International Peace Day - What War Accomplishes Poem by Paul Warren

Peace after war is such a happy thought
The years of toil to beat the foe counted as it ought
Counting the cost amongst your family and friends
Is sadness for them as the butcher's bill is finally at an end

Borders are re drawn and crimes against humanity are the task
For those who started the fighting and for what was asked
We look to find meaning in something that is devastating
For the death and injury these reasons we can still be debating

But it seems that we can't talk through some differences in their measure
And wealth, prized possessions and the right religion is to us is such a treasure
So we arm and mobilise and go to foreign fields to battle the opposing foe
In the end we don't seem to accomplish more that death and destruction in the show

So when it suits the moment in our history or in our time
We strike the band up and march onward to the front in line
And battle lines that are drawn and fighting starts between each force
Whilst we think of better times and peace to reign in a gentler course

It seems to me that in the end to settle it one way or another
We have to sit down and come to an agreement with each other
Why can't we do that before the bloodshed and the loss had come
And the ordinary person is left to work out how the sorrow has begun

It seems to me we shouldn't let tyrants rise
But that may be a point of view as each may be considered wise
I think that in the end it may be hard to make a decision
So the world is left to pick up the pieces when to sides we are driven.

© Paul Warren Poetry