As War Disrupts Life

Adults call themselves worldly wise,

yet what little children can do

adults often seem to lack.

My daughter asked to bury

a dead lizard with honor.

My son said sorry

to a tree that was uprooted.

And here are old people,

who may not even walk this earth

for another five years,

busy playing world leaders,

blinded by power, greed, and revenge,

playing Holi

with fuel and blood.

When Buddhist monks walked

with peace messages,

it seemed for a moment

the world might become a kinder place.

But all of it was quickly nullified

by foolish regimes.

Now I wake up

to news of attacks,

on fuel tankers, consulates,

apartment buildings, schools.

I am not yet the first-hand sufferer,

yet I am wise enough to know

that when such ugly things happen

it is only a matter of time,

before the fire reaches everyone.

People who respect the earth

and the life on it,

are shocked at the disregard.

It makes me shiver to think

people struggling to get fuel

to cook lentils for a family.

It breaks my heart

to see children

who will never return from school.

I hope better sense

enters the tainted minds of leaders,

and that they agree on peace.

Because war steals everything

and leaves only scars.