taking up arms

Verdun, 1917 by Felix Vallotton

taking up arms

©2012 susan noyes anderson

then and now, war is the same

guts and glory, brawn and blame

rage, remorse, and alibis

searing truth and crushing lies

faithless enemies and friends

vengeance tempered by amends

justice dealt in bloody blows

raining down on faceless foes

imperfection marks us all

some will rise and some will fall

man will heed the battle call

man will heed the battle call

My poem, inspired by Vallotton's representation of WWI's battle at Verdun, is intended to portray the intrinsic horrors and impieties of war. It does not, however, represent a flat anti-war statement on my part. Like any mother, I am deeply disturbed by the violence that characterizes our world, and I would like to see more peaceful solutions to international problems. Having said that, I cannot deny that war is sometimes necessary, as it was in WWII. Sadly, identifying that necessity (or lack thereof) is a lot easier to do after the fact, and we have fought some wars that could and should have been avoided. I hope we will never let that reality diminish our gratitude for the brave men and women who have risen up in good faith to defend our country through the years. The debt that we owe them for their selfless service can never be repaid. Thanks to them, when evil does rear its ugly head against our nation, there will always be an answer. 

My prayer is that our leaders might be inspired with the wisdom to know when we must take action and when we must not––that the blood of our courageous troops need never be spilled in a cause that is undeserving of their devotion to duty and country.

Happy Veteran's Day!

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