Nicola Knox, 'Who's For War?'

[duathir.livejournal.com]

Who's For War?

So grey, those ancients,
in love
with bands and bugles
flags, epaulets, saluting
as the young march to death.
By all rhyme and reason
it’s these hoary old fellows
should be first into war
having so brief a lease to run
should fill up the last of life
with blood, the clang and shriek
of battles they insist upon
crying: who is not for us, against us!
Is it fit that flowers are plucked
while scarcely in bud, songs halted
at first note. Nature orders
each spring day shall grow longer
not shorter, towards summer.
No!
Let the withered gallants go
and for them the honour
of flag shrouds, the slow drum-beat
the bugle that plays in evening light
sons and daughters left to consider
the sorry foolishness of fathers.

by Nicola Knox