Response to Naomi's Greener Pastures poem

Greener Pastures, by Naomi

The elders may judge us as they have
And will from their sacred death beds.
I know this, and feel your emotional distress,
But physical strength is not our force to claim
Our meekness is not our weakness, keep in mind.

Will swords and daggers, bows and arrows
Help us clamber to a higher leaf of our stem?
No, let the white dove purify our minds with
The patience we require to proceed
If we are ever remembered, let it be for this.

The elders are wise, and they have taught us well
But we're trained to use our heads rather than our hearts
Thus the passion was diluted and we tasted no flavour
We'll put our knowledge in a box, and take it out when needed
Carrying it up from our birthplace to greener pastures.

Lest we forget the lessons we have learned and
How the tongue can cut wounds almost as deep as our abyss
We are moving, but slowly, we can feel the subtle changes
Of progression pushing us forward; and although I know
Not the future, I am sure of a riveting forever.

A Quiet Poem, by Josh

I have no words worthy of you today.
My desire is to be present, to breathe,
and failing your breath, its report
As it echoes through your poetry.

On this page I will conjure a garden
Without hand-hewn paths, but for our footsteps.
And it is snowing, but I can't help that.
Instead of grass, a brittle patch of moss

And bare twigs ending in yet more twigs
permit the snowflakes to permeate the bundle
while fire sleeps for good in the rotting leaves
yet smoulders in manifested breath.

Let words find their places in this delicate heap. (less info)