I read about the war
And what it did
The human cost in misery and pain
The countless untold stories
Of lives cut short forgot
And we like to say
Never, never again
My father was not interested
In medals
He left the war behind
Left it for good
Reunion of old pals not for him
He suffered nightmares
Dark shadows in the wood
Wars begin with words
With what we say
The rhetoric of righteousness
And boast
Mussolini on his balcony
Hitler on his stand
Stalin looking down on crowds
Him they feared the most
And wars begin with words I say
When spoken carelessly
When giving out
Complaining
Adding to the fray
Words of peace are needed
When dealing with a foe
Persevere in gentleness
It’s power – don’t let it go
Brian Fahy
16 September 2021
Erris Poetry 