What if they had a war and nobody came?

Someone somewhere somehow insults another.
Blink:
and they are dug in bristling,
gaping barrels pointed at you
and your children.

Trust in logic,
do as they say,
respect authority.

Empty beer bottles linger
outside the administration building,
and they say:
on your honor
(don't you want honor?)
let me brainwash you,
go and tell your children
war is necessary.

And they say:
observe the beauty of these black beasts
we made,
you helped make those raining ashes.

We have power,
let me give you power.
You can kill them all,
their pets and houseplants too.
Let us stand here on the field,
among the grasses that bend
in reverence to us.

And they say:
do you want honor?
Gnash your teeth and go
participate in the dance with death
perfectly justified.

And at last they are done with their talking,
they wait hungrily,
the empty windless field,
all quiet
in reverence to a greater power.

What if they had a war
and nobody came?


Robin Pille

©1999

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