A Country at War

There was a country
with lovely flowers
or was it just in
my mind? Was it just
a country at war
and the flowers were
all the beauty left?
Where did it go wrong?

Where were the wise men
and women? Such shame,
a country at war.
Love gave way to pain.
A queen, a king, a
crown, commanded men
and women to sack
and kill. Where is the

voice of reason? Why
twist the swan’s neck? Who
will foot the bill? Why
not fire the ruler
or send him or her
to the front instead?
Who will reign if they
had to give their last

breath? Send the prince and
princess or their kin
to give their last breath.
Where is reason’s voice?

Luis lives in California and works in Los Angeles. His poetry has appeared in Blue Collar Review, Dissident Voice, and Struggle Magazine. Read other articles by Luis.