War and Peace

How many wars have to be fought

Before a moment of peace arrives

How many lives have to be sacrificed

Before warlords get satisfied

The answer is in human history

A history more wars than peace

Years of construction during peace time

Was doomed to instant destruction in war

Pens for endorsing truce

Couldn’t rival rifles for battles

Firework celebration for respite

Was outshone by bomb blasts of warfare

People pine for peace

Yet it is hard to bide

Fragile and timid, it escapes

Readily when war arrives

Like glints on ocean waves

Easily toppled

Mankind will repeat its history

So long as humans cannot purge

Avarice, cruelty and hatred

Ample foods and wine will not be

Enough to secure peace and extirpate wars

It only takes one mind for war to

Defeat millions of hearts pursuing peace

By Shih-Fang Wang

From: United States