So very often,
Those who make decisions about waging war
Do not pay the consequences of war
Although I know you are strong,
and brave,
Is to come home with all your fingers and toes
your arms and legs, yes
your beautiful faces, yes, and
your Whole soul.
I know pieces of my soul
are scattered
across Iraq, Afghanistan,
Syria and Lebanon
Palestine and Israel
and Central America
I saw a lot of war, after all,
and death
even though I never held a gun
I met a lot of young soldiers
who were alive, yet
something in them had died
or was slowly dying
I think about all who left
chunks of their souls
and perhaps also
chunks of their bodies
In Viet Nam, Korea, Germany
All over the earth
In ways most of us can only begin to fathom
And so we might say,
'Thank you for your service' today
It's harder to say,
'How are you...really?'
and to listen
It's painful to say,
'Here we are again...'
Heal your children, O Lord
Inside and out
Set aside the egos of the powerful
so no more of our young must die
or be destroyed
Bring forth among us healers,
so that we may work together
to heal our broken world
Because You have made this world
Beautiful,
O God,
And You
have created it
for Peace.
(c)2023 LCdM
