Brothers War & Peace Poem by Mark Heathcote

Brother War says he doesn't care for me.
He never has; even now, he says he despises me.
And has done so always and laughs out loud at me.
I tell my brother, I don't understand:
Brother, I love you.
But my brother spits like a camel in the sand,
He shouts, my brother, Peace I don't just despise you.

Brother, Peace, I loathe you.
And I reserve the right to hate you.
You are my sworn enemy. I would dearly like to kill you.
Brother, War, I would gladly lay down my life for you.
I love you, and you say we are sworn enemies.
Brother War, tell me what I have done...
What have I done to deserve such deep animosity?

Brother Peace, you embarrass me.
I cannot abide by any concord between us.
You are like air—a rainbow that cannot be caught.
Brother Peace, you are deceitful and cowardly.
But I, on the other hand, am like the eagle rising above.
I am your lord and master; without my presence, elder
Brother, who would appreciate you?

Brother War was that you were an eagle on the wind.
I would but pluck out those evil feathers, one by one.
And like a white dove, naked, you would plummet,
I am praying for land and longing for love beneath my lodgings.
You would long for a fig leaf to cover your own.
Dishonourable shame, flights of fantasy.


..................

My daily prayer

Worse treatment than animals in abattoir stockades
Soldiers have fallen into the hands of butchers
They've been maimed, tortured & have suffered
They've lost limbs but in the fullness of time?
Met challenges head-on slew their old demons
Ultimately by God's grace, faith beats each enemy.

These fearsome fighters refuse to be, enslaved
These men & women have felt ripsaw-bullets
Burning and exploding grenades
And at low-ebb become our greatest heroes.
Rehabilitation prepares them for healing inroads
Without hatred or hubris, millstones, but hang on.

Our forthright defenders have financial worries
Like anyone else jobs-housing is needed not charity
Ex-military needs help to forge a sustainable future.
Wars fought for our homeland, protect the mainland
It takes a will of iron, at great personal expense
It takes strength & courage to defend the weak.

To guard, and shield them from tyrants, criminals
There's no winner in these hard-fought battles
That friend can only be, flag-waving-vanity
Right now definitely, let's not boast or despair
Let's hope optimism & peace prevails everywhere
Win's by all means fair. That's my daily prayer.

05.02.2018