the end of the war

the end of the war

the war began in dazzling triumph to turn into grind
death added upon death as cordwood stacks higher
scents of lives unraveling ghosts lame halt and blind
spirits of lost and lethe ragged flesh mixed in a briar
freeing thousand yard stares measuring shell shocks
count a mountain of lost limbs against drops of blood
record mere nightmares to strip seconds from clocks
a moaning drones of hymns to release the final flood
years pass decades of waste a whole world of debris
lips once kissed wilt and whither the eyes grown dim
slow moments pass in haste callous replaces empathy
hope wanders yon to thither tears run over the brim
care to break the dead silence the whimpering sound
dare to forsake the red violence the simpering drown