Oh boy oh boy,You have hit the nail right on the head.I love it when you let all that passion out in your poetry.The political statements are my favourites,to use an old hippy saying,you socked it to 'em Ronald.
I felt my spirit cheering you on with every line that I read.
Mostly,I agree with everything you wrote in this heavy punch of a poem. Keep it up as those at the top need to know how we really feel about the chaos they are causing.

Ron it will be a wonderful thing when there are no wars, unfortunately that day has not arrived yet.

Hey Don,

Nice to hear from you after all this time. I've been away from authorsden for a while now. Thanks for reviewing my poem. Yes, again, I got carried away and looked up and realized I had written and epic. On your poem, I do agree that in an idealistic world we should tear it all down and ALL live in peace. But, a Rebecca, John, and w. Aher point out, sadly, we don't live in an idealistic world. Imaginary threats, hating others guts, etc. -- all very true as I can tell you for a fact.

Again, really nice to know you are still on here. Jimmy

As the saying goes, in a perfect world...

I agree, to a point. But warmongers such as Putin and Hitler, who attack and invade for no more purpose than lusts for greed and power, unfortunately exist and will continue to exist for as long as humanity exists. So what are the rest of us to do when threatened? Should Ukraine have rolled over and let Putin have his way? Should our own country have continued living under the yoke of English rule?

It's nice to wish and dream of a world without war, but the harsh truth remains that there are those who will never allow that to happen. I'm not so naive as to believe that there aren't those of a like mind in our own government nor do I disbelieve that there are those who profit handsomely from war. All too often they're the same animals who will do all they can to keep tensions running high and count their riches in blood, anyone's blood. Their only allegience is to themselves and whoever can pay them the most money.

So, understanding that, what would be the price for a world of "peace?" True peace, the kind that is dreamt of, is just that, a dream. The only kind of peace that would be possible with humans being what they are now would be the peace that comes from overwhelming defeat and dominance. Where no one and nothing remains to question and rebel against the wrong of it.

I am not a fan of war. I, too, wish we could all learn to coexist peacefully. But I'm realistic, and fatalistic, enough to understand it's not going to happen unless we suddenly all evolve into far more spiritually enlightened beings. And that isn't going to happen this side of Armageddon.

Douglas MacArthur once said, "The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."

If war must be fought, let it be for a just cause. Not a mercenary one.

Rebecca

You bring me back to my 60's anti-war delusions. As I new then, we'll never wise up. The youth today have the destruction of our climate on their minds. A tricky topic that needs our voices. High tech wars are too often going unseen.

Hmmn. A tricky topic indeed. Sounds like a good idea; but will it, could it, ever happen, I don't think so. It seems humanity isn't as smart as they -- we -- think. The answer to all your "how many" questions in your penultimate stanza is "too many!"