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"What was war?"

March 15, 2010
By oracle-of-nonsense PLATINUM, Winnabow, North Carolina
More by this author
oracle-of-nonsense PLATINUM, Winnabow, North Carolina
37 articles 4 photos 61 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;We are born with two incurable diseases -- life, from which we die; and hope, which says maybe death isn&rsquo;t the end.&quot;<br /> - Andrew Greeley

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I want to live in a world
where my daughter asks me
"What was war?"

Perhaps that is too much to hope,
but I have always had high expectations
of the human species.
I have cherished dreams
of smiling children
unafraid of pollution,
unafraid of nuclear fallout,
unafraid of God
or others sharing their Latin name.
I have dreamed of a return
to what is essential
rather than what is easy
or cheap
or materially enriching;
a return to introspection,
intellectualism, innocence
in a world where life is not a fight
for power,
but a debate
for enlightenment.

I want to live in a world
where my son asks me
"What were hate crimes?"

Perhaps this dream is too big --
I have realized
that when you are fighting for humanity,
you often find that your greatest opponent
is humanity itself.
But although we are our own infection,
we are also the only thing
that could ever save us.
And for the most "sophisticated,"
"civilized" species on earth,
I do not think
that this is too much
to hope for.

The author's comments:
"I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, "Mother, what was war?"
-- Eve Merriam

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Someday they'll give a war and nobody will come."
-- Carl Sandburg


Just me, being a hippie.
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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 7 comments.

Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Apr. 18 2011 at 4:28 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. <br /> Henry Drummond

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I once had a thought like this too. Instead mine's was more specific. After the Egyptian revelution, I thought of a world where the Middle East was a peaceful place, like a tourist spot.
Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Apr. 18 2011 at 4:26 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. <br /> Henry Drummond

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AWWW!

That's very sweet!

oracle-of-nonsense PLATINUM said...
on Sep. 17 2010 at 10:11 pm
oracle-of-nonsense PLATINUM, Winnabow, North Carolina
37 articles 4 photos 61 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;We are born with two incurable diseases -- life, from which we die; and hope, which says maybe death isn&rsquo;t the end.&quot;<br /> - Andrew Greeley

View profile
I am very close to him. We've been together almost two years, it'll be two years in October.  I've definitely got some "ex" poetry up here as well. Again, thanks for reading. :)
lizzie625 SILVER said...
on Sep. 16 2010 at 2:16 pm
lizzie625 SILVER, Monument, Colorado
7 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;When you&#039;re taught to love everyone, to love your enemies, then what value does that place on love?&rdquo; -marilyn manson

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i noticed some of the poetry you wrote about him i write alot of poetry about ex-boyfriends so i guess ican relate to you on that. job well done.
lizzie625 SILVER said...
on Sep. 16 2010 at 2:15 pm
lizzie625 SILVER, Monument, Colorado
7 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;When you&#039;re taught to love everyone, to love your enemies, then what value does that place on love?&rdquo; -marilyn manson

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yeah your so welcome it sounds like you're really close to your boyfriend too that's really awesome
oracle-of-nonsense PLATINUM said...
on Sep. 15 2010 at 9:11 pm
oracle-of-nonsense PLATINUM, Winnabow, North Carolina
37 articles 4 photos 61 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;We are born with two incurable diseases -- life, from which we die; and hope, which says maybe death isn&rsquo;t the end.&quot;<br /> - Andrew Greeley

View profile
Wow, thanks for taking all that time, I know there's quite a few to get through. ;) I'm glad you liked them. :)
lizzie625 SILVER said...
on Sep. 15 2010 at 4:40 pm
lizzie625 SILVER, Monument, Colorado
7 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;When you&#039;re taught to love everyone, to love your enemies, then what value does that place on love?&rdquo; -marilyn manson

View profile
dang dude i just read like half of your poems and each one of them is as good as all the rest. I really like this one, too.