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Diminishing Scales

Two figures are cresting the distant hill,

Edging, ant-like, to the top of the pike,

Leading a long line of intrepid ants,

 On a futile climb to a pointless summit!

Yearning, striving, that’s what ants are like!

 

Without doubt they will glance down to the right,

Viewing my own house with a wan, wry smile.

 

Such small, ant-people seem to live down there,

Tiny, tedious, scarcely worth our care.

They don’t even climb!

And they’ve not gone the extra mile!

 

Distance lends perspective,

But takes away our empathy.

Ants are not real people, like you or me!

It is this a test of kindness,

Which our humanity often fails.

 

Troubles, assessed from far away,

Are weighed upon diminishing scales.

 

 

 

 

◄ Rites of Passage

Into the woods ►

Comments

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John Botterill

Sun 23rd Apr 2023 13:09

Thanks so much Clare and Stephen. I have climbed Stoodley Pike (not often) and thought how small my own house looked. Distance leads to differnce and it is easy to disregard pain you cannot see or feel yourself. And you're right, Stephen, they are still people, but it's easy to forget!
Delighted to read your comments and likes from Nigel, Keith and K. Lynn. 😀

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Stephen Gospage

Sun 23rd Apr 2023 08:43

If I may say so, John, a very profound poem. I remember climbing the Monument in London as a boy and saying 'the people look like ants'. 'But they're still people' said someone else. And, of course, they were.

Enjoyed reading this.

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Clare

Sat 22nd Apr 2023 20:49

I really like this. It unfortunately sums up much of what is wrong with humanity, or lack of. I love the way you always make your words dance off the page. You are like one of those song writers who tell a heartbreaking story to an upbeat tune - if that makes any sense at all!! 😂

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