When this war is over

Let us NOT remember it with

Celebrations

Parades

Brass bands and

Memorials to the great and the dead

Let us NOT remember it

With movies and books and epic tales

Of exalted heroes

Who were killed while killing

Or who remained standing to receive medals

Having killed only Expendables

Let us NOT remember this war

As we remember past wars with rituals that

Recruit the next generation of warriors and

Brainwash young minds into believing

War is Glory and Valor and Comradery and

The only true way to Prove Courage

 

Let us instead for one day each year

REMEMBER this war as it was

Let us be without power and water and heat and communication

Let our stores be closed and transportation shut down

Let our children be taken from us and

Sent to unknown places

Let us snatch people off the streets and

Lock them in dark cellars
Let us move maternity wards and ICUs into basements

Let there be random explosions that rattle homes and schools

Theatres and public buildings so that

The only place it feels safe to gather

Is underground

Let us once a year

Have credential checks at intersections

Tanks blocking highways
Armed soldiers in the parks

Curfews

The stink of rotting flesh

Let there be sirens screaming
Drones and rockets passing overhead and

Earsplitting chaos through the night

 

Yes, let us memorialize dead soldiers

But let us never again ignore dead civilians

Who did not have guns in their hands when their lives were taken

By missile, rocket, artillery shell, execution, fire, fear, starvation

And the sadism of dehumanized orcs

Let us honor those who died

But let us also honor those who kept living

When it might have been easier to die

Let us commemorate

The bravery of ever again trusting another human being

After suffering starvation, isolation, deportation

After suffering rape or other torture

After witnessing unfathomable deeds

Done to your child your parent your spouse your neighbor

After a loved one ripped apart by a military death tool dies in your arms

Let us honor the bravery of trying ever again to pursue dreams

After burying the loved one you kissed goodbye this morning

After losing your home

After losing your business

After leaving all behind to

Take children to safety in another country
Let us honor the bravery

Of getting out of bed every day

When you are unable to imagine a future

The bravery of existing day after day in a landscape

Strewn with mind-mines set to blow up unarmored psyches

Let us honor the valor of Surviving

 

Let us NOT commemorate this war with

Celebrations

Parades

Brass bands and

Memorials to

The great and the dead

Let us COMMEMORATE this war

As it deserves to be commemorated.

With grieving souls

Ready to see Glory be damned to hell

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