Not This Time

Wednesday, April 10, 1991 - 10:00

Not This Time

By Ken Setter

Not this time

can poets write

of gallant battles

fought man to man

all for one

and one for all.

Not this time

this high tech

so-called surgical

precision

distance bombing

done at night

only they can see

a video game

repeated nightly.

Not this time

can people say

"I did not know"

it's on TV.

I see the joyful bombers

return from flight

I hear them tell

of Christmas trees

light up and

fourth of July parties.

Not this time

can they be free from blame

their hands are stained

with blood spilt for oil

to smooth the wheels

that run on bottom lines.

Not this time

do they do these things

not in my name

no

no

not this time.

From GLW issue 7