Poem: "Pacifism"

Pacifism

Love is what brought me to this end, and love
Was the end I wished. To break or to bend
Were the choices given when I chose to stand.
—Andréa Jarmai, “Tsuruhime: Greaves and Corselets”


I am a poor soldier, love, always the last
to find a way out of the jungle or breakfast

and the first to fall asleep on the watch.
I hated the uniform. Hard tack. Safety catch.

Called upon to lead a fighting company,
I stole behind a strapping Indian PC.

Hardship made me selfish. I pretended
not to see my turn to carry the wounded.

No, I am not proud of my army record.
The action never quite hit the word.

Will I change? Will I stand and break
for love? If there is anyone who can make

me a man, a woman, faithfulness,
you are he. But I am too much for peace.


for Guy

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