Oracle
The oracle said we would lose, its message was very clear.
'Abandon the bones of your fathers, your lands, businesses,
Round up your children, gather what articles of worth
Might feasibly be carried on your backs and get the heck out;
For the foe', it said, 'will descend like a whirlwind
Drink your blood and impress who's ever left
Into the vilest servitude.'.
Most believed and prepared to flee. Only one wise, old woman
Reluctant to leave her potato garden, shook a wise, gnarled finger
At the crowd and demanded a re-interpretation
(Which, of course, she got)
'Clearly', said the divines, 'on reconsideration
The oracle meant just to foretell the destruction of the foe';
We, ourselves, had nothing much to worry about
If we'd only take heart, think and manage our resources wisely;
Talk to each other with an extra measure of politeness and agree to agree;
Oh, and build a fleet.
Such was the re-interpretation of the divines.
That was ten years ago. Putting our faith entirely in the oracles
message;
As the divines bid we did, and when the foe invaded, won the day.
Truly these oracles have a way of changing that optimism never does.
Odd. Could it be that oracles are mostly a matter of interpretation?
poem by Morgan Michaels
Added by Poetry Lover
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