Sunday, March 31, 2013

CDXC - A Terse Reply


Three Word Wednesday requires participants
to use the three words of the week in a composition.
The words this week were lame, terse and co-operate.


A Terse Reply

The lame,
The wounded,
The broken,
The scores
of needless dead—

“Freedom has a price to pay”
That's what the generals said.
“It’s sad we’ve ruined all you had—”

“Some day, the courts will ask you why—“

“Cooperation will be token”
Came back the terse reply.


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© J Cosmo Newbery 2013
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34 comments:

  1. Chilling.

    (that's what the generals said...instead of 'that'...?)

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    1. Fixed. It doesn't matter how often you read something before setting it loose...

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    2. Yeah, I hear that, Cos! aMyi

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  2. Too sadly true!

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  3. somehow we need strict accountability to feed hungry children and help the sick but the military :-) good write

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  4. This is a very telling piece - both poetic and bold social commentary. Bravo!

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  5. That is quite a reply ~ Good weaving of the words ~

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  6. A well written commentary indeed. And unfortunately, almost always topical.

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  7. Such an authentic voice in this poem. Especially love its closing lines.

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  8. Ironic - at first, I was trying to figure out if this was a pattern on a pastor's vestment. When I realized what it was, I gagged.

    Cos, your indictment of the war, how you listed the lame excuses for what is really war profiteering... EXCELLENT. Sending link to activist friends. Powerful work, my friend. Peace, Amy

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  9. It is in man's nature and more importantly in the interest of business to have wars. A world without a war somewhere will mean its end...This does not mean that we should all cave in and stop protesting.

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  10. It was flowing and I liked it - a critique of war (like one of my last ones), but all of a sudden, I didn't get the ending.

    "Some day, the courts will ask you why --"
    [Why what?]

    "Cooperation will be token"
    [no idea what that means -- could you please explain it to me]
    Thanx

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    Replies
    1. That reply was a bit terse.

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    2. Why should I have to explain anything?

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    3. He's just asking you to explain it so that he can understand it.

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    4. Paraphrasing E.B.White: "(poetry) can be dissected as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind."

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    5. E. B. White also said "Be obscure clearly."

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    6. And what do you think he meant by that?

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    7. It seems to me that everyone else understood what you were saying.

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    8. I understood what he was saying. I just felt that he could explain it for those who couldn't grasp it for themselves.

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    9. Sabio's a clever boy. I think he is just playing games. I'm not entering into that arena.

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    10. Never stopped you before.

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    11. I've matured. You should try it.

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    12. oooooooooooooh...I love it when you get all macho and antsy ( quivering sigh!)

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  11. You definitely nailed terse--and the tension of going to war and little to compensate for such a sacrifice (at least nowadays)--WWI and WWII, well, liberty was definitely at stake here in the States.

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  12. I am often amused by what you reference. Seems those with a penchant for violence like to shout it's requirement for all things freedom and liberty related. It doesn't make sense to me. Thanks for a provocative write.

    http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2013/04/01/it-begins/

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    Replies
    1. Yes, It surprises me too when I take an unusual slant on a prompt - esp 3WW and Wordles.

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  13. I wish your poem didn't speak the truth but unfortunately you have definitely captured
    the reality. Well done!

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