PEACE

“Peace begins with a smile.”

"Peace" is a metaphorical, thought-provoking and moralizing poem gleaned by the pen of a

German poetess, Dr. Silvia Hartmann. In this poem, the poetess describes negative and positive
aspects of wind which is destructive when in frenzy of rage but most of the time it is peaceful, calm
and gentle.

“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that

brings peace.”

When the wind is in a fierce mood, it is a monster of destruction. Like a monster it roars and
breaks things apart. It is so catastrophic that it completely destroys all man's work. This may be
anything ever built by man. Everywhere its havoc is the same. It levels everything to the ground. In its
rage it throws broken things in the air whirling and flying.

“Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind.”

The poetess says it is not its real nature. The truth is that it is usually peaceful when the sky is
bright blue. It is calm and quiet like whispers coming from far away. It is a beautiful form of nature.
The sounding cataracts, the dancing winds, the smiling flowers and the lofty mountains are some
example of this beautiful nature. Nature can fill our lives with real joy, goodness and happiness.
People usually do not give any importance to this aspect of wind.

“Sweet life continues in the breeze, in the golden fields.”

In short, the poem awakens a consciousness of soothing effect of wind in us that ultimately
subdues its evil power. It encourages us to appreciate peace, love and benevolence instead of thinking
about bad things or war. It gives us a lesson that we have to experience storms to enjoy peace.

“After a storm comes a calm.”