War Crimes

Too much, too often and ignored other than in rhetoric by the powers of states who call themeslves civilised.

You flew in the face

of god's authority,

for you have no creator,

only demons at your shoulders

wielding weapons of war,

tools of damnation and destruction.

You stood proud

upon the prow of the hill

of hatred

looking down upon

the innocent.

I saw the gleam

in your dark eyes,

the smile of strong teeth

and the posture

of manhood

as you knew death

would visit this place

tonight.

Men would be shot,

beheaded and defiled,

women raped and murdered

and children gutted and burnt

or stolen as child soldiers.

And you, you

took up your machete

and your AK forty-seven

and led them

into the belly of hell.

 

09/05/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[Siddhartha Chatterjee]

Very powerful. You spun a dark magic through these words.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

The darkness is in the actions of such 'warlords' and their followers. So sad that they feel no remores and can cause such suffering. Many thank yous.

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

This is an amazing piece
that described what war is.
When people in fear build courage to fight,
when love is nowhere and peace out of sight,
when God sit up there and the devil takes charge,
When care hides itself, and blood refuse to dry.

All what you said up there were all true. The world today isn't a place of tranquility but an haven of fear and affray. Soldier carries their guns around. People in peace couldn't enjoy their life. All are corrupted in this space and time. I wish there is a world with peace and not a dreadful phobia and killing.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed there are places free from was if not strife. Her ein the UK and in Europe and the USA, Australlia etc there are no wars as in military conflicts. But in too many other places ordinary people suffer at the hands of bad men. Many thanks Kay.

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

It's my pleasure.
Maybe I'll have to relocate.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Sorry for the typos!

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

I understand.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

So which part of the world do you live in Kay?

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Africa. Nigeria to be precise.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes there are many African countries in strife and unrest and war. It is so sad. Hope you are safe.

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Yes, I am.
Thank you very much.

[kentuck14]

What I see expressed here is that thing we call evil . . . that monster asleep under the bed of every person . . . who comes alive to devour our souls, take over our breath and body and destroys the world . . . one heart and mind at a time, one war at a time, one insult, one word of hatred. It grows like a cancer in our "collective consciousness" until we end up devouring ourselves in a moment of real madness. "Oh, who will deliver me from this body of death?"
T

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed who will deliver us. I guess there are some who take to killing and war as they are psychopathic and as Cherrie says we all have the . propensity to kill in defense of our loved ones and our communiites and values. Cheers Tom for stopping by again!

[Cherrie]

Great write that asks for reflection.
Hated is a powerful guide, why is it that the good hearted can be so lackadaisical.
Impractical people want to say show the beast you are unarmed and his fear driven hate will ease and he will be responsive.
The laws of nature are not
so foolish, but a two edged-sword.
Possibly a well placed kindness may have turned this destroyer into a man, but if kindness failed then my good fathers with what shall you defend your babes and force his compliance if not iron for iron.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed so Cherrie. I agree things are seldom so simple but I guess the choice is to kill or not to. Many thanks.

[Cherrie]

That is true but
I would say when those who depend on me for safety is at rick the base question is will I allow it without giving it my very best.
I would lay down my life for their safety and I would take a life to protect it. My prayer is that reason can be a weapon but it is not the only one at my disposal.

[Sami Khalil]

A most powerful piece on war and atrocities. The merchants want to sell their wares so they create or perpetuate conflicts. Peace is not in their interests.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Agreed Sami but we seem to stand by and let them do it. Many thanks.

[Sami Khalil]

All true. People are rising up and resisting in some places. Long , worthy fight. You are welcome.

[Shazbatt969]

Powerful piece about terrifying things, could be Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, next despotic s**t hole backed by the U.S. until the s**t hits the fan, who put that mad c**t in power, ahh, yes , no more questions in Congress, and Chomsky can f**k right off,

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I could swear your mate Gram said something similar! it is a strange world where we all sit by powerless to stop the s**t. Anyway thanks Mork!

[Shazbatt969]

It is a sad day for poetry when a writer gets the reviewer's name wrong, lol, by the way, my mate Gram told me to avoid you like the f*****g plague, but he is an a*****e, what the f**k does he know, cheers

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Gads I am so sorry I miss typed your name in my rush to watch Dragons Den! Sorry Dork!

[R.E. Ray]

Some might say all war is a crime against humanity. The dilemma is always how far do we go to stop it. As a street warrior, I see both sides. Remarkable poem, sir.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I think all war is a crime as you say but human frailty means man will always try to be in the assendancy against his fellw man when it comes to survival. many thanks.

[Coyote Poetry]

Vietnam, test ground for new weapons. Great power need war to improve weapons. If we don't change the way of the government depending on war. War and death shall find the all of us. Powerful and worthwhile words shared John.
Coyote

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes the causes of war are often obscure or hidden when the real reason is power and wealth. Who will rebuild Syria and who will pay? Cheers Coyote John.

[Coyote Poetry]

Will we learn? No. Cheers, back to you John.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

animals kill for survival...man kills for sport...
and as that Scandal song said..."whose the hunter, whose the game?"

powerful words.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I guess man kills often because he can and that is the rub. Thank you Jacob.

[Chris Shaw]

Powerful and quite devastating to know this is what is happening. Your words made me shiver John. The belly of hell indeed. We need look no further for hell than on this planet.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

It makes me shiver every time I hear the news and Syria is almost a decade in the making and Yemen not all that far behind. Not to mention the Cogo etc. Many thanks Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

It's devastating isn't it. Dreadful to read about it.