Before the World Goes Silent

Before the World Goes Silent

By Santiago*

"This is our finest hour, and we are God-sent,

To act now before the world goes silent." - Santiago 

The young artist poses with his painting depicting the

theme, Before the World Goes Silent, 2025

Times were beautiful once, if I’m not mistaken,

     But due to our folly, abuse has taken.

The forests were green as the tides were blue,

     But all soon faded, as the sky lost its hue.

Aren’t we to be blamed for this great damage?

     If not, do we have to fix such carnage?

The old has its past, yet aims to bear new fruit,

     Even a broken arrow seeks the truth.

We stand tall and high like we can control all -

     But can we survive a storm’s sprawl?

Won’t devastation strike and consume us all,

     Especially if death starts to call?

Who lurk in the shadows may miss the climes,

     But would they ever speak in these times?

If only on paper that our thoughts are enough,

     And not twist the mind with hate and bluff.

We will be struggling still, if we don’t recall

     The beast whose head hangs on the wall,

As the poor can’t walk, so they start to crawl;

     Mighty empires will tumble and fall.

Grim and violent is our world, we can’t deny it,

     But we need to live decently with and for it;

This is our finest hour, and we are God-sent,

     To act now before the world goes silent. ~

                         * Mateo Lawrence M Rotor, 13
                           St Paul College of Ilocos Sur