Tag Archives: war

Oreshnik

The clouds lit up and split the night, 
Six times the flash was seen,
Then unknown things plunged down to earth,
As fast as eyes could see;
Six by six, they tore the sky,
Like bolts thrown down by Zeus,
In ancient times, against the wrongs of Man,
To scorch the plains where evil bred,
To burrow deep, to burn the rot;
When Gods, in anger, slew the fools,
Who defied the laws that kept the peace,
Defied their wisdom, defied their love;
The clouds lit up and split the night,
And all looked on amazed, 
For it seemed avenging angels,
Had shed their wings in holy wrath,
To begin the final end on Earth,
Of Lords of war and hate.

In 0’14

In 0’14  began the war

To kill us all, of that I’m sure,

They slew democracy in Ukraine,

As in Belgrade, some years before,

And in Dallas, in ’63,

When bullets flew, to end a dream.

And now the nightmare haunts us all,

Peace lies dead, against a wall,

 Of lies and lust, of hate and war,

 But all you do is whine and moan

You’ve not seen Paris or been to Rome.

The Living We Love, The Dead That We Mourn

 

Goya, man-war

For the living we love,

the dead that we mourn,

a question long-asked,

without answer remains;

why men kill for money,

in crimes they call wars,

arranged over dinner,

and the finest Chablis.

 

You hear what they say,

‘it’s what has to be’,

‘they’re evil you know’,

‘there’s no other way’,

chanted like prayers

on the video screens,

by those artful with lies,

it’s not what it seems,

who solemnly state,

‘it’s for justice, dear friends’

“for liberty, for freedom,

‘by god, for your life,’

so no answer comes,

so it’s little I know,

but behold, I see Justice

now rides a pale horse

and carries her banner,

bloodied,

upside turned down.

 

 

 

War Questions

lucy

What will a kiss profit me, or thee,

When her lips are cold as the icing sea,

What will a smile for her life now,

When her eyes are blind to the golden bough,

What will a touch, an embrace arouse,

When her heart lies still in a bloodied blouse,

What will a cry, “Oh, lord, save us,” bring,

When gods are false as the praises they sing,

What will tears wash away in the night,

When the fountain is deep and far from the light,

What will the words of holy books heal,

When the soul of man is bayonet steel,

But though I ask and ask and ask, I can no answer hear,

To make me wise, nor bring me cheer,

So dig the grave sure, I shall my dear,

And impart my only ring,

As turtle doves swirl past and sing,

And village bells in mourning ring.