Peace and War and Pieces of Human Beings on the Ground
Hiroshima met Fat Man
or rather, Fat Man
sat on Hiroshima,
then swallowed it whole,
including civilians.
Japanese neighborhoods
did not understand the
death knell of “the flash.”
they only saw seared bodies
bobbing on river’s surface.
Ancient remedies could not
damage the damage done to
frail Japanese bodies,
some tattooed with the
pattern of a dress or shirt.
Scientists in America had
mixed opinions; some were
happy with their new-found status
as innovators, adventurers
in the heretofore unknown.
Most others signed a petition,
pleading with the government
to not inflict their dragonbaby
on innocents. They wished
they hadn’t been so clever.
Japan was losing the war;
America claimed the bombing
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
saved the lives of 100,000 troops –
men who knew the score.
Every life is precious, has
potential to create. There is
no such thing as a just war,
and no war ever creates peace.
It simply withdraws armaments.
Until the next time.
© Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For dverse, where host Mary asked for poems about peace. This may be the odd approach, but I stand by it as a pacifist.
Saw the movie “Black Rain.” Very tough and so moving, it makes a case for the end of nuclear weapons, which America still stockpiles. The movie is must for students of WWII… or for anyone who believes that the US had to drop hydrogen bombs at Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The indelible effects of our awful weapons destroyed entire cities and put countless civilians through hell.
We wept when the Towers went down. But imagine all of NYC leveled, from the Battery to the Bronx. Or even your own town. Leveled by foreigners who had a new toy and wanted to show their supremacy.
I, too, wept when the Towers collapsed – because I knew that war was imminent, despite Bush’s assurances of diplomacy first. And the cost of the current war to Iraqi and Afghani civilians is higher than our own troops. War is an evil act. Why not try peace? Let the war machine bitch all they want. They could be building housing for the homeless instead. Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Candy Morrow
What you say is true, everyone dies in a war. If not the body the soul. I’ve read and re-read about that particular war and the London blitz, trying to find reason as who deserved what, but then, I’m not God.
Kelvin S.M.
…old fathers say they’d been sent to war during the Japanese era to fight for peace…that they’re battling for peace… But do we really need to be in war before we can achieve peace? I say no…definitely not…i mean what’s the sense… A war for peace? Too ironic… War never would ever produce peace…and that’s a fact… Whenever i recall the deaths of many from any wars in history i got chills…just as what you did give to me in this poem…hehe… Smiles…
Roger Green
i remember having a heated debate with my sixth-grade teacher over whether the A-bombs HAD to be dropped. no surprise; i was against it. my great disappointment with the Iraq war was the notion that it would be “easy”…
brian miller
it simply withdrawls the armaments…truth that….killing does not bring peace…ugh…can you imagine all that life force snuffed out at once….
Mary
There are no easy answers to these deep questions, Amy; and truly, in retrospect, it is hard to second guess the right or the wrong. All we have is today and possibilities for solving our problems of today peacefully if all sides will agree.
Heaven (@asweetlust)
How horrific and terrible are the scars and effects of war and destruction ~ I am like you, against all wars, even at the excuse of peace ~
Bodhirose
I’ve watched documentaries on what that bomb did to the Japanese…never, ever should that happen again to anyone. Yes, what if entire cities were leveled in the U.S. We haven’t had to live through the devastation that many have had in their cities and neighborhoods worldwide. It is unthinkable to us. Well, we had better watch our backs…because the armaments have just been put down temporarily.
Joseph Harker
I remember seeing “Black Rain” in college, not that I needed any swaying to pacifism in the first place. I think that third stanza of yours has some serious meat, and could spin into a poem all its own… powerful stuff.
Richard Cody
Amen.
Tony
It’s tough to truly understand why certain things in history happened. Viewed from our contemporary perspective, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were truly awful events, but I can understand that the political and military leaders of the time saw the alternative as more unacceptable.
Don’t misunderstand me, I am certainly not an advocate of war, but I think it’s sometimes too easy to judge the past harshly against our own understanding and standards.
Sherry Blue Sky
When we think about peace, we have to think about the effects of such terrible events. I must see Black Rain. Great write, Amy. Thanks for reminding us about those times. I cant imagine being the person responsible for hitting the button and letting loose the monster that wreaked so much devastation and suffering.
Polly Robinson
This is amazing, Amy, well done 🙂
kkkkaty1
If only we could ”study war no more”…;)
ManicDdaily
Americans have been very lucky not to have a war on their soil since the Civil War. I tend to be on the pacifist side also. Agh. I think it’s hard to describe history in a poem, but you do it very well. k.
El Guapo
Great, great writing!
I don’t know if I’d agree that war is always unnecessary though…
Jamie Dedes
New York is my home town, though I wasn’t there when the towers went down. They were only two blocks from where I used to work. Heartbreaking.
I remember reading about Hiroshima in John Hersey’s book of the same name when I was about ten years old. Awful to read of those poor, poor people with the prints from their clothing tatooed on their wounded bodies. Since World War II propaganda movies were still big in my day, mostly as television reruns, it’s was good that I read Hersey’s books and those of others who show us the true face of war.
Later in life I met one of the men who was in the plain that dropped the bomb, or one of the planes. He had been affected as well – his family horrified – he died of lukemia as a result of explosure. And so yes, everyone is victimized by war. We are traumatized in reading about it and seeing news reports … though I’m not suggesting we suffer the way the people do at ground zero.
A fine piece of work in the spirit of our “Poets Against War” effort and delighted to be able to include a link to this in the summary post. It will add to grace and enrich the experience of all. Thank You! Be well, Amy, and poem on …
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Renee Espriu
A powerful statement, Amy, from a passionate writer. Good to see you on Into The Bardo.
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