Proposed – A Question! Poem by Terence George Craddock (Spectral Images and Images Of Light)

A friend a man profusely proud in uniform
manly beer glass firmly grasped in hand.
Said in solemn sincerity patriotic words addressing me.

‘If there was a war. Would you fight! ’

Silence of serious sustained concentrated thought.
Seconds ticking by underline leaden heartbeats.
Startled mind examines defines depths determining own soul.


Answer explodes into vacuum vaporizing awaiting anticipation.
A single word registers upon unbelieving ears.
A whisper ripples across times dust deaf ears.

‘No.’ Silence of self realization. ‘ I wouldn’t fight.’

‘What kind of an attitude is that! ’
‘What would happen if everyone had an attitude like that! ’

Silence of dumbfounding cunning unleashed.


‘There would be no wars.’

Silence of time unending ticking by.

‘But not everyone will think like that! ’

‘No. But if they did. There would be no wars.’

Drawn forth reasoned reply as an accurate accusing answer. Unintended.
Reached resolute answer from resolved wisdom echoing eternal within.

Friend lamented restructuring rise. Hedonistic not. Peace Hippy Movement.


Ruin of civilian masculine hero soldier worship.
Galling ghost haunting decisive defeat in Vietnam.

Teenage youth so young also in uniform.
Destined to be a wandering war correspondent.
With sight seeing future giving eyes.
With heavy heart weighted in stone.

Watched invisible words glow in darkness.


See also two other variants of this theme, ‘Recipe For Peace’ & ‘Recipe For Peace: Reality Check’.
Copyright © Terence George Craddock
http: //www.poemhunter.com/terence-george-craddock/