Charles J. Ingerson

ROADS OF WAR

Stretching forth
as rutted ground
found no worth
muted guns sound.

Pastures destroyed
streets overturned
troops deployed
villages burned.

Homes in flames
children to die
everyone blames
no one to cry.

Roads of war
flags and pomp
youth to soar
lives to stomp.

Hanging heads
crippled limbs
tanker treads
all life dims.

Roads
of
war
lost

roads
of
wars
cost

roads
forever
tempest
tossed

roads
quietly
oft
crossed.