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WHAT IF, CHILD?

What if war were just a chaotic dress rehearsal in a school play
and torture were long philosophical conversations with idiots,
bullets, tiny bits of lint culled from laughing soldier's uniforms,
fighter jets, kites dropping from the shoulders of the sun,
warships, marshmallows floating in a sea of hot chocolate,
and tanks, funny little cars full of tumbling clowns?

O! If only it were so then all of the world's hideous warmongers might be
paper dolls in rooms full of beautiful children, each with a pair of scissors...


© 2008 mrp/thepoetryman



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Comments

  1. mandtDecember 31, 2008 at 11:03 AM

    Those last two lines were breathtaking!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Case WagenvoordJanuary 1, 2009 at 9:53 AM

    I especially loved the scissors.

    ReplyDelete
  3. GailJanuary 2, 2009 at 9:03 AM

    Hi-
    I just wanted to stop by and say "hello". I kind of met you on Utah Savage's blog. I love your blog and the hope for peace and justice for which it stands.
    I will visit again, okay?
    Gail
    peace.....

    ReplyDelete
  4. thepoetrymanJanuary 3, 2009 at 12:18 AM

    mandt,
    Happy New Year and thank you...

    ReplyDelete
  5. thepoetrymanJanuary 3, 2009 at 12:19 AM

    Case,
    The scissors seem to sum up my feelings.

    ReplyDelete
  6. thepoetrymanJanuary 3, 2009 at 12:21 AM

    Gail,
    Thank you for stopping by. Utah Savage is certainly one of my favorites. I will come by your neck of the woods soon. Thank you for the kind words.
    Peace...

    ReplyDelete
  7. GailJanuary 3, 2009 at 10:05 AM

    Hi
    And a 'Happy New Year To You, please know that most of my 'posts' are not like the one on which you commented. My 'theme', if you will, is of truth and healing and embracing one's self no matter what the truth is. People go to great lengths to separate themselves from themselves. My hope in my blog is for people to know they don't have to run from their truths.
    Your blog is VERY powerful, powerful indeed. I love your creativity in it's style. I am not so computer savy.
    I look forward to reading more. Hopefully you can look through some of my earlier posts to get a better 'feel' for my intent. I come to you in peace and truth.
    Warmly,
    Gail
    peace.....

    ReplyDelete
  8. libhomJanuary 4, 2009 at 9:25 AM

    You are absolutely correct. The slaughter needs to stop now.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Utah SavageJanuary 4, 2009 at 1:55 PM

    Will we ever be able to get the blood stains out? Of the flag, that is.

    The photograph and then the poem and then the scissors.
    This is so powerful and with the lightest of touches.

    ReplyDelete
  10. thepoetrymanJanuary 18, 2009 at 1:13 AM

    Gail,
    Happy New Year to you, too!

    Libhom,
    Immediately!

    Utah,
    You are so kind to say so and yes, someday we may yet cleanse the stained flag. It will take great effort and time, but it is, I certainly believe, possible.

    ReplyDelete

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