HOW DOES ONE WRITE A POEM ABOUT WAR?

 

Even in the safety of the mountains…we can’t ignore that there are wars 

but speaking as a amateur poet…war doesn’t not lend itself to poetry…

 

Poetry weaves words of love, grace and tenderness

meant to help people enjoy the life they lead

to elicit joy, affection and happiness

to paint beautiful peaceful pictures in our minds

 

War is an instrument of death…

and those who don’t perish carry the memories of war with them

and are forever changed.

 

War sews words of discord…seeds of sadness, grief and sorrow

meant to destroy not only peace…but life itself…

perhaps that’s why there is no poetry…there can be no rhymes in war. 

 

If only we would answer the prayers of those on both sides of war

for aren’t their prayers the same? 

Keep me safe

Keep my family safe

Please bring this suffering and killing to an end.

 

If only we could raise up the love that exists 

in the midst…but somewhere beyond the reach of war…

The love that waits…quietly…with tears in her eyes

trying desperately to endure…to overcome the hate.

trying her best, like the people of war, to survive

 

So poetry, like love must stand by…

must fold her hands…must pray and wait….

until people come to their senses…until love returns

until there is peace…even tentative peace.

 

We wait until friends and family members begin to feel hope again

behind the tears they cry…

when from the rubble and debris of war…

we see the return of the flowers…of bees and the butterflies.

 

We wait and hope that someday…the lessons of war, by everyone, will be learned…

We wait until the smiles on the children…the children of war…return

 

We wait for signs that love though forever altered, can be reborn  

for then and only then…

when the poems we pen are weaved with fresh words of peace and love…

will we find our rhymes again

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