Gory Rhetoric

When old men talk of war
please gather round the firesides,
hear them out, don’t
shout them down – listen to
their chary words;

when politicians do
the same deny them
every courtesy, shout them
down. Disown their words.

I haven’t met an older man who
wouldn’t curse their blaze
of gory rhetoric; the story going
round is name just one who fought
(and died) in soldiers’ arms.
© I.D. Carswell 2006