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No Reason For War

Hatred drives the appetites
of happy murderers,
grateful for the chance
to show their righteous indignation,
laughing at the agonizing fear
of battered innocence
driven to the place of execution
by cracking whips of butchering mirth
and jokes about virginity given
without permission.

Forced down by hands already
slaked with others' blood,
no blackened eyes are bound,
no broken hands tied back
behind bruised backs,
just terror
in the realization
no one will help.

Her husband's almost
an afterthought,
just another horror to
beat her soul down with:
they press a muzzle to his head
and make her watch them
spatter brains and blood
across the square.

And as she sobs they lean over,
smiling in their hatred
"You see what you have done
with your unholy lusts?
Do you understand his death
is due to you, your fornicating ways,
the temptations that you
forced on him?"

They do not kill her right way;
they beat her bloody first,
with rifle butts,
then one bends down
to haul her to her knees,
groping at her broken body
while the others laugh
before they murder her as well.

She is eighteen
her husband twenty-one
their crime is marriage, to each other.

But its no reason for war.

Is it.

Style / type: 
Free verse
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Editing stage: 

Comments

apparently to some fanatics it IS reason for murder and war. I see no glaring problems in this horrific depiction of the fate of love at the hands of fools....................scribbler

Fools don't know any better.
These scum aren't fools, they are simply evil.
Thanks for reading and commenting.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

whenever anyone tells me that they find multiple levels of meaning in what I write, it tells me I was successful in that write.

All of your interpretations are correct, even though this originally started as an illustration that, in some cases, evil acts of mysogyny are reason enough to go to war. I know many will disagree with this position, lol. But hey, opinions vary.

Ta tae year comment, ma braw wee Glasgae lassie, heehee.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

Thanks hun. Ya, this is a dark one, for sure.
BUt sometimes, you have to go to fucking war, there just isn't any choice, you know?

glad you enjoyed this

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

Glad you enjoyed this.
It doesn't baffle me at all, what one human will do to another. Humans like to kill, like to cause pain, and enjoy harming others when they can get away with it. It's human nature. It is why we have Law, and punishment. And it is why we sometimes do have to make war upon others, so that their enjoyment and desire to cause harm does not infect the rest of us, as it would have with, for example, Nazi Germany.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

If you could guarantee to me that war would be outlawed forever tomorrow, I would gladly become extinct!
LOL
Thanks for reading, glad that you enjoyed this one.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

These people don't need a reason just an excuse, this is a sad and dark poem. But one that should be in every newspaper and magazine, so everyone can read if the want. To often people skip past the news about such things, to the financial news or sport. Great poem well written. Regards Roscoe..

Roscoe Llane,

Religion will rip your faith off, and return
for the mask of disbelief that's left.

Yes, too often these stories are overlooked, and it is vital that they are not. Our society needs to be diligent, in rooting out and exterminating this kind of behaviour, so that it does not take root. Too often we hide behind the cultural more of "different strokes", allowing such foulness to be pursued, and even promoting it with our tacit approval.
I takea Nietzsche-eque approach: homo sapiens is an organism, an organism often beset by disease, and sometimes treatment calls for surgical removal of the diseased parts, in order for the organism to remain healthy.
Thanks for reading and enjoying, Roscoe.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

I know this is a strange thing to say but this post reminded me a bit of Troy for some reason.It is true that as long as people envy for what others have and hold a primal hatred for differences such as religious beliefs, war will always exist.I have always found it interesting that when a man kills another man it is murder but when done on a massive scale it is war.With that said, thank god that all aren't evil and are willing to stand up to such evil and pay with their blood so others won't have to.This is a great, powerful, and potent write, however dark the subject matter may be.I believe that it shows the atrocities that are too often committed in the name of war.God bless our soldiers in harms way, and I am not afraid to state that they make me proud.Thank you for sharing.

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"For what is it to die, But to stand in the sun and melt into the wind?"

Thanks for your kind comments.
As much as I find war to be a stupid, comtemptable and sickening atrocity, there simply are some things that must be made war upon, completely and absolutely.
One of those is hatred for women in the guise of religious righteousness. It is a disease that our own society suffers from as well, to a certain extent, although our secular system of government minimizes its effects. But it is vital that we do not allow it to gain further foothold in our society.
I do not ask God to bless our soldiers. My family is not military, and has not been since the civil war. Nor do I indulge in patriotism, the last refuge of the scoundrel, and all that.
But me and mine, we stand the hell up when soldiers pass in parade, and I make my contempt for those who will not do so publically evident. As I always tell my sons, these men and women, regardless of the morality or veracity of the orders of their leaders, do things and sometimes suffer consequences for those actions, so that assholes like me can live the way we wish, freely, and do so in relative peace.
Thanks for enjoying my poem.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

I'm not a religious man, nor do I pray, but when I talk about the soldiers these words always seem to come out.I don't consider myself patriotic, and I tend to think along the same lines you do about it.I guess when I say these things its just my way of showing respect for them.

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"For what is it to die, But to stand in the sun and melt into the wind?"

I know exactly what you mean, King. Respect for those who protect us and where and how we live is what its all about, I agree!

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

Hello Race

Reading this is telling so much of the truth and seeing it is even worse. You really bring the subject out in imagery and show your reader the atrocities of evilness. Horrific would probably be a better word for it. You are also so correct in your title there Race. No reason for war. I got some suggests or thoughts here if you don't mind. Take them or leave them either way. In this part

1. just another horror to
beat her soul down with:
they press the muzzle to his head
and make her watch them
spatter brains and blood

( suggest) just another horror to
beat her soul down
as they press a muzzle to his head
and make her watch them
splatter brains and blood

2. But its no reason for war.

Is it.

(suggest) But it's no reason for war

Is it?

Maybe this last line you do not want to use puncuation and that is fine. This is only my take on your strong visual write here on the horror of the story. Let me know what you think.

Ms Mona:)

Long time no see, Florida Lady, good to see you back and commenting.
I like your suggestion for the stanza, using "a muzzle" implies that any one of her murderers would do it, and I like that, so it's changed.

On the last line, I didn't want to use a question mark because, well, I'm pissed off, that so many would stand by and do nothing about such an act as this. Hence no question mark, which would make the line more passive.
I'm glad that you enjoyed this one, Mona.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

Yes I totally agree now that I read it again for sake of no question mark at the end. Passive yes good work and I think it reads just fine now. I too was appalled at this and could not believe what I was reading and seeing on tv. I have to also add I am glad we do not live in a country that our neighbors or friends would sit back and allow this to happen. What violence is showing in other areas of the world is so bizarre lately. This is a strong write and I can see your grimacing face as you wrote it. I think also you would write a great book Jim. You should try your hand at freelance writing and give it a go. I think and believe you have that in you.

You capture your reader tight as you write and waiting patiently for the ending with baited breath. I'm thinking here. I would like you to write a story. It could be non-fiction, satire, fiction, contemporary or humor. I like to see what you would come up with. Give it a thought and let me know.

Blessings

Sadly, the state of the world in this moment in time is far from bizarre, what is going on in the world today has been happening throughout human history and has been happening throughout our lives, sadly the news only spotlights it when we are affected or it gets too large to ignore any further.Atrocities happen daily all over the world, we tend to think of Nazis when these things happen, but as bad as they were, communist Russia (USSR), and red China, have killed far more people than the Nazis, but most have never heard this before.Then there is Africa, which I believe most know about the genocide that has happened and still is happening in some countries there(with very little spotlight from the media).As Americans we tend to believe the rest of the world thinks and wants the same things we do, this is only our ignorance.Every country has their own agendas and will do whatever is needed to accomplish them (even kill their own).We are lucky to live in such a place where these things don't happen, but don't think it can't.Once we get placid and too many here don't care and pay no attention to the things that truly matter, is the day we lose our freedom and end up just like many of the other places in world, thus repeating the bloody, and very cruel cycle of human history.

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"For what is it to die, But to stand in the sun and melt into the wind?"

thanks for reading my poem. what you just stated...especially about the US...is reason for war.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

I guess I actually did give a reason for war, lol.But as are many things in life, nothing is as easy as black and white, good and evil (it is very rare when it is).For every valid reason against war, there are many and in my opinion far greater reasons for it, and for some to not recognize that, is just plain folly.I see so many out there that would never think war was a good idea, unless the things in this post were actually happening to them (bet their tune would change quick then), but sadly it would be too late at that point.I can't say enough of how important of a write this is, and how valuable the comments and view points are in these comments.This topic that you choose hits hard of history and even harder of the current events of today.In my opinion this post shows the true nature of man, and what man can/will do if allowed."All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing"

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"For what is it to die, But to stand in the sun and melt into the wind?"

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