For Peace

peace has always been
just
some sunny sky between
firestorms
never the rain
the warm evenings in summer
the silent falling snow
that lets the seasons
work
that keeps our boys
down on the farm,
and out of
pair-ee

passion
justice
promotions
defence contracts
do not bloom
in peace

i must say
the thought of
saddam,
weeping,
chained to a turret
on an allied tank
top speed
heading west
delights me still.

but
there must be a formula
for the number of
children who must
suffer and starve
weaken and perish
for every hard-hearted
war criminal
made to atone.

i wonder at the
cost, turning
innocent babies into
hollow eyed amputees
loverless, careless
wretches without hope,
martyrs before puberty.

they will get no parade.

but the least of us
still know
a hasty
addled hate-ocratic
button push
could turn some
squat olive-drab
cylinder into fire
that could vaporize
us all.

cold harbor
greasy-grass
the alamo
hiroshima
firebase julie
will be sacrifices
for nothing.

sky falling,
klaxons sounding
the better angels
of our nature
will be led
weeping
into
whoredom

forever.