Images

An old poem retrieved from UKAuthors which is on the point of closing down. It seems to fit this weeks Inspiration Point.
The relevant photos are under copyright but here are the links for reference.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_Girl#/media/File:TennisGirl_thumb.j...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TrangBang.jpg

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There are certain images
that become iconic;
some deadly serious,
other more ironic.
Of two such photographs
I have total recall:
one of a pretty girl
clutching a tennis ball
next to a plump buttock
which makes us aware
that underneath her skirt
she has no underwear.
We are meant to smile
at this amusing scene;
it is quite innocent
and not at all obscene.
 

The child that is depicted
in the second picture
is the victim of a war
that was subject to stricture.
A naked girl is yelling
with burns caused by napalm,
the bombardment continues
without any qualm.
Of the two snapshots
the latter is so poignant
that it makes the other photo
almost irrelevant.
And yet, given the choice,
I’d rather laugh than cry.
We ought to live in peace
or, at least, give it a try.

© Luigi Pagano 2012