Only Following Orders Poem by Valerie Dohren

They were taught ……..

How to throw stones.

How to use a sling
How to hone a knife
How to brandish a sword
How to use a bow and arrow
How to fight, and -
how to nail humanity onto
a sacrificial cross

And they were taught ……..

How to drive tanks
How to use a bayonet
How to fire a cannon
How to shoot a pistol
How to discharge a machine gun
How to throw a hand grenade

They were also taught ……..

How to drop a bomb from an airplane
How to launch a torpedo from
a submarine
How to fire guided missiles
How to plant land mines
How to …..
How to …..
How to …..

How to torture, rape, and destroy.

They were taught about atomic fission -
the principles of nuclear warfare -
and how to ……..

They were taught - how to throw stones.

They were told to do it!

So they were only following orders!
(Only following bloody fucking orders) .


©️ 17/8/2024. Valerie Dohren