War
by Charles Keller — Read all 159 poems by Charles Keller
My poetic view of the horror of war
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
WAR
Take a side, suicide, homicide, genocide.
Blink an eye, children die, apple pie, mothers cry.
Rivalry, strategy, trickery, tyranny.
Leadership, fellowship, statesmanship, censorship.
Hungering, bartering, capturing, conquering.
Forcible, dutiful, pitiful, horrible.
Wearisome, worrisome, quarrelsome, tweedledum.
Fortitude, quietude, solitude, turpitude.
Ravaging, martyring, lingering, shattering.
Arbitrate, deprecate, formulate endless hate.
On and on, Pentagon, Dearest John, pink chiffon.
Pragmatist, socialist, atheist, scientist.
Cowardice, prejudice, artifice, armistice.
Fornicate, amputate, instigate, procreate.
Tolerate, vegetate, violate, compensate.
Count the dead, go to bed, filled with dread... Enough said.
This one has a cadance that thuds the heart and brings tears to the eyes. Only those who've been there can fully convey the terror. Well done.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.