Elizabeth Wesley Poet Carpe Diem

Another Man's War

You won't be here when the lilacs bloom,
You won't breathe their sweet perfume;
Instead my love, you'll follow your star,
To fight with passion another man’s war.
Skimming the air, the swallows fly low,
Over the battle where patches of snow
Mingle with mud and stains of blood,
Reaping the tide of that bitter flood.

On foot, by air or by lethal machine,
The fight of war is vast and mean;
Our sons charge thru the valley of death,
Crying aloud with their last breath;
And it plucks the soul and tears the heart
And grieves the loved at home apart.

Both pray to God for His will to win,
In spite of the fact that war is sin;
But to love our neighbor and all mankind,
Would heal the loss and mend the mind.

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Andrea Dietrich May 29, 2012 at 5:17 PM Lizzy I came to some of your earlier poems looking for one I 'd not read yet. This is kind of like the one i posted very recently on war. The same theme on an age old calamity we cannot seem to be rid of !!!

Keith Bickerstaffe May 27, 2012 at 8:06 PM Magnificent, my dear Elizabeth! You know I just gotta highlight your phrasing. '...mingle with mud and stains of blood,' '...plucks to soul and tears the heart and grieves the loved at home apart.' Your wish for sanity to end the madness is well defined by your last two lines. I love the way you insert the swallow... your love of nature shining through again. :)

Vince Suzadail Jr. February 11, 2012 at 4:43 PM As long as man has egos, lust for power, greed and the lack of universal acceptance, we will have war. The working man's children will fight and die while the rich man's children will stay safe. I'm 30 years military and I would do it again in an instant but I would refuse to go if it was an oil hunt or just plain government stupidity.

Michael Hornschuch July 15, 2011 at 12:39 PM nice... especially your last line..."Would heal the loss and mend the mind."

George Aul June 20, 2011 at 10:38 AM A really thought provoking poem, nicely done........George

Zzzzz Zzzzz June 20, 2011 at 1:22 AM A great poem Elizabeth! You sum up vividly and poetically what all sane people on the planet ultimately wish for. History gives us one long list of wars...will we ever learn? Love & peace, Robert.

Mike Dailey June 19, 2011 at 6:40 PM A very moving poem. thanks for posting it. Mike

Kash Poet June 19, 2011 at 5:27 PM A wonderful poem ...enjoyed...thanks for your kind comment at my page.

Carolyn Devonshire June 19, 2011 at 1:43 PM War makes me very sad, Elizabeth. In a perfect world, we would all get along. You have to feel sorry for the family and friends left behind. Eloquently written! Love, Carolyn

Rob Metcalf June 19, 2011 at 12:55 PM only someone who has lived war and fought war could write a piece like this. i never have and that's why i don't great job! rob.