.

best wishes.

Brittany said...

Jesus.

Chills, throughout my entire body.

You give me hope.