‘In the Name of Whose God’ and Other Poetry by Paulette Calasibetta

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In the Name of Whose God

“If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere
insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to
separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line
dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being
and who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”
—Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Roots of war sown from a biblical past;
seize possession with power to cast

battles for borders, lines drawn in sand;
bombs sear the sky and scorch arid land.

In the name of whose God, are prayers being said;
innocent hostages amongst the dead.

The mournful dove, on stilled broken wings;
no olive branch in a peace offering.

In the name of whose God, does justice lie,
in solidarity they comply,

in creeds resolute, without concession;
ethos fuels hostile aggression.

Allegiant perceptions in blind belief;
locked in the abyss of abject grief.

In the Name of whose God will there be peace?

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Winter Solstice

Silos stand like sentinels, in the drifting snow;
Rusty barn door hinges, yawning down below.

Cloistered cows muse, in solemn hymns of rite;
Earth curls under flannels, robed in frosty white.

Bleating lambs lie down, innocent and meek;
Birds seek arms of shelter, in a lofty peak.

Pastures stilled, as sharper shadows begin to fall;
Evening richly draped us in a woven shawl.

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Paulette Calasibetta is a retired interior designer. Her poetry has appeared on line and in print in numerous journals and anthologies.