The God of War | Stan Morrison
the god of war
what sort of god
antithesis of civility
champion of horror
false badge of courage
the god of war
aggression’s emblem
insanity’s enabler
undeterred by logic
triumph of the ungodly
the god of war
what sort of god
antithesis of civility
champion of horror
false badge of courage
the god of war
aggression’s emblem
insanity’s enabler
undeterred by logic
triumph of the ungodly
In the early hours
Of the morning
He faced his computer
Reading lines
On the local chat room
Hurtful things
Written by anonymous contributors
Words that stung
Harsher than a wasp sting
things that were added on
By other parties
In the dog pile
That often followed
Such postings
He thought of a longtime grudge
The toxins
Stored from his youth
The pain
His fist
Could not avenge
In the moment
He grasped his payback
His fingers assaulted the keys
Flashing a rumor
On the screen
Pressing send
Safe behind the shelter
Of a cute name
He had manufactured
For such an occasion
Reading with satisfaction
The half truth he had written
A black eye would heal
But this
Would be read
Would be remembered
And other trolls
Would add
Their own venom
Like hyenas
Gathering to finish
The kill
it’s divine
headache and muesli
sharp cotton
the smell of the gas processor
and the smiles of the harsh women
manning the snack tables
watching for UFOs
tagging their friends in tweets
as we begin the shakedown
this much for March
your life
this much for eternity
your marled face
each man
wonders at the shape of his horizon
orbiting the whirling dervish
of this millenial prize
horror out of time:
we each know the worth of the other
written over our scarves
the mounting terror of the night
and the light over the mountains
demons under the ground
and the shape of the stars
like the shape of your eyes
we’re marching into the basement
to photograph celebrities
and I’ve seen god
over the cement
one two three
one two three
the 1970s religion
and Shel Silverstein
shake my body into itself.
I stand ready with the water bottles
watching my country collapse
More at http://www.robindunn.com.
children fighting get adult interventions
you really hurt him, so say you’re sorry
give him back his toy, never do that again
take turns, be kind, share with everyone
time out to reflect on your behavior
nations fighting seek out new alliances
time out and reflection signs of weakness
might makes right the eternal anthem
kindness, sharing, saying you’re sorry
the antitheses of getting one re-elected
before this war, there were wars
before this lie, there were lies
history’s full of unfamiliar faces
telling us lies, sending us to wars
killing youths for old men’s failures
humans are the only ones
who can say we’re sorry
who can reflect in time out
who can change behaviors
be sure of what you stand for