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Truth Is the First Casualty

Truth is the first casualty of modern war,
Aggressive leaders are routinely spewing lies
Hitler had no designs on Austria, he swore,
Japanese attacked under a peace talk guise.
G. W. Bush insisted Iraq had nuclear weapons,
Though investigations found no signs of them,
Weeks before the Ukraine invasion happens
Putin is denying plans to attack, condemns
Western nations’ intrusions into his schemes,
Soon his bombs cause in Ukraine a mayhem
So, truth is the first casualty of war, it seems,
Militaristic leader’s words are so much phlegm.

TENTH PLACE WINNER
Written March 7, 2022
For "Is Truth the First Casualty of War" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Sotto Poet

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2022

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Sotto Poet Date: 4/8/2022 2:36:00 PM Milt, congratulations on your win in my Contest with your wonderful poem, I love the imagery and the wonderful rhyme in your writing. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 4/8/2022 3:18:00 PM I thought perhaps it would do better, Lasaad, but it was your call. I enjoyed writing for the contest.

Terry Miller Date: 4/7/2022 1:55:00 AM Congratulations Milt and truly well-deserved Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 4/7/2022 7:10:00 AM Thanks so much, Terry. I see I squeaked in under the wire!

John Lawless Date: 3/7/2022 4:16:00 PM What's that line from the old 60's song..."when will they ever learn when will they ever learn?" Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 3/7/2022 5:16:00 PM A propos, John. The answer is "Blowin' in the Wind."

Bill Baker Date: 3/7/2022 3:05:00 PM Excellent poem for the contest, Milt. Excellent examples to support your thoughts. Bill Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 3/7/2022 5:17:00 PM Thank you so much, Bill. There are many more examples, but I tried to keep it short, and I thought I would also use an American example.

Jeff Kyser Date: 3/7/2022 2:16:00 PM nice, now just asking - does this fit the category of quatrain? or do you have to insert blank lines every 4th line to make it that? I never know if it is the rhyme scheme only, or the actual spacing Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 3/7/2022 5:21:00 PM I toyed with separating every four lines and calling it "quatrain." Then, I felt like it holds together better and flows more nicely in one verse, which I thought I needed to call "Rhyme" instead of quatrain. IDK the technical answer to your question, Jeff, but I'd say it has to be separated to be called quatrains. Notice, too, I had a wraparound line which sort of didn't work with separating the "quatrains." Anyone else have an opinion?