By Benjamin Grossman and Cassa Bassa
Two millennia ago
I would’ve cried
Stony tears
Like the stoics of legends
Today
For the injustices raging
Against shared truth
I scream in silence
Like a fallen knight
There are no more
Heroic battles
On a field of dirt and dust
Where men were once raised
To die for future honor
We hide behind
Neuro electro defenses
Attacking lives
Without sounding
The trumpet
Am I a departed
Clutching the white flag
Crippled by reality
Or my own fatal mind?
(This is part of a collaborative poetic effort between myself and Cassa Bassa. Make sure you check out her blog by visiting Flicker Of Thoughts. She’s one of my favorites to read!)
Benjamin Grossman 
So beautiful, guys!!!!! Amazingly written, and filled with deep truths. I absolutely love it 🖤🤗
Thanks. Really appreciate your support! 🙂 Stay well!
Hey there!!! I’m just checking in to let you know I nominated your for the Golden Bloggerz Award!! You absolutely deserve it! No worries if your site is award free, just wanted to share your beautiful work and how much I appreciate you!!!! Much love, my friend 🖤🤗 -Ace
THANKS A LOT! That’s neat you thought of me on this. I did some awards before but I haven’t done any for a while. I’ll have to try and get it done on a post soon with this, though. Thanks again. All love! Stay safe! 🙂
Absolutely!!!!! You deserve it!!! I truly love your work and you inspire me!!!! Lucky to know you, my friend 🖤
Thanks again, really! You’re very kind. Likewise: I’m lucky to know you! 🖤
Very powerful piece of poetry. Well done collaborative effort. 🙂
Great writing to you both!
Thanks a lot!
Cool collab!!!
Gigantic THANKS!!!
Keep ’em coming 🙂
🙂
‘…I scream in silence…’ yes, within my head too often. Great poem, guys 🙂
Thank you, Chris! 🙂
Benjamin, you know how much I like you and how often we think alike, but today this is not the case. TODAY, it is not the time for ” collaborative” work, white flag or fallen knight.
The beyond heartbreak horror of India requires only one thing – practical help, so they don’t feel abandoned in their struggle. Many countries are sending medical supplies. Individuals are helping too. I have friends in Delhi and so I am sending money and things to help, they go out (covered!) and feed and cloth the poor, elderly who are lying on the sides of the roads.
They were and still are being let down by the authorities.
In any other times, your poem would be excellent, but not in time of “Love In Time Of Cholera”.
Joanna
Hi Joanna, my heart goes out to friends in India right now in the furnace. Our community is gathering to pray, sending practical support. When we are together we have more power to aide those who are suffering. You have just made me think of using a poetic voice to raise awareness. Thank you!
This is a good idea, Cassa! Maybe everyone is not aware of what is happening all over the world, and it takes awareness before there is action. Let’s hope for the best and the worldwide community will rally and help out! Thanks to both of you for addressing a very serious situation.
You’re the right, Joanna. The pandemic is still very much happening, and numerous countries are seeing massive problems right now. This is a time for the entire world to come together and work as one and show that we really care about everyone. Thanks for reminding everyone of the seriousness of the situation. There’s lots of help needed. Hopefully the right things will be done now so we don’t have look back on the past, wishing we had done more. Hopefully we can finally come to understand global unity. And prayers for everyone impacted by this. Stay safe!
Oh this is a powerful collaboration. The images are elegantly drawn from the past and transported into the here and now. I am particularly taken with the 4th stanza. Really wonderful work, you both… keep writing, keep creating 💜💜💜
That’s awesome to hear. It’s always a pleasure to work with Cassa; glad to get the opportunity to write with her from time to time. Thanks 💜
Brilliant!! Amazing collaboration both!!! 🖤🖤🖤
Thank you, thank you!
You’re most welcome 👍🖤
The image of the warrior as stoic and armed does no longer fit, but we are now armed with pen, and voice, and a willingness to stand up. Interesting poem causing me to pause and think.
Thanks, V.J. Glad we created a bit of a thinker’s poem. That’s something to think about: “but we are now armed with pen, and voice, and a willingness to stand up”. Thanks for your thoughts!
Always welcome. Keep creating.
I don’t have words,
It’s sublime,
Depicting the life of sufferance, the land of warriors, and current situation. I pray for everyone out there fighting for their freedom, fighting against pandemic, for all the loved ones lost.
Stay safe and well done both of you 🙂
Well, thanks so much. You had the right words. Appreciate you and your support! And Cassa makes collabs easy. Thanks again! Be well!
It’s my pleasure 🙂
This was a wonderful meldling of poetic minds..touching on the horrific truths of our times,….the enemy more unseen and more deadly as you point out. All those in the midst of this battle are in my prayers.. You have framed this moment in time…for us to see and contemplate…
Thanks, Karima. It is a troubling time we are living in, but together we can all find a better path forward. Hopefully things turn around soon. Many prayers and blessings to you. Be safe!
So good. Wonderfully penned .. bravo to you two. Well done.
Awesome, glad you appreciated this duet. It’s an awesome experience when I get to write with Cassa.
More ink to your quills.
Lovely! 🙂
Great collab! I particularly like the first two stanzas, especially: I scream in silence like a fallen knight / there are no more heroic battles on a field of dirt and dust👌
Thanks! It’s always fun working with Cassa. She has some really neat ideas and poetical directions. Glad you liked that part!
Yes, her blog’s great, I’ve checked it out. It was a very visual poem, you had to kind of savour it☀️
Awesome. Glad you had the chance to swing by it for a bit. And your blog is great as well! I hope many more get to see all your talents and thoughts! You look at things with such an interesting creative lens; it’s truly amazing.
Really wonderful collaboration, and globally relatable message. 🙏👌💐
Thanks, Lia!!!!
This is so, so powerful. I love the third and fourth stanzas. I feel like there are multiple ways to interpret this poem, but the way I see is how we know about all the injustices going on in the world, yet we remain afraid to speak up or take action against them. It’s normal, sadly, to carry on with your day as if nothing is amiss on the other side of the globe. But this poem shines a light on this issue. Beautifully done.
You really stated that all clearly. It’s very cliche to say but the world needs more love and much less hate. Hopefully the universe will flow farther away from the latter and closer to the former. Thanks for your thoughts. Have a great start to your week!
It may sound cliche, but it’s the truth. You’re welcome, and you too!
I think you’re right!
I love this. Thanks for posting 🥒
Thanks immensely!