On the Bitter-Sweet Politics of Being Human

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

War, more often than not, takes a cruel toll on Home Fronts as well as on the battlefield; it changes people, and in doing so can destroy relationships, inflict all manner of blows on family life, cause individuals to question the validity of any raison d’être on offer.

It is perhaps the greatest tragedy of humankind that it’s multi-ego has a problem with the notion of simply agreeing to differ

ON THE BITTER-SWEET POLITICS OF BEING HUMAN

At war, injury or worse for victory’s sake,

not all survivors showing its scars;

at home, cradles rock and boughs break

Back home, safe passage no piece of cake,

many survivors too weary for tears;

at war, injury or worse for victory’s sake

See the battlefield, its finest heroes make

of women from Venus, men from Mars;

at home, cradles rock and boughs break

All roads to peace, too, their victims take,

for all we’re told an answer to prayers;

at war, injury of worse for victory’s sake

Where war makes waves across time’s lake,

find peace putting its faith in straws;

at home, cradles rock and boughs break

Shall history its peace with war ever make,

its windows on the world need no bars?

At war, injuries or worse for victory’s sake;

at home, cradles rock and boughs break

Copyright R. N. Taber 2010; 2016

[Note: Title (only) of the poem revised (2016) from the version that appears under the title 'War and Peace' in On the Battlefields of Love by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2010; revised ed. in e-format in preparation.]