No Art In War

art

/ärt/

noun

The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.


To me there is no art in war.
A landscape tinted with blood
has no beauty, no redemption.

How does one fight a war on terror?
How much death equates success?
How do we keep monsters at bay
when we are fired upon with our once
peddled star bangled weapons?

To me there is no art in war.
A landscape stripped of life
to feed green profit into greed’s pockets
has no beauty, no redemption.

Why is there a call to fight for freedom
when we are losing our freedoms
under the guise of keeping us free?

To me there is no art in war.
A landscape littered with the collateral damage
of innocents that brings the world no closer to peace
has no beauty, no redemption.

©Susie Clevenger 2014



Real Toads ~ Get Listed ~ September

Comments

Kathryn Dyche said…
I see no art in war either. :(
Magaly Guerrero said…
Well, dear Susie, you've made me cry at 8:21 am. And that's not a bad thing... every now and then, we need to let the emotions rain salty and free... or we might scream and burst every head within ear-shot.

"To me there is no art in war."
hedgewitch said…
You are eloquent in the execution of a premise so basic it shouldn't even have to be said, yet every generation, we must re-say it, scream it, weep it out in blood. A fine poem, Susie--full of a hard truth that needs to be faced before it can be changed.
Kerry O'Connor said…
How does one fight a war on terror?

This is the burning question: the whole paradox of fighting for peace never makes any sense to me.
Susan said…
WOW. Wow. Wow!! Good words. You speak my mind.
Maude Lynn said…
I'm standing and applauding!
Debi said…
This anthem song of the very long times! Watch a movie called " Heaven & Earth" Tommy Lee Jones
When humans have nothing, animal instincts bubble past what separates us from our relative species .
War will always be, while humans feed off and promote ignorance
When the World's exonomy is flatlining, War prevails!
This subject is every mother!s nightmare.
Anonymous said…
this, I would like to hear you read aloud Susie. powerful. thank you for adding your voice ~ M
Anonymous said…
Hi Susie==a very powerful poem. The whole thing is so difficult--I am all with you--I don't think war solves things and much is motivated by greed. But there is also the problem of genuine hatred, prejudice, slavery of various kinds in the world, and hard to know what to do there either. War doesn't seem to be the answer! For sure. And there is no art in it. But the art of change seems so difficult for mankind. Your poem speaks to the poor way it's too often handled--that is, adding violence on top of violence.

I'm sorry so late in visiting--life a little beyond me. Thanks as always. k.
These truths seem self-evident but alas...
ed pilolla said…
love that second to last graph, executed so well.