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80 The Power of Poetry They think nothing but violence When they eat - even feasting They do so to nourish their energies To execute violence par – excellence Now let the poet speak Though they say words do not kill Now let the poet cry Though they say the poet’s cry do not bring back the dead Now let the poet sing Though they say the song of a poet is like an ant on the back of an elephant Now let the poet breathe Though they say the breathe of a poet is like still wind in the desert Now let the poet spit on their works Though they say the saliva of a poet is like a drop of oil in the ocean One day is one day The words of a poet Shall kill he who do not believe The cry of a poet Shall bring back the long departed The song of a poet Shall overwhelm the elephant of the land The breathe of a poet Shall blow away the elephant like a mosquito in the whirlwind The saliva of a poet 81 Shall diffuse all the waters of the ocean like a drop of raspberry in a glass of water Because flesh no matter of which animal Will bleed when cut Because elephant no matter how big it is Will suffer pain and loss Because elephant no matter how heavy it is Will feel the effect of the wind Because water no matter how much it is Will feel the presence of oil Such is the power of poetry ...

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