Where It Begins?

I thought of war and peace
not the one of Tolstoy
but self-limiting beliefs
shying away from light, when already
a black dot swimming in a white sea.
To what lengths one would go;
shrink to fit a predesigned frame?
I thought of war ―
I thought of peace.

For Poets United

Khaya Ronkainen
Khaya Ronkainen is a writer, poet and creative professional. Her blog focuses on all things poetry and creative nonfiction.

34 Comments

  1. Tolstoy was the first thing that came to mind with this prompt:) Your poem is far more creative. I like your image of fitting into a pre – designed frame.We are supposed to do that you know. If we don’t they make us pay.

  2. “To what lengths one would go; shrink to fit a pre-designed frame? I thought of war―I thought of peace.” This is soo incredibly evocative, Khaya!

  3. Whew! Your poem made me think of Frost’s “Fire and Ice”–inverted and turned to a world beginning rather than ending. The sea will not remain white, and expansion will crash through or generate new frames. With prayer and activism and kind-ness, the scale will tilt toward peace. So may it be. I’m so blown away by your poem, I am sharing it!

  4. Yes. Those self limiting beliefs do keep us away from the light of peace. Good poem!

  5. Shying away from light…At present the whole world is just immersed in this. Ugh. Hope peace is the final word. A wonderful take on the form Khaya.

  6. Sadly we are controlled in everything we do, once we were called called cannon fodder now the expendables.

  7. Luv the micro view germination into a macro something. Hopefully something creative enough to benefit goodness and reap the wisdom of peace and understanding. Thanks for this crunch Khaya

    Much love…

  8. Wow, this is such a thought provoking poem, Khaya. I love how well you describe the collective…”what lengths one would go; shrink to fit a pre-designed frame?” Maybe there are many brave ones arising and breaking that mold…..be it quietly and peacefully!

  9. Love the “pre-designed frame” line. This is exactly what living a life of inauthenticity (is this a word) feels like.

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