WAR…

Middle-age men use angry words

Young men fire weapons

Grandparents lower grandchildren

into hungry graves meant only for their retirement.

Butterflies drift across smoldering battlefields

They do not see the end of time

Spilt blood of hero and villain alike commingle

The Earth drinks deeply -- it tastes the same.

Battlefields green with bravery; harvested in dark sorrow

Young men die - the world shudders - then birds regain their songs

Widows sweep ash from their doorsteps - once again - forever more

Passionless in beauty, butterflies hover above burnt flowers

then depart.