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.

[Faye]

Very touching. I love your wording. My favorite parts are actually the last stanza and your author's note. A couple of the lines bother me, but I cannot quite place why, so I will leave it at that.

Good luck and hope to see more good work from you.

[ShAb]

A true poets work..:) I bow down to you sire..:)

woe always summons disaster as you aptly put.

[StacyPerry]

Another piece of good work

[Dinesh Sairam]

"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"

^^ Absolutely stunned by this wrote, Tate.

Hats off to you. There'll be a time when all this barbaric acts stop, or I least hope it will. The poem is awesome.. :)

PS. Do hear to 'Heal the world' and 'Man in the mirror' by Michael Jackson.

[FeliciaS (Poetic Prince..]

This is amazing

[Ruth]

There will be a time when we stand together hon and stop war! Peace is never far away, we just have to find it!
Excellent poem!
xx

[Rain Kissed Secret]

I love it Tate. Its something to rack your brain over, and it'll get people thinking. It's beautifully written and it has so many possibilities. Nicely done.
Rain

[Elizabeth]

"The marching soldiers who had gone

our children who danced to war"... quite so. The song is appropriate, as always.

[The Analog Kid]

You ask some good questions here. We need to get out of Afghanistan and Iraq.