Poland: 1939
Within a silent snow covered hovel Mama whispers,
"Papa, we must send our childern into the forest.
Christian murders come again.
We must hurry.
Give Gretel bread loaves.
Give Hansel white, trail-marker pebbles.
That they may find their way back,
When danger has passed.
Here my darlings,
Two bright gems,
For safe passage payment,
Lest you cannot return
To us who love you
For forever."
Romanian Border: 1940
Within a silent forest hovel, Hilda bakes bread.
The aroma drifts for miles,
Luring many starving, lost childern,
Worth two deutsche marks bounty each,
Plus jew - els found when they bathe.
She cackles, she cooks, she chants;
Feed them, drug them, bind them, turn them in.
Two more juicy brats.
Cooked meat in the money pot.
Two more vermin destroyed.
For the Fatherland,
For forever.
Iraq: 2003
Within a silent oasis hovel mama whispers,
"Papa, we must sent the childern into the dessert,
The infedel Christian murders come again.
Hear their bombers even now.
We must hur..."
Iran? Afghanistan? Palistine? Tomorrow?
Times change,
Detusche marks bounties,
For Oil dollars,
For land pounds,
Yet remain the same.
For forever?
Author notes
As my friend James wrote," all the atrocities of war are a blight on mankind but worst are those done in the name of religion." I choose these recent examples because we seem to forget. Of course, to the dead its all the same. Hacked to death, starved, burned, tortured to death. Dead is dead. aprilnadeau @ AP
A contest entry
- Speak out! by Luna Argintie.
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Comments
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Hello.
Powerful piece and it was a smart move to have the time gaps and the repetition. Suitably highlights, that surroundings change, language, etc, etc, but mankind is still in the same mode. The Romanian section is particularly powerful, for you have not pulled your punches, and this does, as a poet, create a strong emotional reaction in the reader. I wish you well in the contest.
My regards.
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Murderous atrocities carried out in the name of any cause, such as those carried out in today's China, in Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia or the former USSR are a blight on mankind. That they are done in the name of any belief claiming to better man is reprehensible. One could claim support from 'doctrines' or religions but will never be justified in truth.
To me, the most offensive are those done in the name of God, but against everything he teaches. The mask of justification donned by such men is indeed a putrid thing. A connection? -
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I agree, that's why I chose to write about these few examples,
however, we know that no matter the justification war is economic. Money is power, mankind is wired to want more. Virtue lies not in lack of temptation but overcoming it.
At least in the far East, with their different morality, they are up front about their "end justify the means" attitude.
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