Make War Not Babies
By Gerald Zipper
The stick woman held out her baby
this dead part of me
its face made from the wax of melted candles
shattered bundle of what once was
look at it! turn your face!
see limbs frozen in its moment of agony
white lips clamped on words never to be heard
sweet bird of laughter let loose in the woods
have pity on the greatest love never known
thousand light-years
an insolent hole punched in its chest
we swallow and wave off
speak in tongues
command them to bury the dead
make no more babies weep no more tears
the powerful juggernaut surges on
gripping us in its steel-fingers
spitting its fire death
there is no stopping
when stopped the creature must die.