Whither the Commonweal
Beyond flame, smoke and rhetoric of war,
Muffling hearing and dimming the vision
Of spectators lost to indecision,
Is there some greater purpose anymore?
Nothing’s resolved by strike and counter strike,
Disputation of sovereignty and borders,
The commonplace of following orders,
Whether with bow and axe, musket and pike,
Missile and drone, always the casualty
Is humanity. Victory or defeat
Figure in columns on the balance sheet
While profit’s the deciding reality.
There can be no leaders without the led
If they but choose the commonweal instead.
D. A.