It pained the man...
I'd guess
to think of forgotten deaths.

I stood looking at graves
flowers and flags
and rows of young dead.

It's only right
that those who live
remember deaths of war.

Then I thought
of those peace-makers
who fought in other ways.

Where are their graves
and the flowers and flags
and statures?

Is it not as patriotic
to prevent these graves
as to fill them?

We must wonder whether
we will ever honor peacemakers
in a world ruled by Generals.

We compete with everyone
French, Germans, Italians,
Russians, Chinese, etc.,
for armaments contracts.

Almost any war in the world
is likely to be fought
with made in America weapons
being used by both sides.

We furnish one country
with military jet planes...
and their enemy
with anti-aircraft missiles.

We try to reason the unreasonable...
"If they don't buy from us
they'll buy from someone else."

What is worse
the aid we offer to many poor
never helps that nation's poor.

Instead it comes back
into the pockets of our
military industries for weapons.

We should be suspicious
of those industries who agree
to offers of foreign assistance.

Can we are the world
and not expect that someday
the arms will be used?

Perhaps against us?