Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Homage to Dan Berrigan

IT’S SPRING

THE TIME WHEN KINGS GO OFF TO WAR

NO MENTION OF DEATH AND INJURY

OF NEWLY MADE ORPHANS

DASHED AGAINST THE WALL

IT’S SPRING

WHEN KINGS GO OFF TO WAR



SO SAY THE CHRONICLES OF DAVID

LIKE A TO-DO LIST

ONE WAR CROSSED OFF

AND THE EARTH CRIES

I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF BLOOD

BUT NO ONE LISTENS



BUT GOD HEARS

AND SAYS



NOTHING HARMFUL WILL TAKE PLACE

ON MY HOLY MOUNTAIN

JUST AS WATER FILLS THE SEA

THE LAND WILL BE FILLED

WITH PEOPLE

WHO KNOW

AND HONOR THE ME



WE ARE TASKED TO CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN

AND FIND PEACE

HOW I WISH I KNEW HOW



BUT TO LOVE WAR

OR BE HAPPY WITH WAR

IS WRONG

AND NOT ALLOWED

ON GOD’S HOLY MOUNTAIN



WOULD I HAD A MAGIC WAND

THAT I COULD WAVE

OR ANGEL DUST THAT I COULD SPRINKLE

ON A WORLD GONE MAD

OR EVEN A POLLYANNA RX FOR THE WORLD’S ILLS



GOD PROMISES US PEACE

BUT PEACE NOT BOUGHT BY WAR

BUT BY FORGIVENESS

AND THE TURNING OF THE OTHER CHEEK

AND ADMITTING OUR FAILURES TO BE GODLIKE



FRANK A VOLLMER

No comments:

Post a Comment