War Games: The Good Use of History
Battle-born, the playground, a mecca won,
Not by victory, by history on . . .
Escorting tourists over what’s been done,
Human nature revolving over lawn;
Thence wildflowers born from the blood of truth,
Fertile earth from graves unknown, vast and mass;
Waste in wide carnage for belated ruth,
Each blade of steel now a blade of grass.
Laughter as artillery sounds in echo;
New generations put new life to play;
Laughter wails as time’s crossfire in secco;
A rain of tears still salting the new day.
There, aside from memory, fire will cease
At play on the seesaw of war and peace.
– Mary Jo Magar –