He looks at the man sitting across the table, and glowers.

The other man shrinks, and his head lowers.

He has received his orders.

Must do things he thinks should not be done.

Many a man has been barked at before

With bite behind it- for dogs have no other means of communication.

Only Man bites worse than he barks.

 

A woman is screaming. She has seen her babies

Die one by one. Nothing is left for her.

A ruined house and nightmares. What will she do?

She does not know.

 

After Auschwitz, after Rwanda

Humanity should decide

That people are more important than power.

War might be necessary- but not for its own sake.

Not in a fight of blame. Only to keep others safe.

But was that the reason for the genocide? for the concentration camps?

Ask the childless, unprotected woman.

 

The young boys and the young girls laugh together.

The fair young woman braids her sister's dark locks.

The baby opens huge blue eyes and laughs.

The grandmother and grandfather hold hands on the porch.

And the father is glad. They are at peace. He minds not the scars.