Elemental as a storm

A force  far deeper than our anger

Elemental as a storm,

Annihilating all before it.

Terror does our rage inform.

This ancient self feels  we are threatened

Runs to  rise and to protect;

Most murderous when  we’re most alarmed

Rage  an enemy detects.

Over-riding other feelings,

Depriving us of  wits to think

Like a nuclear  tsunami

Disconnecting human links.

Reddened vision,focused,narrowed

Eyes locked onto enemy.

All the wider context losing,
Wiping out  good memories

Like a mother tiger fighting,

With the cornered eagle’s force

We will destroy  what we think other

Without   feeling our remorse.

Nature gave this to protect us;

Yet  our  perception's often wrong.

Once the flood of feeling takes us

All reflections seem too long

Later, if we see our victims,

Will we know when we have erred?

For  hate deceives ourselves and others

When our inmost terror’s  bared.

How can we step back and ponder,

See life from a wider view?

How can we become less blinded,

See our world and see it new?

Succumb  not to final despond.

Succumb not to your despair.

Often there are some who see.

Often  some preserve their care.

Tempered by reflective wisdom

Rage  can calm  when understood.

When we find another being

Who can withstand   this  Tiber's flood.