Ode to Ares With blows and bombs, War takes his toll, Chaos, confusion, clash, Dispatched to human slaughterhouse, Dust to dust, ash to ash. With wasting and destructive woe, None friend from foe distinguish, The aging men fire up the young, Life's brief flame to extinguish. Untimely, in oceans of red, The limbs and corpses mangled Pay homage to technology And weaponry new-fangled. Meaningless metal, stripes and stars, On chests the generals pin it, A monstrous, bloody waste of life That hath no honor in it. February 2005