Memorial Day

Today we remember and honor those who died

in war, a day to celebrate heroism, sometimes

there is heroism on the battlefield, if only there

was a little heroism in the grand halls, conference

rooms, the calculations that send the young into battle

in order to cover the miscalculations, hubris, stupidity,

indifference, pettiness of those who thought a little war

a solution, or an expression of national will, or those

who lacked the courage to tackle tough issues, who hid

from reality, from danger until they lost all capacity

to choose, as waves of war suddenly appears

on the horizon, who knew? who could know

that the postures that politicians love, the games

that diplomats play have consequences and when

the dust has settled, acres of dedicated fields grow

gravestones which we can decorate

with flowers and water with tears.

Peter Goodwin