War (A poetry/writing piece created for my *future* speech to the UN)
Disclaimer: May cause some emotional discomfort in terms of topics about war and suffering.
War.
War is when you can hear the sirens blaring in the air.
The heart-breaking sounds of thousands of children and women
screaming in absolute fear while their houses
are reduced to rubble.
War is when there's no food left to eat,
even for a single family,
as a famine had struck everyone near,
starving them to nothing but thin bones of despair.
War is when you will never see your father, mother,
even siblings again, as they all perished right before you.
"It never had to be this way", said one person.
But men in power beg to differ.
Had they been angels, war wouldn't have happened.
We would need no government.
Peace would've dominated Mother Earth, and all people born into this world could've enjoyed a loving family, a roof to stay under, enough food and water on the table, and revelling in joy and kindred spirit with others.
Yet here we are.
Every cry for help is a person, mother, or child, soon to vanish.
Can't their cries be heard?
Are they being systematically muffled,
through so-called diplomacy and strategic partnerships?
Are words and condemning evil good enough for you,
in any cases where action could've been the saviour of the day?
"All men are created equal", but humanity isn't?
"Today, we will focus on the economic agenda of this tenure", but you rather let thousands starve with literally nothing left to eat?
"We now condemn (insert country responsible) for their actions", yet you still send militaristic arms to said country.
Yet you condemned them too late.
And with 'too late' comes war crimes left unserved by true justice.
Their homes, now destroyed.
Nothing optimistic to look forward to.
Being in such a dire state,
they lose their dignity.
And with their dignity defunct,
so does their strength.
And with their strength lost,
so does their life.
Had we not been too late, they would've lived to see another day.
Had hearts of sympathy flourished within our leaders, they would've done something.
I ask to all politicians. From town to city, from nation to continent, from all across the globe: Where is your humanity?
Where is your sense of compassion and sanity?
If you are world leaders or call yourself a "strongman", does your position of power mean more than an innocent child and their family that had a future, now snatched away?
Does your militaristic strength matter compared to a family's happiness and wellbeing?
A child suffering out there is wondering why. What did they do to deserve pain?
See for yourself.
Realise the tragedies you have caused prior.
From Japan to the Congo, from the Philippines to Vietnam, from Okinawa to Palestine.
Step into that child's shoes.
And with a true glimpse, you'll finally realise the importance of humanity.