ISIS doesn’t like the arts
The terrorists brought down marvels
in ancient statues and friezes, having
murdered the curator defending these
and having no gun. They fired with guns
into a Paris concert venue, while the music
played and fans were sinuously in
tune, young ones with blissful
countenance and their own song. For this
was Friday night, and love for music
elevates. “They don’t like music,” Bono
claims, and he is right—art and
beauty have no place
in the terrorist agenda. So
dangerous must be the muse’s power
to prod a people into thinking and loving
with all art’s inspiration. So
much is beauty feared in the
mad-monger’s eye that it must be
demolished. And so we must see straight
and straighter. Protect our people, fight
back, and preserve our beloved and unique
intuitions and expressions. We must
remember, too, this is not a war on
Islam, whose tenets teach welcoming
and prayer. But what we make—which
is the poem’s meaning, that is, to
make—is taken now as part of who
we are. Life is better. Yet art moves
the heart, wakes up the mind: opening
our better selves. This terrorizes terror.
clcouch123 
November 14, 2015 at 9:37 pm
This is really beautiful this poem. I feel for the French people and I agree with you that terrorism doesn’t like art. Isn’t that one of our greatest freedoms, that we are able to express ourselves through music, and writing, and even painting. Well written. You said exactly what I thought 🙂
November 14, 2015 at 9:43 pm
You’re so right about freedom in art. I think it always works out that way. Thanks for your own artful–and encouraging–comments.
November 15, 2015 at 6:07 am
I agree with your poem, staying united, keeping open minds and open hearts by creating art; protecting it and passing it along. Love your line “Yet art moves the heart, wakes up the mind: opening our better selves.” It truly does. Thanks for your poem.