We Can't See Heaven For The Blood

We can’t see heaven for the blood.
Redemption didn’t buy its bullets
from the right god … toe tags keep
piling up an eye for an eye.

How much death is enough?

Hell isn’t a deterrent when
live lungs are breathing ash.

A broken winged child looks the same
in every race, in every mother’s tears.

Yet… still peace waits….It hopes…
It believes each mirror will speak,
“You are the answer to ending war.”


©Susie Clevenger 2014

At Real Toads Marian prompted us to respond poetically to Steve Earle's moving song Jerusalem.

Comments

Susan said…
That will indeed be the fairest of all! Bless you.
Marian said…
this, yes! this:

Hell isn’t a deterrent when
live lungs are breathing ash.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
FANTASTIC! "each mirror will speak 'you are the answer to ending war.'" A spectacular write, Susie.
Margaret said…
The first stanza grabs me and the line about every child and its mother … wow. You really nailed this challenge!
Sumana Roy said…
"How much death is enough?"...I hope these words cover the whole world...
Preeti S. said…
This one is so powerful and an instant favourite. I love the use of imagery, the message really hits home. Loved this. And I hope peace breaks out as readily as war in present, as well as in future.
Kerry O'Connor said…
An eye for an eye is such an ancient form of political opposition, yet does not seem to have lost its popularity. I don't pretend to understand how this could ever be a solution.
avalon said…
My oh... you have your voice back! What lines, phrases and thoughts. Crystalized emotion with the sharp edges of the shards of our broken world.
Suzy said…
A broken winged child looks the same in every race - how true is that and yet we continue to break those wings. Beautiful poem.
Kathryn Dyche said…
a broken winged child makes my heart ache.
Magaly Guerrero said…
That fourth stanza left my heart whimpering screams...
Anonymous said…
it's so hard these days, Susie ~