Monday, 12 November 2012

Slaughter house.
















Verdun.
Where a million
children died
for kaiser, president and king.

And in the end,
a victory yields
but rubble, bones and grief.

A sad reminder from Magpie Tales and Felix Vallotton that war has reached its use-by-date.


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13 comments:

  1. Kathe W.12 November 2012 at 6:32 am

    oh the use by date expired a long time ago- this is an excellent poem for such a grim subject.

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  2. Helena12 November 2012 at 6:33 am

    Amen!

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  3. Vaccinius12 November 2012 at 7:53 am

    I believe you are right. The weapons and the means of destruction are to powerful. So war in the traditional sense will not take place again.

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  4. Helen12 November 2012 at 7:55 am

    Feeling a lump in my throat, tears forming in my eyes as I try to process every horrid thing wars represent. Thank you for writing this, Stafford.

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  5. rel12 November 2012 at 10:26 am

    I know how mankind will end, I just don't know when.
    rel

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  6. Sue J12 November 2012 at 5:11 pm

    It just goes on and on. I think all future disputes should be settled by a couple of selected champions fighting a computer game!

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  7. Silent Otto 12 November 2012 at 9:48 pm

    Be a lover not a fighter , Staff '

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  8. Berowne12 November 2012 at 9:49 pm

    I like that: war has reached its use-by date. (But they still "use" it, sad to say.)
    Come try my quiz.

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  9. Susan Anderson13 November 2012 at 9:22 am

    so sad

    :/

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  10. Catalyst14 November 2012 at 11:51 am

    Sad but oh so true, Stafford.

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  11. Donna B.16 November 2012 at 9:28 am

    Oh my...I went in a total different direction....maybe I best look up the artist...I knew nothing except what leapt into my brain upon seeing this painting...

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  12. hyperCRYPTICal17 November 2012 at 5:36 am

    Sadly war is being waged - civil or otherwise - across the world even now...

    Anna :o[

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  13. Selma17 November 2012 at 5:56 pm

    This is so moving and incredibly well written. Thank you.

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