Living By the Sword

Absolutely true. Make swords into ploughshares ...

So true... wise... but you will need to speak louder, as those that make war are often deaf... :( Excellent write as always. You are great at this, and should write a book. Ann

As with guns now, swords were no laughing matter, that's for sure: Somber stuff! Well highlighted, Andrea. Best wishes, Gershon

So true Andrea, sadly the innocents get caught up in it. Tom

A tellilng poem that resounds with truth, Andrea.

So true and so well said Andrea. All the best.

I liked the turn Andrea and the ah ha moment...not many write a true Tanka anymore...I remember studying them a few years back...a difficult task to master, which you have done

In a book on Taoism I once read that "the violent and strong do not die their natural death". My last poem was not revised. Some people think "first thought - best thought". Some revise over and over. How about you? Peace & Love Matthew Anish

Great entry for the contest. Yours words speak up truth and honor. Thanks for sharing best of luck in the contest

Your poem is a truly sad poem because its based in the truth of cold hard facts. Its well done, and packs a very powerful punch.

Being ex-military I can honestly tell you that I never met anyone who wanted to go to war. However wars happen anyway and so we go and fight. It hard for most to understand unless they have been there and seen the rape rooms, the torture rooms, the people so desperate that even death was preferable to continuing on under people like Saddam, Isis, the Taliban, and going back as far as even Hitler. I hope only those of us who fought will have to know just how demented the people we fought were.