Terence George Craddock (Spectral Images and Images Of Light) (16 November / Westport New Zealand)

Does not brave slain blood of Wilfred
Owen cry out from battlefield ground?
Testify his faith a pacifist is God’s way
They lie who claim say a coward’s way

Wilfred Owen British army enlisted
to prove false lie upon killing score
With grim realism deep ingrained
Owen testified truth murder is war

In 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' told
how men die as cattle slaughtered
listen to these words burn in mind
grim know war is murder legalized

“What passing-bells for those who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns
Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle”

“ No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; ”

youth mothers’ sons
born to be slaughtered
in foreign wars?

If meant to be why did God
not create savage claws
for boy babies hands?


Copyright © Terence George Craddock