OM.2005.002 - Mimi Shapiro - Lancaster, PA, USA.

relics of war 1
collage on paper - 8x10
Mimi Shapiro
 Lancaster, PA, USA.

Each of Mimi's collages is accompanied by a copy of the folding book holding all the images and her poem relics of war.

relics of war most people prefer to believe their leaders are just and fair even in the face of evidence to the contrary because once a citizen acknowledges that the government under which they live is lying and corrupt the citizen has to choose what he or she will do about it Michael Rivero An unusual kind of order constructed situations of all that followed the interplay between order and chaos we're living still-when, by a rustic grave significant objects and the metaphysical still life a bird landscape the hour before one night ghost chamber or a man of faith does bohemia lie by the sea or are the lies of faith and power connected to the city of oil seek its rival greed each one named a czar who was crazy beside the swift Amoo's transparent wave, a book of the empire to fall what special ritualized objects of war will they leave with for we have the power to ward off evil and by that lone grave, morning and night in prayer invasions written in parallel columns this unholy inspiration making all of us martyrs of democracy an aged man, who had grown aged there what is a milartistic saint? why not the gospel of a gentle image whose private devotions each generation slaying the dragon of death hung darkening over him, there play'd archangels or griffins partakes of the of the deceased show them the way to salvation screams of luxury and privilege for a few for the last time knelt down-and, though the greedy icons of the religious faithful kissing the scorpion healer eternity and perfection the inner circle the desert landscape is a burning bush that brightened even death-like the last streak where are our devotional objects for peace and golden stars and education and health care the forty martyrs who spoke out a gleam of rapture on his eye and cheek that complex nature of pilgrims for peace who travel between cities what double headed eagle do they pay ransome to? when night o'er all the rest hangs chill and dim should we devour the ancient texts to read reason into a quest for peace of intense glory in th' horizon's brim before the broken gates and locks his soul had seen a vision, while he slept she, for whose spirit he had pray'd and wept reflecting the power struggles the inspired trends of hate for what is different so many years had come to him, we need to honor a new tradition a spiritual essence and the prototype for 1000 generations of peace maybe one day there will be no more relics of war

Mimi Shapiro
 PA, USA.

Image © Mimi Shapiro