Feature Poem
A Soldier's Prayer
by Barry Arnold, USA
How still the night
How near the fear
What now may come
Is all but clear
The winds of war
The horrid heat
The smell of blood
All spell defeat
For those who love
Who pray for peace
What can we do
To save our souls
To find a place
Where hearts are whole?
Not torn by hate
Not filled with tears
Not lost within
The dreadful years
When children die
The young grow brave
And mothers cry
And vengeance craved
By hopeless dreamers
Filled with rage
What madness grips
The mind of Man
That makes us choose
To fight again
That take us to
The depths of hell
That fills the graves
With those who fell
For ancient grudges
Devils sell?
What good is war
When no one wins
When blood is spilled
And all our sins
Are strewn across
The fields again?
Now some would say
There's wrong and right
They'd rather die
They'd rather fight
That there is good
And there is bad
And though it might be
Very sad
We have no choice
The war's begun
And there are battles
To be won
But tell me
Have you ever heard
The echo of the soldiers' words
From the graveyards
Of the world?
Find a way
To live in peace
There is no solace
For our grief
If we had the chance again
We'd rather be alive than win
There's nothing to be
Gained or lost
The price we paid's
Too great a cost
The highest act of bravery
Is obvious for all to see
Discard the seeds
Of bigotry
Defeat our age old enemies
Poverty
Hatred
and
Disease
The world's a gift
For all to share
Love each other
Show you care
When you do
All war will cease
And everyone
Will live in peace
Read more poetry by Barry Arnold by clicking here.
Email: jonathan@poeticjustice.co.uk
