Comtemplative 21


Peace



Is peace a word
I am not sure anymore
As hostilities rage in Bosnia

Troops have been sent
To keep the peace
Since when do troops equal peace

Why must a country
Continue to destroy themselves
Brother against brother
Innocence is gone

Why do we help
For the people
Or for ourselves

Do intentions matter
I ask myself
As long as some live

Do we have the right
To intercede
To take sides

Across the Sea
In Bosnia
Where we want peace

War among brothers
Is this the North and South
All over again

War for what
Is this Vietnam
Are we interfering

What right
To fight
Have we gone mad

Is this our concern
Or theirs at hand
As the bombs drop over the land

We get hurt
Our troops down in the hills
Families cry
Is another World War at hand

Whose decision
Do we base this on
An impulsive man

Or the books
That contain
The mistakes of man

Maybe troops equal peace
When minds have been set
And terrorists begin to attack

But who is to decide
Who is wrong or right
Certainly not I

We have committees
And Presidents
And organizations all around

To decide when
There has been enough slaughtering
So we can slaughter some more

So I say again
Is peace a word.

Copyright 2000 Joe S. Lee