WAR Poem by Ignatius T. Mabasa

I have been to war
I have been with war
I have smelt and touched
And even made love to death
And got gonorrhoea in my soul.

I have been to war
I have been with war
Kissed and waltzed with gunshots
Applauded screams and shrieks.

Now I hear
You want to start again
Yet another war!

Excuse me, but I,
How many times
Must I die
For you to know
I am a dead?
Don't you see maggots
Coming out of my mouth
As I try to talk to you . . .