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Tuesday 19 February 2013

The Wind of History

The wind that comes from history
whistles in our windows, boorish 
with the voice of know-it-all, been
there, done that, I'll tell you how it is...
with lessons to be learnt. Without a by-your-leave
it thunders with the energies
of yesterday's mistakes, it rattles 
every edifice and breaks each stony will,
tears iron gates from hinges
and whinges on until
the city's like a war zone
with yesterday's repeats. 
The past is round our necks, but still it isn't done:
it tears the very soul of now
from everything we've built
and drags it screaming from its place
into some future past.

The wind that comes from history
is air most rarefied: salvation
for near-drowning man -- though rare-
ly is that so. It brings a shift --
a seismic shift -- in how the world is planned,
but few there are who hear
in one in fifty thousand winds
the whisper that could be. Most times
the wind is whispering
past shouts of jeopardy.

It splatters on the pavements,
it batters city walls
and shatters every lingering hope
and all our unearned pride
until the nation falls.

It doesn't stop to bury
its corpses on its way
but hurries to the future
where it's other fry to slay.

Written for The Tess Kincaid prompt at Mag 156

18 comments:

Silent Otto said...

Perhaps we could go back in my tardis and change some of it ?

Dave King said...

Kutamun
Excellent notion!

kaykuala said...

The historical make-up presents a scenario that one has to adjust to and relate. It may impose on the surroundings and have a life of its own. Man is a survivor so it sustains itself. And man is in the middle of it all! Nicely Dave!

Hank

Gerry Snape said...

...hinges and whinges....superb Dave...you really have trapped the mood there!

Brian Miller said...

history comes around like a bad penny, a stray cat & luck...only on occassion...ha...the past is round our necks it still isnt done...true, and true on how w let it weigh us down and bring it forward....nice verse sir

Trellissimo said...

That sure tells it like it is!

Mary said...

Excellent, Dave. The wind that comes from history seems to learn lessons slowly!

Gerry@Strummed Words said...

I can tell you feel this...
Moving!

The Weaver of Grass said...

This is just so very true Dave.

Helen said...

.. the wind that comes from history. I fear past behaviors are the best predictors of future actions ... do we ever learn?
Intense and thought-provoking words, Dave.

Tommaso Gervasutti said...

How true and terrible that It Runs Into The future. I can't but agree.
Beautiful poem. With a Marzial rhythm.

21 Wits said...

A perfect reflection! I enjoyed it a lot!

haricot said...

What and how the windward happened and has reached here and goes toward to future...We have to learn and no more blowing horrible one.

anthonynorth said...

Excellent words on the effects of history. Powerful.

Ygraine said...

Such an important lesson to be learned here...perhaps it's time to be more careful of our thoughts and deeds...for they are tomorrow's wind...!

Dave King said...

Hank
Mmmm, guess it depends how much you believe that we can learn from history. Thanks for a thoughtful response.

Gerry
Thanks for saying this.

Brian
Yes, I really believe this. The past has roots which hold it -- and us. The millstone round the neck may be a cliché, but it's apt.

Trellissimo
Thanks for the support. I suspect that we may be in the minority.

Mary
Indeed, is at all! Thanks.

Gerry
I do. I'm glad it shows - and thanks for telling.

The Weaver of Grass
Thanks Weaver. Always good to know one's not alone!

Helen
And I fear your second sentence may be nothing more nor less than the whole truth. Thanks for saying this.

Tommaso
Thanks for the support -- incidentally, I didn't know about the Marzial rhythm! I shall have to look that up.

Karen S
Thank you so much. Gretaly appreciated.

hariot
Thanks, Amen to that!

anthonynorth
I wasn't sure how it would be received, so much thanks for saying.

Ygraine
I certainly think this is so. Much thanks.





Tess Kincaid said...

I wondered if anyone might elaborate on the title of the painting...you did so very eloquently, Dave...thunders with the energies
of yesterday's mistakes...very nice...

Tumblewords: said...

Borne on the winds..yes. This is clearly phrased and thoughtfully written.