Glimpses of Peace

by Belinda Munoz on May 3, 2011

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i know not peace
from the evening news
bearing tidings ambiguous
denoting a future perilous

i know not peace
by a fallen enemy
slipping out of memory
like a drunken man’s misery

i know not peace
as a status symbol
or a stamp of approval
bought-my-way-in label

I know not peace
as i witness surrender
from a downtrodden warrior
a misstep away from savior

i know not peace
though it must exist
as i’ve glimpsed its passing
in the kindness of a stranger,
in the slumber of a dreamer,
in the shadow of a dancer,
in the devotion of a lover,
in the echo of a singer,
in the smile of another,
in the love of a mother…

+++++++++++
for one shot wednesday

image by Katrina Nicole

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Postcards from a Peaceful Divorce » Blog Archive » Peace is Political…and Personal
May 3, 2011 at 4:11 am

{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Molly@Postcards from a Peaceful Divorce May 3, 2011 at 4:20 am

This is beautiful Belinda. I linked my post today back to you. I am with you that peace begins within ourselves in those small moments where we choose to love instead of hate.

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2 ayala May 3, 2011 at 6:11 am

We seek peace but peace is sometimes unattainable. Peace does exist in ourselves…

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3 ayala May 3, 2011 at 6:12 am

Beautiful the way you expressed it :)

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4 TheKitchenWitch May 3, 2011 at 6:25 am

The last stanza was the kicker for me–loved it.

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5 Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri May 3, 2011 at 8:11 am

Perfect.

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6 BigLittleWolf May 3, 2011 at 10:22 am

Just lovely, Belinda.

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7 Adrienne May 3, 2011 at 11:20 am

Lovely ~ so gentle! I loved this for many reasons, but the angry stuff comes at us so loudly and with such frequency, that this ‘whispered’ reminder to take in the peaceful bits is very powerful!

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8 Sara Healy May 3, 2011 at 11:32 am

Belinda,

This was lovely. You did a great job with the rhythm of this one and the subject is so important, especially right now. I agree with others who commented that there are different types of peace; the inner one we can achieve through our efforts on our own. The outer one, the one that we see in the world, is still a long ways away. Perhaps it will come when enough people understand how connected we are as humans, rather than seeing how separate we are.

I am continually amazed at the beauty of your poetry:~)

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9 Jessa May 3, 2011 at 2:31 pm

This is absolutely beautiful… and I couldn’t agree more. I love it.

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10 brian May 3, 2011 at 2:51 pm

yes i think you have seen a bit of peace in all those places though i wish it were grander in scope…

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11 wolfsrosebud May 3, 2011 at 3:41 pm

Expressed well, thanks.

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12 Moondustwriter May 3, 2011 at 4:15 pm

Excellent poem as well as statement ( regarding the state of current affairs)
we really cant find what we are looking for in organizations / bureaucracy but in the heart of people

thank you for giving each of us a moment to ponder where we find peace

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13 Cathy May 3, 2011 at 4:15 pm

Belinda you are such a great poet. I love reading them – always do though sometimes I don’t comment. I especially love the ending. Very uplifting.

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14 dustus May 3, 2011 at 4:19 pm

Prompts me to think of a Platonic dialogue whereby a concept seems to be explained through examples or perceived instances of the idea in question. A great poem with depth and honest reminders that peace can take many forms :)

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15 Fr. Michael May 3, 2011 at 4:58 pm

Love it!

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16 Laura Hegfield May 3, 2011 at 6:19 pm

oh Belinda….you know peace well…if only all of the world could stop and see it moment to moment, so much would be different in our broken world.

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17 Patti May 3, 2011 at 6:57 pm

I like this so much. And your timing is perfect. I’ve been uneasy these past two days. We seem to drive peace away even as we seek it.

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18 Finally Phoenix May 3, 2011 at 7:39 pm

Your poem really moves me. I especially like the last stanza. This is a poem that we need right now.

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19 J.D. Meier May 3, 2011 at 8:07 pm

Evocative.

I like this line … “in the echo of a singer”

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20 violet May 3, 2011 at 10:27 pm

Very cleverly worked into a Mother’s Day poem. Nice ending!

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21 Claudia May 3, 2011 at 10:38 pm

love your definition of peace belinda…and great image too

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22 Sally May 4, 2011 at 1:56 am

thank you for the reminder that there are so many good things that do indeed offer hope

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23 Olivia May 4, 2011 at 2:47 am

i know not peace
though it must exist
as i’ve glimpsed its passing
in the kindness of a stranger,
in the slumber of a dreamer,
in the shadow of a dancer,
in the devotion of a lover,
in the echo of a singer,
in the smile of another,
in the love of a mother…

A killer piece! I feel so relaxed after reading this as if it were a chant to calm the restless soul!

Hugs xox

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24 Arron Palmer May 4, 2011 at 5:03 am

This was an excellent example of a warning with a reassuring end. I’ll come back to this a lot I reckon. Thanks.

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25 hedgewitch May 4, 2011 at 8:25 am

Well said, and I totally agree with you–you express my own ambivalence better than I could. Thanks.

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26 Mama Zen May 4, 2011 at 11:01 am

I really like this. I think that it captures the way a lot of us are feeling.

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27 G-Man May 4, 2011 at 11:48 am

Perfection!!!

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28 Matt Coughlan May 4, 2011 at 11:54 am

peace is an echo
of a stone thrown in a pond
high in the mountains

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29 Raivenne May 4, 2011 at 3:36 pm

I had to read this a couple of times and let it sit.for a moment, then as a connoisseur would sample wine, let it roll across my psyche to gather all its flavors. Beautifully written from it’s tart opening to gentle lingering finish.

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30 Henry Clemmons May 4, 2011 at 8:49 pm

Such truth so skillfully told.

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31 Talon May 5, 2011 at 9:06 pm

So beautiful. The glimpses of peace restore hope for me…

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32 Krissy @ B.Inspired May 6, 2011 at 11:54 am

Stunningly simple.

I’ve shared it here:
http://binspiredmama.blogspot.com/2011/05/binspired-link-love.html

THANK YOU!

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