 | Storm Flag 8 feet by 14 feet Fort Sumter National Monument FOSU 9  |
derives from
words meaning
to confuse, to perplex,
to bring into confusion
Germanic words
to avoid
mistaking Latin
bellum with bella.
War is not beautiful.
To confuse:
Noisy fireworks
Noisy fireworks
confuse me.
I too
am perplexed
by their
fumes and
their intent
am perplexed
by their
fumes and
their intent
to entertain.
Concepts and colors are beautiful,
but war is not.
Patriot-ism:
Rocket red
Rocket red
lights up
my country tis of thee’s
anthem and flag
loud and dark
loud.
dark.
Beautiful war? or dumb luck?
I never war—never consciously
perplex or confuse anyone.
Ha!
You confuse me!
Not intentionally.
Besides war
is prolonged violent
collective struggle.
I never war, but
people war against me.
And it is not beautiful.
You
are beautiful.
No, I am not!
Are we warring?
Not with each other
but maybe
the audience
is perplexed.
Audience members are innocent.
Unless they intend
to watch
and to be confused for a while.
And hurt.
Hurt?
If it is a prolonged
violent struggle
with weapons.
But bystanders
are innocent!
Not if they pay
to get in.
Not if they earn
money from it.
Not if they prolong it.
You are confusing me.
War is not pretty.
It’s pretty confusing.
Let’s talk about peace instead.
Do we have a flag
and anthem
for peace?
Inspired by Gabriella's prompt
Susan, I agree. War is not pretty. And yes, we definitely need to have more peace anthems. And....the words "I never war but people war against me" gives me pause for thought & reflect on other aspects of the word.
ReplyDeleteLet's talk about peace instead. Elusive as it may be. Great write, Susan.
ReplyDelete"Not if they pay
ReplyDeleteto get in.
Not if they earn
money from it.
Not if they prolong it."....war provides a few with so much....hope the world realizes this...a great write Susan..
It seems peace has become an alien concept. Not celebrated and honored like war is. A powerful, powerful write, Susan. And important.
ReplyDeletewar is...
ReplyDeleteand i am not sure there is much we can do about it...
beyond no reveling in it...
not dancing in the street when dictators are shot
because life is too precious
for us to be consumed with
war.
interesting structure of the poem and indeed, we should talk about peace.
ReplyDeleteAgreed war is no way beautiful, peace is what we hanker for
ReplyDeleteHappy you dropped in at my Sunday Lime
Much love ...
an excellent argument.
ReplyDeleteZQ
"Do we have a flag
ReplyDeleteand anthem
for peace?"
and if not, why not? - It's the burning question, isn't it?
I love the warp and weave of your poem, the way it mimics the confusion and upheavals of war...
I like how your words and line suggest the confusion you feel and thus make us feel it too so efficiently. And i also think the way you closed the poem was rather clever.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you were inspired by the prompt.
War is not pretty at all ~ I am all for finding the flag and anthem for peace ~
ReplyDelete"mistaking Latin
ReplyDeletebellum with bella.
War is not beautiful." What an intensely beautiful poem on behalf of peace!
I do not war either...nor try to confuse...but I like the idea of a flag and an anthem for peace. Perhaps someday.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder why we can't be an amalgam of Switzerlands, Swedens, Portugals and other nations that seemed to have abandoned war as a tenet. Sadly there are those that need to impose their beliefs on others and who then will defend the innocent? What a disagreeable race of animals we are.
ReplyDeletejust watched the film The Hurt Locker again and it's a proof that war is never beautiful no matter how one defends it. The last line is a beautiful plea... to end war.
ReplyDeletePeace - my favorite theme! Let's talk..and if one's not agree I'd never war...
ReplyDeletelet there be peace in the world
ReplyDeletea very powerful write, Susan.
ReplyDeletewriting about war can easily veer into cliched territory, but your poem makes the reader wanting to read more. I liked how you structured it, in those short lines.
" You are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNo, I am not!
Are we warring?"
had to chuckle at this...
Very much let us have an anthem of peace. Very well written.
ReplyDelete