War Crime$

Throughout our bloody history
soldiers have died
in many uniforms
and guises

Not for a flag
or any particular
political ideology

They did not perish
for you or me
their countries
or even their families

They gave their lives
cause they were
ordered to do so
under penalty
of treason

by old men of means
who pulled all the strings
from corporate castles
well behind the lines

Spoon fed
all the clever slogans

Selling fear
and patriotic zeal

Dehumanize
and demonize the enemy

Who in turn does the same
to herd up all the warrior sheep
for battle conflict slaughter

Bloody fodder for the history books

Battle lines bolster the bottom lines

Wars end with grand parades

Speeches made to honor the dead
as the back room boys count their profits
and plot to invest
in the next needless war