They convinced us we needed more heroes,
our innocence stolen by enemy acts.
Hypothetical lives multiplied
by infinite zeroes,
politicians crafted their blood-bathed pacts.
They claimed that it was American pride,
that demanded our instant retaliation.
Eleven years in, with one win for our side,
the incessant meat-grinder churns
for our nation.
No lessons from history considered or needed,
the bodies of young soldiers
not their own.
The “War on Terror” will never be ceded,
the truth to the public will never be shown.
War-mongering, insidious
tails wagging dogs,
main-stream media feeding sheep pablum;
Celebrity red herrings, athletic, sexed fogs,
forget the grist issues,
or those who have them.
They sold us out for a long-dead dream,
used our men and womens’ blood for oil
to grease the wheels of the war machine,
killed our youth, spilled the truth,
on enemy soil.
Our lions being led by greedy, hate-spewing lambs:
Puppet-masters, desiccated and dead inside.
Keep mangling brave children of Uncle Sam’s,
all in vain, in the name of American pride…
~ C.L.R. ~ © 2012
~ Dragon's Dreams ~ 
Powerful words and imagery – your message is clear!
Thanks, wightrabbit. I wish I could have found a way to put in a little bit of hope at the end, but the realistic part of me says these wars may never end.
At least it feels that way most days. Thanks for taking the time to come by and comment!
well you have to consider the influence of war on natural selection. always was the footsoldier who paid the biggest price. don’t need conscription if you impoverish lower classes so much that they join to eat. or you inflict with so much video game and media violence that youth is itching for a fight. nevermind how much the machine is also greasing the wheels of gang violence at home.
gas prices are darn near twice as much everywhere else on the globe…..media making and inciting U.S. citizens to complain makes us look like complete idiots to the rest of the world. extremely spoiled ones.
thought provoking write…..’frogs?’ …..lol…..made me smile
Heya E, you know you are right about the natural selection thing. I hadn’t thought about that point of view on it. You’re also right about America being so spoiled and yes, they are good at making us look like idiots, aren’t they? (Of course, we have plenty of people outside of the media who do a good job of that, too, unfortunately).
You know what is really funny? When I wrote that line about “…athletic, sexed fogs,” I originally wrote it as “frogs”!! And even now, when I read it, my brain still sees the word “frogs” instead of “fogs”…lol. I have no idea what that’s about, except to think maybe that is the word the muse really wanted it to be!
Sorry but I have to giggle at a part in the last comment…come see OUR gas prices and tell me then that yours are high…I think not.
But to the poem. One of your best works so far. Do you know what is one of the great parts ? To an outsider…well, America is like a spoilt tantrum throwing child who wants the biggest slice of the cake at the party. So it is heartening to see the people standing up in all the little ways (such as you writing this beautifully powerful poem) that will hopefully bring about change.
🙂 Thanks, Jo, but if you look closely you will see that you guys actually agree – she said, “…gas prices are darn near twice as much everywhere else on the globe” and they are – everywhere else on the globe the gas prices are almost if not more than 2x as much. Believe me, some of us know there are people who are getting robbed much worse than we are.
Glad you liked the poem. I absolutely agree with you about how Americans must seem to outsiders. I hate it that our image is that way, and please believe there are plenty of us here who are NOT like that! We are simply under-represented by what passes for “media” in our country, mainly because most (if not all) of our “main-stream media” is bought and paid for by special interests and political groups. 😦
I’d like to think that the tiny things I do are somehow bringing about change. From where I sit, it’s kind of a David and Goliath kind of story. There are the little people actively doing things to try and make changes for the better…and then there is the entrenched and vastly more powerful “powers that be” (whether they are political parties, banks, etc.)
yes you are right…damn I guess that means new glasses are not far away…hehehe
our local hit $2.16 per litre this week
Holy gas guzzlers, Batman! That = like, $7.66 per gallon here! :-O And just btw, I have now become addicted to “Supernatural” thanks to you! I saw it on Netflix (they have like 6 seasons of it, I think) and started watching it this weekend…you are SO right about TBs!! Definitely drool material. I have kind of a preference for Sam, bc he’s so sweet, but I wouldn’t kick dean outta bed either. lol 🙂
Yep it is crazy here…another Supernatural fan…yippee…and just for you…MY FAVOURITE piece of Sam from all seasons…
Well said that, Corina
Thanks, Luke. I thought I might enter this in Julie’s Creative Challenge this time. 🙂
do enter, yes. As long as it hasn’t been on the Discussion Board it’s OK. Deadline is 15th March 8pm GMT (3pm EST)
Powerful Piece…….
Thank you, lengesinski. I wish it had the power to stop the wars, but at least I can make my opinion about them known. Thanks for coming by and commenting! 🙂
You are a master at making ugly subjects into touching poems! I like how you displace your opinion with eloquence and honesty! From another “Supernatural” fan … have a great Sunday 🙂 I’m on the last episode that played in the states last week, it’s season I don’t know what number, but I still like them … I’m Dean team 🙂
Aw, thanks, Blaga. 🙂 Omgosh, I am still on the Season 1 of “Supernatural” (ep. 22 I think) but dang I am hooked. I want to find a Sam for my very own…Dean is super cute but too much of a bad boy lol. 😀
There you go, you and I can be perfect best friends, we don’t like the same boys 🙂 Dean’s my type … and with the episodes passing by you’ll see things change …
P.S. the *displace* at the first comment was meant to be *display* 🙂
well the trippy thing on that is that that’s how i read it……as “frogs” and only noticed later it wasn’t 🙂
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Great poem! War never solves anything but tears apart so many lives.
Thank you. It does tear apart lives and I’d like to have hope that someday mankind will wake up and realize that nothing is worth that kind of devastation. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Well written, Corina, among your best and packed with the truth, sadly so. We have to call it all what it is. I have my doubts too, but we press on … Thanks for sharing this today. xo
Thanks, Jamie. I wasn’t sure which piece to share and although the subject matter makes me mad and sad, I have always liked the way this one turned out. I was happy to see some new faces participate this year.
It was perfect and you can always share more than one and not to late to add one in. Folks are still reading. Yes! We had a good turn out. Lots of lovely new folks. Worked hard at creating awareness and seems to have paid off. Amid all the turmoil it feels so good to know there are many out there who share our concerns and values, we just don’t hear much about them and what they are doing in the news. Happy Sunday, Corina, and thanks for all you do to help make this a better world. xo
It is the same everywhere. War is the biggest act of terrorism. Powerful poem Corina.
Thanks, Reena. I agree and am blessed to have never had to witness it firsthand. Seeing it via the tv and internet is bad enough, I cannot even imagine living with it every day.