Ink of the Scholar

It is said that the pen
is mightier than the sword
That the ink of the scholar
it is far holier
than the blood of the warrior
A rampage of terror
in the name of revenge
is no Way of the Martyr

In hope, faith, and love,
we could be expressions
to become true reflections
of a reality much higher

Creation in Chaos
Chaos in creation
The world is a powder keg
of tribal power
and political corruption
like a dead hand
grabbing at a neighbour’s land
driven on by the need to exceed
A greed that feeds
on violence without end
emboldened
by an unholy blessing
dressed up in the pretense
of self-righteousness
from the false prophets
of profit and loss
lost in an endless rampage
of collateral damage
never counting the cost
of a vengeful harvest
at the sanctimonious behest
of Iron Age religion
forged of steel and flame
in the cruel grip
of some anonymous beast
Creation in chaos
Chaos in creation

“Father, forgive them, for they do not
know what they are doing.” – Jesus

An almighty God
doesn’t need my feeble help
to fight to make things right
in a world divided and bitter
It is me who needs God’s help
to make me right in His sight
Then things can only get better 😇

~ David B. Redpath © 2023

Artwork: Survey No. 2
~ by David B. Redpath © 2018-2023

50 thoughts on “Ink of the Scholar”

    1. Thank you very much, Lia 🙏
      A two-edged sword (that cuts both ways)
      in the painting is to symbolise the search
      for truth. Every human conflict may have
      two sides, yet there’s always a higher
      reality to be found in any situation 🕊️ ☮️

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  8. ‘A rampage of terror
    in the name of revenge
    is no Way of the Martyr’

    The word ‘martyr’ meant ‘witness’
    Holding a spirit infused with peaceful non cooperation
    with the enemies of love and kindness
    Don’t know how came about this current mistranslation.

    I myself walk the Way of Chocolate Cream
    So far it has been a real sweet dream

    David, I enjoyed your poem a lot
    Them be words which have fought

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    1. A coincidence, Tanmay . . .
      I walk the Way of the Custard Tart
      as the city sleeps
      from the local K-Martyr
      (going with the flow
      of the  lingua franca)
      down to this empty street
      the Boulevard of Chocolate Dreams
      Une fête pour le obèse . . .
      having a custard tart of your very own
      as I’m the only one, and I walk alone
      the hills of chocolate cream
      to the peppermint twisted way
      of a bright new green day 💚

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      1. Ah, the custard tart
        In my life, sadly not much of a part
        They are rarely available, and I’m too lazy to bake
        I would rather eat a Long Island Cheese Cake
        (But I’m trying to lose weight 😥)
        Or was it a drink? It’s too hard to think
        Three months dry is just not proper
        Broken dreams of a chocolate cream soldier
        keep me from going completely bananas
        and ananas 🍍
        Or will the chef put them in the custard? Tell the waiter, “Please, no mustard-” gas or other forms thereof 🙏

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    1. Thank you, Priti 🙏
      I got that bit of inspiration
      from Paul the Apostle . . .

      “For now we see only a reflection
      as in a mirror; then we shall see
      face to face. Now I know in part;
      then I shall know fully, even as I
      am fully known. And now these
      three remain: faith, hope and love.
      But the greatest of these is love.”

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  12. Gorgeous picture David and so representational of our times. I don’t follow scripture but I do know that if we each live life in accordance with spirit, nature, love with faith and doing right by our heart and not our pocketbooks or religion.
    You summed it up well here:
    “Every human conflict may have
two sides, yet there’s always a higher
reality to be found in any situation “
    🕊️ ☮️

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    1. A solemn yet festive thank you, Cindy 🙏
      Words of wisdom that extol the blessing
      to be found in unity, in opposition to the
      destructive forces of maleficent division.
      It is said that war is the continuation of
      politics by other means, but throw in
      some tribal envy and old time religion, we
      could be seeing the prelude to Armageddon.
      From poverty, to ecology, humanity has the
      technology and capacity to solve all the world’s problems.The only thing missing
      is the unity, the will to unite and cooperate.
      To cohabitate on this planet in peaceful
      coexistence. I just hope humanity is given
      another chance.

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  14. David what a wonderful piece and so true my friend. So glad to read your words I so relate too. Your artwork is amazing I didn’t know you painted. A wonderful duo indeed. Blessings to you and your sweetheart. My prayers are for more love and peace and for me to feel closer to God like when I did as a child. It was as if he was always by my side and I talked to God all day long. I want that sense of closeness back. Blessings and may your family be always under the protection of Our Lord and Savior. 🙏

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    1. Thank you for your kindness, Joni.🙏😎
      That reassuring love of God, that seems
      so natural to a child, can become for the
      fortunate some, an endless supernatural
      adventure (despite all the trial and error)
      for us grown ups 😇🕶️
      As Dylan once said, “Love is all there is.”
      Yet … “This world 🌍 is ruled by violence,
      but I guess that’s better left unsaid?”
      Keeping a balance through this current
      darkness requires discernment above
      and beyond the doctrines of hate 🚫
      All the best to you and yours for a truly
      blessed Christmas, Joni 🎄🎁

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  18. The world is certainly corrupt and is getting worse by the day. I think we need more anthems of love and songs that inspire us to care for each other. Still, though the pen is mightier than the sword, I don’t know if anything matters anymore.

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    1. In a world where might makes right,
      it’s only with the freedom of expression
      that truth can be spoken into a situation,
      like a ray of light into a darkened place.
      Everywhere from China to Russia, India
      to Saudi Arabia, even across the Internet,
      censorship and propaganda is on the rise.
      By controlling the media, you control the
      mind, strangle any freedom of thought
      … and starve the truth. It is a dangerous
      direction the world is heading in.

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