To Men At War Poem by Melikhaya Zagagana

You that must know!
All that moves a man to war
And die senseless in shame
Behind sand-bags
Their lives depend
Trench by trench
Men lie and wait
For honor and for glory
Their heartbeat sings
Some are sons,
Fathers and husbands
What honor, what glory?
When bullet strikes
And leaves a sorrowful widow to weep
And raise a son or daughter alone
For a cross of honor
You will never hold or see
And pleasure of glory
Enjoyed by strange men
At home you leave no joy and
Strangers awide rejoice at your death
You that must know
All that moves a man to war
And die senseless in shame
My son, never, my father has never and
I will never dream of slaughter
In the field of war
For strange men's dance and
Dine at my grave.