The Two Faces Of War.

The rain washed the blood away
And for a time I became human again
Children with dead eyes
Play amongst corpses rotting in the morning sun
A father prays to some god
Hoping for a miracle
Abound by his faith
Certainly a deeper faith than mine
For the moment only the gun is god
In these quiet times
I think of people sitting at desks
Being productive
Dreaming dreams better than mine
Building a future
The survivor alarm kicks in
I've been here too long
The scene changes
The father has found his god
For a time he becomes a soldier
Two gods about to collide
One through total frustration
The other with the dimension of time
He once read a book
The romance of war
He always thought the title should have read
The two faces of war
The bullet killed him instantly
Tomorrow he would be another rotting corpse
No romance there
People at desks building futures
Children with dead eyes play in the morning sun.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and many at those desks send the young ones to war...and they are killed instantly...a long productive life taken from them in an instant...

no desks, no future...just targets for those dead eyes of the children.

this is quite a thoughtful read.

j.

[Paul Bell]

Sadly, war is easy for politicians.

[CD Campbell]

Thought provoking poem. War is terrible and for the most part is forced upon those who don't want it. But know one is innocent in this world. We've been killing each other since Cain and Abel and there wouldn't be wars without those willing to fight in them. I guess I'm guilty for being in the service at one time. You showed great use of language on this work. Glad to have read it. CD

[Paul Bell]

True, war is one total waste of time.

[Mrudula Rani]

This poem describes perfectly the eternal scenario of war. If these children with dead eyes survive what sort of future awaits them?

[Paul Bell]

They usually become the new martyrs.

[Mrudula Rani]

Even if they become radicals ... I suppose we have no right to criticize them,

[Paul Bell]

Definitely not.

[V.L.Mir]

Wow. I know it's an undeniable fact that part of the human nature is to save their own when placed in a sinking boat.Sir, you have thoughtfully placed it here in your poem in a manner that is easy to read and easy to be appreciated. Thank you for this, sir.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend. I saw the ending of war. Dead cities and homeless people. No-one win in war. Today 20 million veterans sick from the new and old wars in the USA. Children and families pay for the hate of men who seek war over peace. Thank you Paul for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Paul Bell]

The catalogue just goes on and on. Actually i would say it's getting worse.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend. New world ready to kill the young men and women for land and profit.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

"The Two Faces Of War"
Paul Bell,
You wrote a poem which tries to speak for those involved in the process and work of war. Such a difficult thing for me to wrap my mind around. But then, Iv'e not fought in one.
This whole earth's inhabitant's have been affected and broken by every war and every painful skirmish. Loss. I am being vague I know.
Believing in God and trusting in Him is painful when the gun of war has clouded one's ability to process within a war's effects.
I found this part striking: "He once read a book
The romance of war
He always thought the title should have read
The two faces of war
The bullet killed him instantly."
War kills hearts and hope as well.
" Like "Children with dead eyes play in the morning sun."
This was a very deep one for me. thanks much.
Kathy

[Paul Bell]

I think it's all about your own faith, Kathy. War is probably the greatest waste of time ever. It always seemed strange to me that civilised countries would sell arms to basket case regimes. Especially when the same arms usually resulted in the death of their own troops. In saying that, soldiers in the field enjoy the visit from the army chaplain. I suppose in a way, they see it as God is on their side.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Thanks Paul. Well it is a huge waste period. Guess I was just trying to make sense of it, trying to analyze. I'm sure that those in position to gain (or so they may think.... I am still thinking about the Vietnam War. That was something in most of our lifetimes. I think you have a great ability to explain and make sense of something that is just hard for me to understand one way or the other.
Again, I just really appreciate your writing on this and patient explanation above. Take care sir.
Kathy

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

"For the moment only the gun is God."- the truth of war in one sentence. Raw imagery, powerful words. Momentary transcendental non-reality, moments of escape and humanity, and then the blood and rotting corpses return. The "Children with dead eyes" return. Brilliant. Important.

[Paul Bell]

So strange life, isn't it Annette. Somewhere not to far, war is raging.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Yes it is. No answers to why. We never stop asking though...

[Valentine]

Deep read that much to often in this world is true. Valentine

[Beccy]

I think, as a species, we have become inured to war; the horrific reality become little more than instant, 'yes folks, see it as it is actually happening,' prime time soundbites and flicker frame images on our TV screens.

It's an awful, perhaps rather cynical thought; but whenever I see the so-called leaders of this fractured world postulating and preening and paying little more than lip service to all the innocents caught up in conflict, I am put in mind of the Latin phrase, 'panem et circenses.'

This is a poem that hits home and hits hard.

Beccy.

[Paul Bell]

Thanks Beccy. Maybe we should send Politicians to war instead of the Soldiers.