War and Peace

We have become immune
to war. Violence is
an adrenalin rush in
a computer game. Bombings,
mortar fire, are computer
programs. With a volunteer
army, almost no one knows
a soldier. War is far away,
abstract, as nebulous as
love.

We can fix it. We can
make war visceral again.

A universal draft increases
the demographic reach of
those waiting for coffins.
If we give each soldier
a great sword, then we too
can behead the enemy.
We need more beheadings.
We need more blood, more
brains splattered on uniforms.

Let's put the stench back
into war so our literal minds
can recall what the hell
we're dealing with here.

Yes, it would be nice if
reading Homer were enough
but obviously our imaginations
are dead. We'll never realize
the true horror of war unless
we make it visceral again.

So I say, more blood
and guts! Enough stench,
enough gore, maybe we'll
again feel war's pain
and take to the streets,
demanding an end to it.