War

War


I am in no band of brothers
A member of no tribe of my own
I am no fallen hero
I am standing alone.

Moving forward without
all of the answers,
knowing some of
the answers I have are wrong.

Moving forward
onward
alone.

Once again our teenagers have lived
their lives not knowing what is in store

Once again our world has gone crazy
in the name of some Holy War

I hate this hate. I hate this war.
I wish I did not hate.

It is hard to love in a cruel bitter world
it is so very easy to hate.

Fully Automatic rage is devastating.
The stench of bitterness lasts.

How can I ever change the world?

It has been 96 years since the end of
“the war to end all wars.”
If I end my war in some small way
will I have changed the world?

I know I am a dreamer
and though I feel alone
I know
I’m not the only one.

I dream of a world where children’s lives are not
consumed with thoughts of war.

I dream of a world where parents do not live
with fear of the loss in their eyes.

I dream of a world of people who do not
kill in response to their fear.

I am grateful to all who have ever served
and honor this warrior’s words;

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow"
"Between the crosses, row on row"


 

    
 

    
 

Line count: 40 lines
Written for: The Writer’s Cramp Due  11/12/14
Prompt:
NEW PROMPT:
Around the world, November 11 honors those who died serving their countries - it is known as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Veteran's Day. World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
 
In honor of November 11, you must include these lines from "In Flanders Fields" (a poem by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae) somewhere in your STORY or POEM. The lines must be bolded. The lines may be used together, or separately in different places in your item.
 
"In Flanders fields the poppies blow"
 
"Between the crosses, row on row"