Voices from the Dead

Quietly we lie, scattered cross the land
Separated from our comrades in battle,
returned home in a pre-paid coffin
draped by an American flag,
and put to rest in a hometown plot.
We are the dead.

They told us that we would be heroes,
Fighting for noble cause.
Save our country, save their country.
They’ll welcome us with open arms.
But no flowers, only bullets
Greeted us when we arrived.
And now we are dead.

We may be silent, voices muted,
Yet we speak to hearts and minds.
Our noble cause, we know was terror
For us and for those in that far-away land.
The ramparts we watched were not ours to defend.

And the flag that we placed was a thorn in their eyes.
No, this was no act of valor or glory
We were misled, deceived by our own.
Too late we learned.
We are the dead.

A thousand voices like a choir are rising,
Voices from our separate graves.
Who knows how many more will join us,
Blown to pieces, by bombs and grenades?
Do you hear us? People? Leaders?

Bring an end to this murderous act.
So others my live, be useful and creative
For we, we are already dead.

We were Americans, just like you
African, Mexican, Indian, white Americans.
Citizens from many walks of life,
Except for those from wealthy stock
Who yearned for war, but did not flock to fight.
Their fight be fought by others instead.
So they go on living,
while we are dead.

Must war be always a part of men
To satisfy their greed and corruption?
To take what doesn’t belong to them.
So they may live in wealthy indulgence?
There is, we know, a better way.
One that meets peoples needs and desires.

Let’s battle disease and hunger instead,
For that’ll save lives, not destroy them.
We speak from our graves to you who still live.
To better the world while you can.
Life is too short, we know it full well.
For we, as you know, are the dead.