poem: Wreaths

for someone I lost

Wreaths

for VY

 

 

How dare you dictate, to me,

the way I should feel about those kids

fighting over there for your political moves?

Just because it is far easier to rally around anger

and a call to vengeance;

than facts, and temperance-

does not make it right.

Damn it, I want him back- the man

you took from me

and returned a raging boy with a fascination

for arsenals and a love of the bottle;

after his hands were painted with the blood,

of his best friend

who had the audacity to be in the wrong place

at the wrong blasted time.

For I know what it takes to relinquish a loved one

to those burning

endless sands and alien landscapes

where shadows become wraiths

hunting with the intent

to lay wreaths upon the ground

for our kids.

You do not own the bald eagle

and even your Jesus,

I am sorry to say,

never endorsed the flag of any nation.

Nice try.

Patriotism is such a dirty fighting word-

perfect for cornering a thoughtful enemy

into the box with a trapdoor

through which our morality fell

and was hanged

by the neck until dead.

Give me back my man, and give his mother back her son;

then go and tour

a ragged nation where

war’s fist smashed with heavy handed brutality

for decades, and ask yourself-

how great must the damn prize be

to ask anyone to give

this much- their daughters

and sons and dreams;

and landscapes ruint beyond recognition,

in the pitiless gaze of the beast

marching into the deserts past Bethlehem,

in the place

where the ribbons on wreaths

flutter lightly in the breeze-

almost imperceptible

in your blood lust.

It had better be worth your bloody asking price.

Because we’ll endorse cash payments for

technology to kill

but we won’t teach those kids

how to cope with the horror they must live with

when they return

to a land that has forgotten what it means

to look death, especially pointless

in the face and watch it bleed out.

And I tell you it is easier to drop a bomb

than to dig 100 wells

and educate a nation.

So go ahead and tell me I am unpatriotic

but first, give me back the man

you took from me

and tell me again, slowly

so even I understand; 

why your goals

trumped his sanity and the gentle heart he had to give

to this world if only he could remember

how to use it, and stop

waking in the dark to the nightmares

of landscapes slightly less real than your 10^th Circle.

I’ll take my eagle back, thank you, at least I know

what they need

to survive.

Author's Note

I figured it was time I wrote my first piece about the Iraq War, reading so many from others. No offense meant to any who served or know those who did; in fact, quite the opposite. Please take a moment of silence, when you read this, to honor all who were asked to give for this cause; and if you were one of them, you have a moment from me.

A nod to Yeats' "Second Coming" with the line about the beast marching past Bethlehem

This was written for someone real in my life who I love very deeply.

Reviews

[Phibby Venable]

a strong, intelligent cry...
Because we’ll endorse cash payments for

technology to kill

but we won’t teach them

how to cope with the horror they must live with

when they return

to a land that has forgotten what it means

to look death, especially pointless

in the face and watch it bleed out.
Very fine!

[Jinx's Heart]

This was so powerful that I couldn't read all of it...it touched me so deeply. It has so much truth and depth. I am blown away by it's honesty and validity. Excellent piece!

[cest la vie]

I see the ravages of this farce every time I go to my VaMed. Center.I leave abit less whole each time. We have become complacent and I just don't understand. Do not understand at all.
Thank you for writing this for them, about them, to them...

[bluessadmood]

this was one great write..
in war every one loses my friend..there is no winner..especially if it was all unjustified
you lose your loved ones..or you lose how they were before they saw real blood
before they saw real killing..of some who are really so innocent and had nothing to do with it all
oh yes its very easy to drop a bomb and take some hundreds of lives..
i was bombed some three times..and i think you know i have nothing to do with it at all
so many like me were less lucky and left whole families with no support
but with pains and aches and a very miserable life to live forever
never worry about patriotism ,these are just nonsical words to justify
all the atrocities that took place in the name of defending my land and my people
most these claims are of no meanings,where all could be solved with other ways
blood should never be shed only in very demanding situations
war is never a game..taking lives..innocent lives is never a game
taking hopes and dreams and driving whole families to a life time misery
nothing could justify all this..nothing could glorify war and fighting and killing
lovely write..

[Jibey]

I felt the pain and the fierce anger at the damage to lives of such arguably pointless conflicts... Charged with strong images and challenging thoughts... written with passion and conviction... making it such a powerful piece... Thank you

[Naomi Montana Walsh]

This was moving and well worded , each line ecchos with truth .
I have many thoughts on war and most of them areconfusing..
Young men and women suffering .. but those who remain at home suffering more when they do not return..I love my country , but I love the world as well and still have to believe there is a better answer than War.
your poem is a gem.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Oh wow now that was quite brilliant... and I so agree... these lines alone were earth shaking....

You do not own the bald eagle
and Jesus,

I was always so against the war but I wasn't against our soldiers, I felt bad for them fighting a useless war.... I was against our President at the time... invading without real rhyme or reason... to me he is a war criminal committing terrorist acts going above he United Nations. So needless to say your piece certainly raised my interest.

[Lola Nation]

What words!! And to you who speaks, thank you