The Oldest Lie

Cherry

By Schubert

Thu, 04 Jul 2024
  • 289 reads
5 comments
 

Caveat emptor they said of war
Beware the official lie
That at their behest
We surrender our best
For it is sweet and proper to die

Caveat emptor they said in the snug
It's nothing to do with us
They were the ones who signed the pact
Sealed the deal and passed the Act
Let them pursue the glory
Contort the truth, invent the story
That dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori

Buyer, beware of the oldest lie
The one they concoct to send you to die
The deal they sell, the pain we share
Thoughtless whys of insane despair
Follow your conscience before answering the call
Test the lie and light the flare
Heed the wisdom of buyer beware

Certificate U
Poem
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by lenchenelf on

use of Latin phrases to underpin antiquity and longevity of the lie. Good pace, good poem

Best

L 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

There will always be a lot of murkiness about human wars and varying motives, but surely there are times when either in war or in private one would be willing to die to save someone else from death or abuse or torture, whether by individuals or an attacking nation? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Schubert on

Yes, which is why I wrote follow your conscience before answering the call. It's not always a just cause....like Iraq for example!

Submitted by memphis on

I like your forthright analysis. Keep it real and on point.

William E Alexander

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Dylan, You masters of war, I don't believe in If any-more. Yes rather Bob Marley, he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day,

(I've always thought the oldest lie was in Eden when man was banished )

Nice Cherries! Peace Brothers! Tom