Finding Peace in a Turbulent World
Outside the world roars, screams, lunges
Dangerous, like a wounded beast, threatened mother
Teeth bared, twitching, trembling, fearful
A mixture of pain and panic, without direction
Storms rising where quiet once lived
Trust collapsing, crumbling beneath the noise
Too many voices with too many choices
A canvas painted by a thousand brushes
Yet none having any idea how the piece should be
Truth often shows its ugly side first
Reality provides small clues on what comes next
Ticking clocks in countdown mode
Some quickly succumb to the pressure
Their breaking point an early exit sign
While others hold fast, remain steady, calm
Lashed to the mast they wait out the storm
Resist the calling of the deep sea
The crashing lightning and persistent thunder
For as this moment has arrived, too shall it pass
They listen for the hidden narrative
Often just a whisper on the turbulent air
The pulse beneath the raging panic
Deep breaths and finding focus
Understanding that peace has its own way
It is not always found in the absence of turmoil
But in the steady breath of clarity
The heartbeat of understanding the things that matter
And even while the skies unravel high above
Torrents of pounding rain assaulting
Stinging welts and blinded eyesight
Finding peace is not only possible, but inevitable
It waits in the tiny glimpses of sunlight
Blue spaces between the stormy clouds
In the humble courage of becoming the stillness
Of standing our ground when everything demands we run
It waits, but does not make demands
Choose to invite peace in, and it will follow
Wait for it to take charge, and be disappointed
Decisions decide, and doing nothing yields nothing
Peace watches, taking many forms, many views
A solitary bird on a falling-down fence
Warm memories on freezing nights
Our hands clasped tightly together
Moments together when words are unnecessary
The silent promise to keep going forward
Taking on the world and knowing you’ll claim victory
Thriving is so much better than surviving
Peace remains, becomes consciousness
Not a gift bestowed by calm skies
But as the choice chosen in the midst of chaos
Our vow to greet the world’s turbulence with defiance
Once learned, never forgotten
True, storms will rage again, the world will shout
Pressures will build and wills tested
Yet our peace will make us stubborn to their prodding
Waves may rise, but we refuse to be carried away
For this peace, our peace, is the anchor
Our unwavering truth that is without question
The world can do as it chooses, but it cannot choose for us
Additional Reading
R.J. (Ralph) Schwartz is an American poet, author, website owner, and online publisher. His writing spans several poetry collections—ranging from spiritual and romantic to fear-driven explorations—and even extends into science fiction. Notable works include:
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Hope – Inspirational and Spiritual Poetry
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Things That Go Bump in the Night – Poetry of Fear and Fright
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The Lover’s Thread – Poetry for Couples
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Poetry of the Human Condition – The Ups and Downs of Modern Living
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The Secrets of the Moon (a sci-fi novel co-authored with his son Sebastian J. Schwartz)
Schwartz’s work is described as purposefully wordy, richly descriptive, and thematically grounded in nature, romance, antiquity, and forgotten histories. He writes regularly on platforms he manages, including The Creative Exiles, a collaborative venue for writers, and The Gypsy Thread, which delves into offbeat histories, pagan lore, and poetry.
- When The Dictator Falls - January 12, 2026
- In The Space Between Breaths - January 9, 2026
- The Witch Returns - January 2, 2026
