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Oh General
Folder:
Military/Patriotic Copyright: 12/26/00
Oh general, your hair so white,
How many young men did you send to die?
Is it their faces that keeps you awake at night?
And is it friends and family who won't let the war lie?
As those shells fell
How many did you send into that manmade hell?
Did the ideals for which the fought
And their lives go for naught.
Was the enemy on the other side
Or was it the politicians with grins so wide?
They decided who would go to that hell
Keeping their relatives safe as well.
The common soldier on each side
Gave their lives
Never understanding why they died,
And leaving widowed wives,
And fatherless children, at their graves to cry.
We honor their memories with slabs of stone,
But their mothers, wives, and children would rather have them home.
Wars, throughout the centuries, have never solved anything,
Other than to kill our most treasured offspring.
When will they learn
That we have so much to lose,
In war, the innocent burn,
Without a right to choose.
Before we commit to war,
Let the people say what’s for.
Let us keep our sons
Out of wars that are never won.
Come together as one family
To let others know war won’t be tolerated,
And disputes will be handled peaceably
And of the decision of the arbitors you are obligated.
No more will young men be sent to die,
Disputes between countries will be resolved by a court on high.
Children will have fathers, wives will have husbands
Mothers will have their sons and peace will reign throughout the land.
Peace…what a wonderful sound,
The might and right must be found,
To make this a reality
For the world, for you, and for me.
A powerful read, Ferrell...i particularly like how u phrase the voice to be talking to a 'general'..and the first stanza captures the mood perfectly., especially the first 2 lines. Most thoughtprovoking and true poem...i am glad i read it.
I like your poem and even agree with most of it! War is an evil necessity against warmongers who wish to rule the world, like Hitler did. Then there's Kadafi, Hussein, etc, etc, who want to kill us off! We can never live in peace as long as these type of people are in the world. Of course, there are some places in the world where we have no business being there! I agree with that!