World Peace and Quiet

~ A response psalm in two voices


The magazine ad says:

'World peace
now available in an
AIRPORT LOUNGE'

picturing a looming dove
whited to anxious dots of flutter
over a deep-shadowed blue

'With Qantas and our partner
airlines you can now find peace'

satellite radar shields
of armament might grid the sky

'throughout the world in over 200
airport lounges'

undeclared, untold
wars might continue on the weak
the undeveloped, the unpacified

'Far from the madding crowd,
you can enjoy complimentary snacks
and drinks, watch TV, make a call'

silicon and plastic screens
sold for privileges as justice
will play your reclining-chair

'read up on the local news, even
freshen up with a shower.'

Absolved! Clean!

'Of course you could just sit back
and relax.'

enjoy,
while locked-out faces pigeon
at the cages of the windows

'Safe in the knowledge that we'

for invisible enemy might order
its violence to look like rescue

'will continue to provide more
lounges around the globe in our'

in-house, climate-conditioned
no-home away from...

'quest for world peace. And quiet'.

and quiet, and quiet,

'World Peace and quiet...' *


11 June 1997 © Wayne David Knoll

St Joseph’s House of Prayer, Goulburn, New South Wales


[*I am quoting the exact text of a Qantas advertisment as it then appeared in the Weekend Australian magazine. A reader might think this is a cheap shot on the poet's behalf, but the copywriter, possibly a gifted writer, is quoting the poet-novelist Thomas Hardy's words with no thanks or attribution. All that creative energy used in the lies of advertising is a great loss to the true arts of language being used to create understanding, to forward the campaign of truth and meaning. And I could not resist a parody of such an obviously fake peace. ]