Homage to Dan Berrigan

IT’S SPRING
THE TIME WHEN KINGS GO OFF TO WAR
NO MENTION OF DEATH AND INJURY
OF NEWLY MADE ORPHANS
DASHED AGAINST THE WALL
IT’S SPRING
WHEN KINGS GO OFF TO WAR

SO SAY THE CHRONICLES OF DAVID
LIKE A TO-DO LIST
ONE WAR CROSSED OFF
AND THE EARTH CRIES
I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF BLOOD
BUT NO ONE LISTENS

BUT GOD HEARS
AND SAYS

NOTHING HARMFUL WILL TAKE PLACE
ON MY HOLY MOUNTAIN
JUST AS WATER FILLS THE SEA
THE LAND WILL BE FILLED
WITH PEOPLE
WHO KNOW
AND HONOR THE ME

WE ARE TASKED TO CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN
AND FIND PEACE
HOW I WISH I KNEW HOW

BUT TO LOVE WAR
OR BE HAPPY WITH WAR
IS WRONG
AND NOT ALLOWED
ON GOD’S HOLY MOUNTAIN

WOULD I HAD A MAGIC WAND
THAT I COULD WAVE
OR ANGEL DUST THAT I COULD SPRINKLE
ON A WORLD GONE MAD
OR EVEN A POLLYANNA RX FOR THE WORLD’S ILLS

GOD PROMISES US PEACE
BUT PEACE NOT BOUGHT BY WAR
BUT BY FORGIVENESS
AND THE TURNING OF THE OTHER CHEEK
AND ADMITTING OUR FAILURES TO BE GODLIKE


FRANK A VOLLMER