war_poetry | Lauren Williams, 'The Old Men Want War'

The Old Men Want War

Their children disappoint them.
Their wives no longer please them.
Money is no problem.
Diversion turns to boredom.
Power is for using.
The kick is in the strategy.
Victors write a tidy tale.
Maps omit humanity.
Guns need bullets need
targets need hits.
No god has ever stopped them.
Their worship, politic.
Death's accountants tally victims,
Death's farmers harvest blood and bone,
Death's investors drive the markets
hard, drive the killing home.
Who are not wise, hate wisdom.
Whose joy has failed, hate youth.
Armies pour the suffering
till old men say "Enough".
The salt has lost its flavour--
"Life and death with that, sir?"
Close to the grave it's easy
to push in others first.
Books already written,
portraits on the wall.
All that's left's to go out fighting.
The old men want war.

by Lauren Williams