The cry to understand war is the time weary lament of mothers and pacifists. Neither of which are considered in the decisions about waging wars. But they both pray for a time when all of the killing will stop. A time when mothers can be more hopeful that they won't have to bury their children.

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Slowly, they crawl out of the bomb shelter

Walk around the church to the back.

They look around at their city in ruins,

Blood in the street and bodies in stacks.

Behind the church, the earth is disturbed.

Fresh dirt covers bodies thrown in a heap.

They find shovels and quickly begin digging,

Praying for pieces of loved ones to keep.

This time honored horror we know as war,

Is the way grown men settle disputes.

The old men send the young ones to die

From offices while dressed up in their suits.

And the rest of us sit by and silently weep

Mourning the loss of those who we watch die.

We simply don't know what we can do

So, we bear silent witness and cry.

I wonder if wars would be different

If the old men had to carry the guns?

I wonder how battles might change

With the power in the hands of their sons ?

Would the youngsters simply exploit the old

Without care that they are afraid?

Or, would the new perspective bring forbearance

To every discussion in which war was weighed?

These questions do not hold much hope

Knowing mankind is irreparably flawed.

This life is full of hopes impossible,

Impossible, that is, but for God.

And so we need to keep praying

Even when the odds are not on our side.

For what were the odds of resurrection

When Christ hung on the cross and died?

By Linda Troxell

From: United States

Website: https://humblyseekingthelordblog.wordpress.com