ILA Magazine
Where Culture Meets Creativity
Poets of Peace and Harmony
On October 20th, 2023, ILA Magazine offered a visual prompt challenge, a dove of peace with children standing in various lines holding flags of the world. We asked poets to observe the image closely and write their own perceptions and indeed they did, becoming the peace doves by penning beautifully depicted poems. ILA chose 5 poets out of 16. PEACE
Pray for peace Pray for innocent children
Caught in the wars Pray for peace Pray for our brothers and sisters Tortured Hungry Homeless Shot Caught in the wars Pray for peace So humans can live In beauty and love Pray for peace A chain of prayer to shield Those in danger Pray for peace. © Bernadette O'Reilly SAVING GRACE Amidst the desolation, a dove flew out from the Ark And swooped over the wild and raging floods Soon after, it was seen fluttering calmly overhead With a green and fresh olive leaf drooping from its beak. A symbol that Nature's wrath has subsided New hope, signs of sprouting lives brightly emerged Another lease on human existence, the Almighty has granted Repentance, faith and devotion from all of us are expected But why haven't we learned from the blunders of the past? The omens keep raging but met them with a remorseless heart The right time has come, let us all heed the call Life is precious, let's make amends and save our souls Heal the world in deep turmoil, we, Nations of the world Wages of sin, ravages of war, all will be destroyed Let the dove of love and peace spread its saving grace And turn our world into a Shangri-la, an idyllic place and hideaway © Gus Perez Amio BLIND I see no color We bleed the same blood I see no religion The same universal God I see no hate It's the same human fate I see no division Only love and compassion I see no misery The same anger doesn't pay I see no evil When Love shall always prevail I see no suffering Humanity restored we bring But I saw red stains In the snow, in vast desert plains. © Floyd Gale Cabus WORLD OF COLORS We are a world made up of colors Different hues Different interpretations But unified in one monochrome. We are a world with different thoughts Different languages Different words But we are unified in one picture. We are a world of colors Cultures, races and even words. But those differences don't matter. We shared the same sun, moon, stars and heaven altogether. We are the colors of the world That painted smiles and happiness on every road That sow the seeds of peace in every land That bears hope and love in everyone's heart and mind. But no matter what differences we have Colors unified us to live as one To make our world a better place To make the world a place we call "Home." © Janet Rose Licudo BRINGER OF PEACE We summon you to inspire us To light the lamp from within So that we may guide lost souls Outside the dark realm of despair. Disperse the fog of hate from our mind, So that we may think clearly And thus become wise mentors To help others make right decisions Together we will live in harmony To make life's song a symphony Heaven, nature, humanity unite To stand up to the forces of evil! © Gheorghe Laura