(this rather bleak poem was written in rage and despair at the horrifc images of carnage from the Middle East which seem to dominate television news.)

THE BOOK OF MAN

It is written in the Book of Man;
"Men may shed their blood in Noble Causes,
Honour, Patriotism, Duty or Belief,
They shall be called Heroes and Martyrs.
Medals shall be awarded and
Monuments erected,
That their deeds may be remembered through the ages."

It is written in the Book of Man;
"One man gave his blood to redeem humanity
And his name shall be called Wonderful, Glorious.
Towering edifices of unsurpassed beauty
Shall be raised in his name,
That this sacrifice may be celebrated
And to commemorate
His Power and His Glory."

The ceaseless monthly flood of woman-blood
Seeps unregarded throught history's ashes,
Eternally shed in service of Life.

In the Book of Man it is written;
No medals will be awarded,
No monuments raised,
We find
No virtue,
No nobility,
No sanctity
In the common-place.........."

Rune,

I love this poem, yet it confuses me... Maybe that's why I love it...

Please keep sharing them....