War

For whom do we all rise each day

with what do we gain happiness

For ourselves the masses say

though this is folly with sadness

 

The marching soldiers who had gone

our children who pranced to war

Had carried our hopes and love on

would die to please us never-more

 

No more the laughter to our ears

left forever the taste of dirt

As ground belayed the sound of cheers

and feelings of others pride hurt

 

In a moment the lonely sound

fell heavy on every mans ear

As the truth echoed from the ground

even the boldest shook to hear

 

For then the songs all ceased to play

we looked to sky and then to friend

They felt there nothing left to say

for woe had summoned this the end

 

Author's Note

Will we never stop beating the drums of war ? Only to pave the streets of conquest with the souls of children. I wrote this after attending the funeral of a friends dear child. You know goodness has a sound to it. It is the laughter of children Who play unafraid in the streets of a town. Lacking that we have failed to secure anything. Goodness is not what we won't do. Nor some question of whom we exclude. It is the unselfish act of humanity. That sees ourselves in those we include.

Reviews

[S. Georgia]

This poem especially spoke to be because of the subject matter, its a very delicate subject; war and how senseless it is. But it also spoke to me because my father's been in and out since about '01 in the past war and was finally discharged (thank goodness he's still alive) this year because of an injury (and a few previous ones). I think that all wars especially the present one can wear the mask of altruism and 'we're just going to help' but there's always a hidden motive which makes the loss of life completely meaningless.

"No more the laughter to our ears
left forever the taste of dirt
As ground belayed the sound of cheers
and feelings of others pride hurt"
I thought the above line was especially beautiful and just really spoke to me.
-S.

[Ted Kniffen]

"War...what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!" Maybe if the old men on their shiny hills were handed a weapon and sent to the front there'd be a change in thinking. There are those men who have seen the folly of war and paid the price even many years later.

Good one Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Ted I have never been in war. But in my entire life I have only known 4 yrs peace. The four years of jimmy Carter. Corporations run America And they send young men to war, personally I refused to let my son go.

[wordman]

war,we are forced to kill and destroy,we get killed and screwed up for life
over some greedy politician`s war

[Tate Morgan]

I have to agree there we sure never learn

[MysteriousAries]

A strong voice to be heard... Read it 3 times and I've seen sadness all over... No Victor in the game of war...

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Aries I haven't had a chsnce to go over the one you sent been busy today

[MysteriousAries]

just take your time sir... :)

[wordwarrior]

So beautifully and thoughtfully penned. The sadness and dreadful pain and loss of war certainly makes us think as your poem does Tate.
Very poignant and heart wrenching.

[TrimarcoRansome]

Spoils of war, The most pointless act of inhumanity masquerading as 'humanity' very vivid imagery I gt from this, well done!

[K. D. Kromminga]

As a former soldier, and someone who has lost dear friends to War, I can appreciate your point of view laid out in this poem. It is true Greed is what starts most War, whether its coveting what you don't have, or the avarice to gain more. Even the US, though we generally hang back to finish the war not start it, gets into War for financial reasons, if only that promoting peace and stability throughout the world is good for business(hence the unfortunate "policeman of the world" moniker).

I'm not so sure one piece of imagery is appropriate. I know few nations that actually celebrate going to war, which is what "danced" may imply. If you are referring to decorative marching, perhaps "pranced" was what you meant to say.

[Baby Ricochet]

There's always going to be war. It's part of the human experience. Strange as this may sound to some I don't think of war as good or bad I just except it as the human disease that it is. Religion often gets the blame for starting wars. That's not true. Greed starts wars. Sometimes desperation but mostly it's greed. Great poem.

[light and ashes]

War must stop. Its just not worth it. Great poem about the evils of war.

[LadyNaida]

This is a too familiar story for many mothers that have seen their, what looks like in their eyes, their little boys going out to fight someone's else's war.

[~ Vicki ~]

wow Tate xxxx Thanks