The View From The Mountain Top

Brevity composed through to a desperately sad denouement. Pertinent to our times afflicted by the evil god of war. Your poems title is arresting and hit me deeply the entire poem.

Regards John

The false-god of war by which evil people are intoxicated

Hello Lavender impactful poem with minimum words, like the way you rhymed lines 2.4.6. Also the last word Earth is an anagram of heart, the end of line 3. Good work as always.

that one's heart becomes hardened in self-defense. Each time we look at the world through soft and innocent eyes, we are hurt. Bless those that have no defense against the evils of war. Brevity is the word here, nice job. ~ Geez.
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I came to this so many times the last few days, and I read it again today in hope to find the right words, but really no words can well express my feelings.
I wish those who have the power would understand.
Very insightful!

very nice rhythm too,
Mark
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I FEEL YOUR HEART AND KNOW THAT WHAT IS COMING ISN'T GOOD, BUT TAKE COURAGE I HAVE SEEN THE RESSURECTION AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ANGELS LOOKING UP INTO THE FACE OF DEITY WIT SPRIGS OF NEW HAIR THAT I CAN STILL FEEL GROWING BACK INTO MY FOREHEAD! THE CONCRETE PRARIE ROLLING UP LIKE A SCHROLL AND DEITY ARRIVING TO GREET THOSE WHOSE HEARTS WERE AND ARE PURE. JUST WAIT AND SEE IF IT'S NOT TRUE IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME SORT OF RAPTURE TO ME! GREAT CONCISE POEM. YOU NEED NOT FEAR!!!

Ah, "A View from the Mountaintop"! It's a tiny poem, yet it holds a universe of feeling within its few lines. Let's carefully unpack the layers here.

The title itself sets a powerful stage. A "mountaintop" suggests a position of elevated perspective, a place where one can survey a vast expanse. This immediately implies a sense of distance, both physical and perhaps emotional, from the scene below. The act of looking "down" reinforces this hierarchical viewpoint.

The opening lines, "If one looks down / most carefully," are crucial. The conditional "if" introduces an element of choice and perhaps even reluctance. It's not a casual glance that will reveal the scene below; it requires deliberate attention, a focused and perhaps even strained effort. The adverb "most carefully" underscores this necessity, suggesting that the truth being revealed is subtle and easily missed by a cursory observation.

The shift to "one's hardened heart / may almost see" is where the emotional core of the poem begins to emerge. The phrase "hardened heart" speaks volumes about the observer's state. It implies a desensitization, a protective shell built up perhaps through witnessing hardship or simply the passage of time in a difficult world. The use of "almost" is incredibly poignant. It suggests a nearness to feeling, a crack in the hardened exterior, but not a complete breakthrough. This hesitant possibility makes the subsequent image all the more impactful.

The final three lines deliver the central image: "a tear fall, / so despondently, / from the last child of the Earth." This is a devastatingly lonely and evocative picture. The "last child of the Earth" immediately conjures a sense of profound loss, the end of innocence, and the ultimate consequence of some unnamed catastrophe. The single "tear" becomes a symbol of unimaginable sorrow, carrying the weight of a lost world and a vanished future. The adverb "so despondently" amplifies the feeling of utter hopelessness and despair. It's not just sadness; it's a deep, spirit-crushing dejection.

The poem's brevity is part of its strength. Each word is carefully chosen and contributes significantly to the overall effect. There's a sense of quiet devastation, a profound sadness whispered from a great height. The lack of explicit detail about why this is the last child or what has transpired allows the reader to fill in the blanks with their own anxieties about the future of the planet and humanity.

The contrast between the elevated, perhaps detached, observer and the profound suffering of the child below creates a powerful tension. It forces us to consider our own potential distance from the consequences of our actions and the possibility of our hearts becoming hardened to the pain of the world. The poem acts as a stark warning, a plea for careful observation and the preservation of empathy before it's truly too late.

In essence, "A View from the Mountaintop" is a miniature epic of loss and a potent reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of maintaining our capacity for compassion. It lingers in the mind long after the last word is read, prompting reflection on our role in the world and the potential for both great sorrow and the faintest glimmer of empathy within even the most hardened hearts.
Very well thought out,
Mark

The last tear from the last Child from the last moment brings such a sense of finality! And to peer from a distant altitude evokes a detachedness and remoteness - a gulf that could not be hoped to bridge. Short but packs a punch!

I love that you packed so much into so few words. What a deserved win!