The Other Side Of War

Aside from writing the usual catharsis-laden poems that involve romance, anxiety, love, loss, and emotion, I have written more than a few political/war poems. In all of them, I seek to understand the only side of war that matters: the dead. Who wins, who loses is irrelevant, even though I understand much about war from a pragmatic view. All that matters is that war comes to an end... and the dead know this better than anyone.

'The Other Side of War'

Only the dead have seen the end of war - Plato

Rays of sunlight obscured by ashen clouds,
Nothing left for the world to warm.
Suffering, mangled forms battered into dust,
Resolve and spirit crushed by steel and fire.
They wait for the shadows to fade...
They all wait, but it does not come.
It does not end.

Torrents of blood drenched by driving rain,
Scoured raw through a cleansing storm.
Fragmenting, restless thoughts carried away,
Caught upon the edge of razor and bayonet.
They hope for morning upon their face...
They all hope, yet morning does not come.
It will not end.

Memories of passion enveloped within happier days,
Clinging to a surface beneath the thunderous din.
An agonizing torment yielding no respite,
What awaits, a relief beyond the battle's cry.
They die reaching to the other side...
They all die, finally seeing the other side,
Finally knowing war's end.

C.