Anti-War Poetry Power

Earlier this week, I got an email forwarded to me by a friend of mine who is a member of the National Association for Poetry Therapy.
The original email sent by Sam Hamill, a poet and editor of the highly regarded Copper Canyon Press, asked that every poet speak up for the conscience of our country and lend his or her name to our petition against this war, and to make February 12 a day of Poetry Against the War. We will compile an anthology of protest to be presented to the White House on that afternoon. Read about the history of the effort here. And if you want to submit a poem or statement of conscience, email it to kokua@olympus.net. I already did.
According to today

24 thoughts on “Anti-War Poetry Power

  1. Thanks, Elaine, for the e-mail alerting me to this post.
    This sounds like an uplifting project and one that I would love to participate in. I have no material all ready written that I would consider submitting so I would have to conjure something new. God knows I’ve got enough to say about the grave we seem to be digging for ourselves.

  2. I know there are rights and not-rights about comparing our time to that of the 60’s, but I often do. Sadly, I wonder if all THIS is going to be what defines this generation. I wonder if the outcome will be our shame-name. Like WWII Germany.

  3. A Little Spot in the World
    Don’t point at me your F 16s,
    Your aircraft carriers and gun machines,
    Don’t track me down by satellite
    Ultraviolet, infra-red light.
    Turn off your cameras and microphones,
    I just want to be left alone.
    Don’t build these barriers of barbed wire
    nor plant these mines & springs of fire
    Don’t splash my name across the news
    And mash my brain with all your views,
    Your global myth of luxury
    Your bulging pockets of misery.
    Don’t tell me what’s wrong or right,
    If it hit you in the face you might
    not recognise the truth,blind to you.
    And when did justice become appointed to
    The bully with the iron fist,
    With his germ bombs and nuclear mist?
    Just leave me in ignorance and the sanctity
    Of one spot in the world, just for me.

  4. Instead of unnecessary anti war protests we should show our displeasure of the war by not supporting the oil industry. If we boycott fossil fuels the oil companies will have no other choice but to find an alternative to war and fossil fuels. It will also protect our environment and our children

  5. Instead of unnecessary anti war protests we should show our displeasure of the war by not supporting the oil industry. If we boycott fossil fuels the oil companies will have no other choice but to find an alternative to war and fossil fuels. It will also protect our environment and our children

  6. Instead of unnecessary anti war protests we should show our displeasure of the war by not supporting the oil industry. If we boycott fossil fuels the oil companies will have no other choice but to find an alternative to war and fossil fuels. It will also protect our environment and our children

  7. Instead of unnecessary anti war protests we should show our displeasure of the war by not supporting the oil industry. If we boycott fossil fuels the oil companies will have no other choice but to find an alternative to war and fossil fuels. It will also protect our environment and our children

  8. Instead of unnecessary anti war protests we should show our displeasure of the war by not supporting the oil industry. If we boycott fossil fuels the oil companies will have no other choice but to find an alternative to war and fossil fuels. It will also protect our environment and our children

  9. To everyone who is ANTI-War- comeon…. give me a freakin’ break- 4 real- ok… 1st off, how do you think your sorry asses live in a free country? uh- not cuz you sit here and complain about it… It’s becuz our brave soldiers… And as of right now our war w/ Iraq isn’t the “draft” these men knew what could happen- they chose to sign up. Now- support our president, if not pack up and get outta the country, where maybe everything isn’t so happy go lucky for you!!

  10. WAR, HUH, GOOD GOD! WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
    ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN’!!!!!!…(SAY IT AGAIN)
    War is hell…
    And Hell is War…
    I don’t know what we’re fighting for…
    I don’t believe the tv news…
    So conservative, you know, I’m not amused…
    I must protest, I must decry…
    I must speak up against the tide…
    The senseless masochistic ride…
    That blinds us to the truth…
    War is hell…
    And Hell is War…
    I don’t know what we’re fighting for…
    (2nd verse…same as the first…)

  11. You have some good points about the war, but I think you should also look at who is influencing Bush. I mean I’m not trying to get him off the hook or anything, but there are a lot of other people in his administration who influence his descisions. Your poetry is excelent, I think you should look into some of the writtngs and ideas of Donald Rumsfeld, if Bush upsets you, just look at what Rumsfeld is planning on doing to the Middle East. Keep writting those great poems!
    THanks for listening.

  12. OKAY LETS GET A FEW THINGS STRAIGHT,
    1)THE COAL
    2)MARINE CORPS BARRACKS BERUIT
    3)SEPTEMBER 11 2001
    4) AN GREAT NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT TAKEN OVER BY TERRORISM IN THE WORLD AND THE PEOPLE THAT APARRENTLY YOU SUPPORT. IF YOU WONT BACK THE PRESIDENT THEN PACK YOUR BAGS AND GET THE FUCK OUT. AND WHEN THEY HIT YOU FOR LIVING LIKE A BUNCH OF FUCKING HIPPIE PIECES OF SHIT KNOW THAT YOU LEFT A GOOD COUNTRY TO BE A BUNCH OF NO LOAD COCKBREATH SHIT EATING CANT CUNTS WHO LIVE UNDER THE BLANKET OF PROTECTION I PROVIDE AND THEN HATE ME BECAUSE I PROVIDED IT TO YOU. IT AMERICA LOVE IT OR GET THE FUCK OUT

  13. OKAY I APPOLOGISE TO THE USS COLE CAPTAIN AND CREW FOR THE MISPELLING. BUT LETS START AT TOP SHALL WE
    1) OCT 1983 MARINE BARACKS BEIRUT LEBANON
    2)DEC 1988 PAN AM FLT 103LOCKERBIE SCOTLAND
    3)FEB 1993 WORLD TRADE CENTER NYC.NY
    4)JUNE 1996 KHOBAR TOWERS DHAHRAN.SA
    5)AUG 1998 US EMA=BASSIESKENYA/TANZANIA
    6)OCT 2000 USS COLE ADEN-YEMEN
    7) SEPT 11 2001 WORLD TRADE CENTER NYC NY
    PENTAGONWASHINGTON DC
    UNITED AIRLINES FLT 93
    NOW IF YOU ARE STILL UNWILLING TO BACK THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE “OUR MILITARY IS BLOOD THIRSTY AND AFTER OIL” BULLSHIT, THEN LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF THE PEOPLE THAT DIED IN THESE RUN INS WITH THE “INNOCENT” RAG HEADED MUSLIMS(MORE BULLSHIT). AND IF YOU STILL DO NOT WANT TO STAND AND BACK YOUR MILITARY THEN GET THE FUCK OUT AND LET US START ON YOU SINCE WE ARE SO FUCKING BLOOD THIRSTY

  14. “Like Father, Like Son”
    He knew, he knew all along
    The coming war wouldn’t take too long
    He knew he had to act quickly to win
    But even more quickly for war to begin
    To begin the operation and finally crush Iraq
    Or he would lose his chance for the mass attack
    He set the course for all the lies he would put forth
    To target someone to fill the empty shoes of Ollie North
    Like father, like son, he needed someone he could blame
    But false intelligence only leads to a greater family shame
    Now this mighty nation must close the bleeding breach
    Of trust, and wisely utilize the people’s power to impeach
    For the only mass destruction was to Iraqi lives and land
    And now he’s sure their weapons plan must be beried in the sand
    His plan is clear, to create new laws for his absolute power
    His corruption built with the bones unfound from either tower
    All this time we wondered where all the innocent victims went
    Now they’ve been found being used by King George, the pResident
    Claiming to bring justice to US by freeing terrors firm controls
    And just like those he hates, unjustly used our soldiers and their souls
    Copyright

  15. “Nation’s Pledge”
    I pledge allegiance to his flag
    Of the coalated states of America
    And to the Republicans for whom it stands
    His Nation
    Above God
    Visibly
    Liberating with force
    and Justifying all
    With fear of what might be
    And greed for oil he can sieze
    Through too much pride in his country
    God Bless the United…. Nations!
    Copyright

  16. In Memoriam: To Rajiv Gandhi
    (May 21, 1991)
    by Madan G. Gandhi
    (i)
    Time casts ominous shadows,
    lurid clouds of grief,
    presaging many a shipwreck
    in its tempestuous swirls.
    Puzzled, I stand aghast
    seeing my dear ones
    being swallowed by engulfing gloom.
    (ii)
    Gosh! my mirror is splintered:
    the tallest member of our constellation,
    halloed in grandeur,
    gone.
    In his hour of glory,
    cheered heartily by multitudes,
    blown away by the blast
    to circumambulate in space.
    (iii)
    How many blood stains have I borne,
    I have no count of;
    yet I smile
    at my wounds, at my burns,
    as I enter a treacherous trajectory.
    I see many a noose hung in space,
    many a moony face in wait,
    many a tree and star in ambush.
    (iv)
    The garland quivers,
    the hand shivers,
    utter blackout,
    utter confusion.
    The hero who rode lie a colossus
    with a bang leaves the stage,
    the curtain rung down.
    My tongue dry and cold,
    all defences gone;
    I lose my hold
    and mingle my voice in wails.
    (v)
    Mother stands in heaven in tears,
    beloved spouse a picture of grief,
    progeny fatherless, forlorn.
    O son, come to me, come to my lap,
    you had enough share of trials,
    enough tribulations, enough calumny.
    In bliss abide,
    call a day to your Herculean labours;
    these augean stables shall never be cleansed.
    (vi)
    The hand that rocked the cradle,
    the eyes that fondled from dusk to dawn,
    the voice that soothing lullabies sang,
    all consigned to EWAFE.
    Search his childhood there, his sports,
    his love-play, his exploits, his guts,
    search all these in a handful of earth.

  17. It’s true all we need is love,
    But some are so hell bent on acting in the name of God,
    In the name of their church.
    Well they’re just buildings,
    Beautiful as they are,
    They blind us to the fact that God should be all around,
    Not in four walls,
    How claustrophobic that must be,
    As he tries in vain to spread the word of love,
    Wisdom and respect for the land we live in.
    Tired of the news,it’s always the same,
    Bombs going off, killing in the name of religion,
    God better soon speak up and chastise those who need it,
    For it’s only when we learn respect and forgiveness,
    That we won’t destroy ourselves and all else that is good.
    And as we steal what does not belong to us,
    From hands not strong enough to pull away,
    We seal not only our fate,
    But everyone elses as well.
    An ounce of good,
    And love for one’s own is all that is needed,
    To destroy destruction itself.
    ps: I’m afraid I can’t leave America for my ideals, as I live in Britain, and really do not like the Prime Minister. Truth be known, I wish I lived in Japan.

  18. This one is to “robert”. If you fail to see the bloodthrist within our military, then you must be ignorant. Have you no idea of the number of civilians killed in the war vesus the number of our own dead. Jus tbecause one does not support the war doesnt mean that one doesnt support america. It means that one does not support the neverending cycle of violence that is only perpetuated by acts of war. You say something about how its ok to kill the Iraqie’s because there terrorist and all, but i ask you to look at things fom there perspective. They were a soveriegn country before we went in there. Now they have no government no judicial system and no free will of their own. They see us as the terrorist, as we invaded their country and killed their poeple. A terrorist im someone who instills terror upon others, and thats just what this asministration is doing. They made terror a factor in the everyday lifes of people in Iraq. So if you say that terrorist should die, then what about bush?

  19. Thunder in the Distance
    I sing of Famine amid bountiful harvests-
    Granaries bulge with corn ,
    while mute , long suffering multitudes wait-
    gaunt and wracked with hunger .
    Convoys , trundle down highways
    bearing grain to distant battlefields
    past emaciated , sun-scourged bodies
    pathetically huddled …
    beyond starvation…too weak to beg.
    Little angels of mercy
    ‘unhonoured and unsung’
    glide gently among the dying
    giving surcease ,then
    tenderly shutting eyes forever….
    their faith in God ,
    all merciful and infinitely loving,
    shaken to the very roots.
    Villages ,lie desolate and abandoned –
    not a living soul in sight.
    Fields once laden with Nature’s bounty now
    reduced to dry , blasted earth.
    Enormous swathes of ground,
    littered with rotting corpses and skeletons
    of three million dead innocents .
    Massive flocks of vultures ,
    blotting out the sun ,
    swoop down to feed
    on grisly banquets of carrion.
    Jackals, curs and rodents ,in their millions
    rustle through the fields of death
    tearing at putrid flesh
    crunching through whitened bone .
    A monstrous pall of death
    blankets the entire land.
    The stench of a hell on earth
    assails the very heavens
    …… High in the skies , a faint rumble
    pierces the deathly stillness,
    as vast armadas tear past ,
    in swift arrowing flight ,
    to unleash maelstroms of death and destruction
    on the enemy
    lurking beyond the lofty ranges
    that loom ,
    a faint blue blur on the distant horizon.
    With vaulting heart and soaring spirit –
    I sing of Man’s boundless Inhumanity to Man
    – transcending all else.

  20. I’d also LOVE it if you could remove the comments from me asking you to remove it! This comes up if you search my name! Please…

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