04 June 2025

When the balance breaks

 

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When I think of the violence the few
men and women do as our world’s leaders,
I am certain all the harm to the earth
is perpetrated by the human race.
 
And that may be.  But when I think of the
multitudes of humans who live without
causing harm and who act to heal, I know
that more love than evil surrounds the earth.
 
So far the balance holds, and is not
easily broken by daily outrage
and threats by weapons of mass destruction,
genocide, oil spills, and false alarms.
 
Aware of the danger, we work and pray
that when the balance breaks, peace is the way.


For Sumana's prompt "Contradictions" at What's Going On? 


My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
© 2025 Susan L. Chast

 

13 comments:

  1. Mary6/04/2025 8:19 AM

    Profound! It seems so often I am overwhelmed by 'the violence of a few.' It is good to be reminded that there are 'multitudes of humans who live without causing harm.' I wish (but with not a lot of hopefulness right now), along with you, that - in the end - peace will be the way!

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  2. Rajani6/04/2025 8:41 AM

    So true...there is more love than evil, but the latter has more power... peace is the way...the only way....

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  3. Sherry Blue Sky6/04/2025 11:20 AM

    It is true that more love than evil is on earth, though the evil is very evil and noisy. Your closing couplet says it all for me - may it be so.

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  4. Kim M. Russell6/04/2025 11:40 AM

    That’s a deep sonnet, Susan. I agree that ‘all the harm to the earth is perpetrated by the human race’ but, as you say, so many humans live without causing harm. I hope the balance does break on the side of peace.

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  5. rallentanda6/04/2025 12:36 PM

    There are probably more good than bad folk but evil is very powerful and destructive.It will always be with us and we will always need to fight it until one day when something eventuates and everything changes. There are many theories and religious beliefs about this. Would be good if the lion could lie down with the lamb.

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  6. Jae Rose6/04/2025 8:21 PM

    May there always be people open-minded enough to maintain the balance of the world - Jae

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  7. Jennifer Wagner6/05/2025 12:03 AM

    I love how you remind us of the many who love, despite all the violence and harm which happens in the world--and your hopeful close!

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  8. Intelliblog6/05/2025 8:46 AM

    I know in my heart that what you write is true, Susan, but evil and violence have a way of infecting good and peace. One rotten apple, they say... However, I am an optimist like you and assume the best in people winning in the end. Lovely poem.

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  9. Penelope Notes6/05/2025 9:54 AM

    I agree: "... more love than evil surrounds the earth", though sometimes it seems a few evil people are far more powerful and resilient than the thousands and even millions of peace loving healers.

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  10. Marja6/05/2025 8:59 PM

    Love that last sentence, which burst out into hope 'that when the balance breaks, peace is the way.' In the end the good always wins. Let it be fast

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  11. Sumana Roy6/06/2025 2:21 AM

    It's like the day and the night. Both will be there; Good and Evil and the struggle. You've nailed it in the end : peace is the way.

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  12. Anita Sabat6/07/2025 2:22 AM

    We truly want peace.
    Sadly, after the war there's peace- just like after the storm comes the calm...

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  13. purplepeninportland.com6/11/2025 8:41 PM

    I love the ending on this, Susan. I hope you are right.

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