The thirty six righteous men.

Six billion different souls intertwine -
different ideals and opposed views
a scab on the skin of the earth,
once picked will only bleed questions.

Only thirty six are worthy, truly,
to stand and hold up a society
that crumbles like a crust desiccated
in scorched heat.
Thirty six dominoes rooted
whilst anonymous millions fall -
taking down fresh ideas
cures for cancerous diseases
future generations
mothers, brothers and sons.

As you stand on the shoreline,
wondering why you see in semi circles and
marveling at the expanse of life,
as the wet sand moulds around your toes
holding on to its infrequent visitor
with a mind open to others.
Somewhere, (hidden in poetry)
more life is extinguished,
one more ejected into middled-um -
equilibrium reaches tipping point,
my journey starts by falling to my knees.

It is here I find inscribed into stone -

many roads traveled
branches spawn yet more branches,
questions unanswered,

a bush of charcoal
remnants of tableau exist,
dusty tome of war.

My mind travels
to a succulent forest, where
flora remains virgin,
development yet to be developed.
Timber exhaling as anchoring
roots continue to stretch,
blossoming sentinels of enchantment
and peace, tranquility oozing and dancing
through entwined limbs,
sharing raindrops.

A tomb the only embellishment
granite standing soldier-like,
alien amongst gargantuan oaks
screaming for attention,
a chiseled message
proving human trespass.

As life cycles turn,
should prophets earn a profit
when trading insults?

Reminiscing on the mud and metal
of war leaves men feeling raw,
a few footsteps gained.

I daydream to a mountain top
another stone out of place,
auspicious amongst believers
of one almighty faith.
Here I find confusion in the cloak
of normality, unable to speak, to feast
to enjoy, to destroy -
banished from communities
living my one life as an oddity
following the bell that tolls.

When, finally I have an audience,
I ask aloud and with conviction -

whilst humanity has opposites,
whilst God has his Demon,
whilst good shows us bad,
whilst life ends with death,
the din shatters silence,
dreams distort reality,
man has woman,
boy has girl,
darkness shares its time with light -

What is Earth's antonym?
Is there another world where only the thirty six dwell
removed from this place
to ensure our souls can wander?

I awaken next to you
knee deep in seawater,
face filling with this angry current.
I drown for seeing too much.

*****
Thanks to Colm for your suggestions, I have edited as suggested apart from the 'and' in stanza 7 as it alters the syllable count for the Senryu.