Unscathed
When the wind blows in directions, North and South
And the earth vibrates like echoes in a chorus
When belief becomes the envy of the skeptic
And doubt takes center stage on the altar of piety
When lovers forget to smell the roses
And continue their march with hope in fewer doses
When music cannot be heard by those who composed it
While the masses chant to the sound of their melodies
When fragile people feel the pain in their bones
Yet they carry the load without nagging or moan
When the gods rush to rescue the people
But feel helpless in the face of a struggling nation
When you face the threat of solid emotions past
And keep searching for your inner soul in a blast
Then you would have gained immunity against the tempests,
The fires, the raging winds, and the turbulent seas
That becomes your bathing pool to emerge unscathed.
Ramzi Albert Rihani is a Lebanese American writer. His poems have appeared in several publications in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Romania, India, and China, including Linnet’s Wings Magazine, Impspired, ArLiJo, Goats Milk Magazine, Poetic Sun, Last Leaves Magazine, Cacti Fur Journal, Ariel Chart International Literary Journal, Poetry Potion, The Piker Press, Active Muse, Ephemeral Elegies, and The Silent Journey Anthology. He is a published music critic. He published a travel book, The Other Color - a Trip Around the World in Six Months. He lives in Washington, DC.
When the wind blows in directions, North and South
And the earth vibrates like echoes in a chorus
When belief becomes the envy of the skeptic
And doubt takes center stage on the altar of piety
When lovers forget to smell the roses
And continue their march with hope in fewer doses
When music cannot be heard by those who composed it
While the masses chant to the sound of their melodies
When fragile people feel the pain in their bones
Yet they carry the load without nagging or moan
When the gods rush to rescue the people
But feel helpless in the face of a struggling nation
When you face the threat of solid emotions past
And keep searching for your inner soul in a blast
Then you would have gained immunity against the tempests,
The fires, the raging winds, and the turbulent seas
That becomes your bathing pool to emerge unscathed.
Ramzi Albert Rihani is a Lebanese American writer. His poems have appeared in several publications in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Romania, India, and China, including Linnet’s Wings Magazine, Impspired, ArLiJo, Goats Milk Magazine, Poetic Sun, Last Leaves Magazine, Cacti Fur Journal, Ariel Chart International Literary Journal, Poetry Potion, The Piker Press, Active Muse, Ephemeral Elegies, and The Silent Journey Anthology. He is a published music critic. He published a travel book, The Other Color - a Trip Around the World in Six Months. He lives in Washington, DC.
