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Neutrality
Neutrality seems to be questionable-
It nods at those engaged in honest fight;
And smiling,- will dispense the equal label
To terrorists that do their work by night.
Observer neutral and dispassionate
It does not go out on a limb for aught,
Indifferent to closest brothers' fate-
It's never in a noble battle caught.
It has deaf ears to help imploring cries
Because its neutral and thus will deny
A helping hand, but will avert its eyes
And ask for peace, because it is so shy,.
At times a starchy even-handedness,
Does seem impious --as the case may be-
It will not trouble to secure redress,
But abdicates discerment's faculty.
It feels no anger, - but no pity either-
Has smooth ;tongue - that will refuse to holler-
Lets passions dwindle,atrophy and wither,
And hands out evenly to each a dollar.
Neutrality loves to pontificate-
Stays high above the fray - but will command
At best perhaps an opportune stalemate;-
Its quirky sermon is: "Hands-off!" - "Restraint!"
It does not lend a hand when needed most,
Nor stretch its neck to save a wretch from evil-
But calls for peace, - for peace at any cost,-
While letting wholesome passions flag and shrivel.
Neutrality will not be touched by angst and pain,
Will calmly watch the desperate deadly brawl,
From intervention though it will abstain,
It will Behold, - but is above of all!.
Neutrality will never smart or hurt,
But say: "I am neutral, don't you understand"?
It will speak civilly, but terse and curt:
"Get off my back and go to Zululand!"
Among the throng of spirits to discern-
To probe, and shine upon their difference-
Is the fine art Neutrality should learn
Although its practice needs a fine-honed lens.
This passionless suave Neutrality,
Shrub unaligned and indeterminate,
That thrives in unrelieved vacuity
Must needs vex feisty souls and irritate.
Does not the Holy Book say: "I'll spit out
What's neither hot nor cold, - Neutrality-
Ho-Hum Tepidity I'll scorn and flout-
Intorerable is its taste to me".
© Elizabeth Dandy
