To Be A Terrorist Poem by Carey Lenehan

Ask yourself,

What does it take to be a ‘Terrorist'
To put cities and nations, under the fist?
Steal a passenger plane, take a bomb on a train
Killing bystanders, enemies, one and the same
What does it take? Too much hate, too much pain?
Very brave? Very angry? Very stupid?
Mental strain?

Here's another ask…

What can it feel like to be on that train
with a homemade bomb at the base of your brain
Sweating finger on the button
Of impersonal destruction
Just a man, just a woman,
following instructions?
Maybe think of the future, of waking tomorrow,
safe and unharmed, with no regime to follow

What faith does it take to obliterate
Yourself and all those in your personal space
Workers and shirkers, mothers and sons
Husbands and daughters,
The old and the young?
What hatred is needed to render deceded
Innocence, sucking it's thumb?

consider this….

Maybe…
Someone coerced you, fed you a lie,
Convinced you of Glory, a place at God's side
Taught you to hate, see non-believers as waste
To be wiped of the face of religious debate,
Oppressors, digressors, capitalist proffessors
Opposed to your opposite religious state
So you clench every muscle, use belief to placate
as the train nears a point
predetermined by fate

What thoughts clog your head?
‘Is it true, when I'm dead,
I'll be safe? I'll be saved? Do I believe, in my heart
All those things that they said? '
What strength does it take for your finger to move
Press the button and BOOM, end all thinking,
for good?
Smashing glass, rending iron, sending soft
bodies flying, twisting flames, faithful games
Good lives smashed into dying
for the Martyrdom gained and herewith applying.
Perhaps not ashamed, for there are
others to blame,

What does it take to be a terrorist?
My friends…
all it takes,
is anger,
fear
and Faith