Questions for WAR

Does your blood bleed the flag

because you dwell in this land?

Did your ancestors mold the earth

upon which you proudly stand?

Is your birthplace so sacred a miracle ground

that God knows it and it alone?

Why do the nations rage in war

as if their people were creators of all?

Do the tears of children change

when their eyes see the innocent slain

or they scour the garbage mounds for food

when they're shot cold in the head?

Whose pain is noble where bullets lodge?

What wounds distinguish friendly fire?

What corpse is perfume drawing flies to feast

or you to nurse upon their bones?

Do blind patriots condone the perverse?

Is the mute flag mouth-piece for the dumb?

Stare into the eyes of Death and see yourself.

Stand bravely midst the wayward bombs.

Dig for mines for your dinner table.

Grind the poor into meal for tanks.

Do doubts ever rankle your peace-filled mind?

Do your prayers wrestle our virgin flag? 

*Reflections of Alan Jones:

  -The dominant lure of life is toward the "We" and we may thank God for our neuroses in that they are, at least, signs that there are cracks and cervices in the egocentric shell we build around us.

  -...our falling apart can be a sign of God's work in us.

  -We prevent our own healing when we misrepresent what is going on inside us, and lie to ourselves. 

  -Only those who go through the crisis, only those who endure "the perils of the soul" and dare to brave the unknown dangers of the future find the way to new, mature and productive life (Fritz Kunkel)