What Is War Poem by Juan Olivarez

The little boy on his fathers lap
asked with expression sore
I know i am small but i want to be told
daddy what is war?

war my son is where people die,
where old men suffer and women sigh,
where children hunger, where babies cry,
where trees won't grow please don't ask why.

The little boy got down and said,
why does it happen it sounds so bad?
Iv'e never seen a war before,
please daddy tell me more.

My son you are small but must be told,
a war is destruction it hurts us all,
war is the reason fields can't be sown,
war is the reason your brother's gone.

look at me my son and nevermore ask,
what is a war behind it's mask.
you had to be told so you would learn
to love everybody nobody to spurn.

Mission High School 1972