DILEMMA

Posted by Admin on 31 January 2009, 12:00 am

We, who lived through ‘red alerts’,
and loathed the siren’s wail;
who heard the gunfire and the bombs,
the shrapnel’s widespread hail –
we who felt the tortured earth
erupt to vomit clay,
and under diving bombers cringed,
too stupefied to pray –
who knew that resignation
which supersedes all fear –
like Stoics have awaited death,
expecting no ‘All Clear’ –
we who saw the flares and fires
transform to day the night,
aaw, too, our homes lie broken for
another cause thought right –
we know the stark realities
inseparate from war,
so join no cheering masses when
a task force leaves our shore:
for we, non-combatants, who’ve seen
dictators in their pride,
know blood’s the price of freedom,
(indemnity denied)
and, knowing this, could we demand
that, drop by precious drop,
young blood be spilt for principles,
or would our hearts cry, “Stop!”?