The Great War

It's always been called the great war.
And I've never understood why.
When all I've ever read of it
talks of bodies piled on high.

'The war to end wars' it's also described.
I'm having trouble with my brain,
to reconcile this with what's happened
again, and again, and again.

I can't get past weeping for soldiers
who went to their death by the million.
Did no-one ever care how many died?
It's puzzling to this civilian.

I know it's long gone in history
but that's no reason to forget it
unless we understand all of it's lessons
we'll more than likely repeat it.

I'd like someone – please - to tell me
just what did it all achieve?
Apart from making millions of families
on both sides of the conflict, grieve.

I know it was to make the bad guys
learn the error of their ways, forever.
But I seem to remember they came back again
only twenty years later, I discover.

I know that discussion doesn't always solve problems,
They won't overnight turn to nought.
But at least we'll be talking, not fighting
and our boys won't be somewhere getting shot.

There must be a better way than carnage
perhaps be like Able not Cain.
If we don't find it, we'll be to doomed to repeat it
again and again and again.

© Ian Lumley

Dear **Ian**: Both warfare and murder
are sheep in this world -- this harsh herder.
We glance eye-to-eye
and breathe sigh on sigh,
yet nothing is life's strong reworder.

Hi Ian,
Personally I think appeasement doesn't work, as Mr Chamberlain demonstrated.
"just what did it all achieve?"
Well being allowed to write your poetry freely in English.

Liberal, and slightly wooly
Mellow as we grow older
If you doubt, to defeat the bully
Never become a soldier.


An interesting view, glad to see you writing.
Seasonal Greetings.

Steve.

Ian L.
I think war doesn't help anything, either. I feel for those brave enough to serve, and weep when they are gone. Nice poem.
Your friend,
David Fox

A very good poem, Ian

In my opinion, war has always been a terrible solution to solve conflicts.

Unfortunately, it has been a temporary solution at best because before too long a new war breaks out somewhere.

I think we need to look long and hard at our own emotions and human nature and try a lot harder to find resolutions to conflicts that don't result in creating more wars and death.

Best,
Carol