perhaps a certain naivety
the power of positive thinking
deeply desired, longed-for hope
responding to the horrors spread
across centuries of human history
our proven track record for conflict
of war upon war upon war upon war
the choice made for a different path
one of treaties, institutions and laws
places, spaces, opportunities for all
gathered about a shared humanity
which might hold back the flood
resist the tidal ebbs and flows
of tribes, nations and empires
colonialism of land, resources
and for a while they worked
or gave the semblance of
so we bought into them
carried by the dream
yet it only stretched
as far as those with vision
would do the work, pay the cost
carry the peoples with them
build, create a reality
or at least try
new leaders arose
wrapped in power's hubris
the arrogance and ambition of
despot, dictator and demagogue
and of regular pragmatic politicians
who do the calculus of confrontation
the cost benefit analysis of slaughter
justification reasoned and considered
of decisions made in secure bunkers
firing up the propaganda machines
mobilize masses on the streets
wrapped in nationalism's flag
drums beat, the pipes skirl
old rhythms stir the blood
turbocharge social media
emergency laws enacted
overriding the constitution
sidelining the law, the courts
masked forces cruising streets
police, the military, vigilantes too
'them' facing a predatory violence
falling in love with war once more
god siding with the big battalions
so they claim, might deemed right
cranks up the production of death
drones, missiles, bombs, the web
and thus the helter-skelter slips
sliding towards the abyss
when will it be too late
to heed the prophets' words
turn spears into pruning hooks
and swords into ploughshares
even dare to love enemies
to learn war no more
when will it be
to late
Jan 13
Jan 13, 2026 at 2:30 AM UTC
perhaps a certain naivety
the power of positive thinking
deeply desired, longed-for hope
responding to the horrors spread
across centuries of human history
our proven track record for conflict
of war upon war upon war upon war
the choice made for a different path
one of treaties, institutions and laws
places, spaces, opportunities for all
gathered about a shared humanity
which might hold back the flood
resist the tidal ebbs and flows
of tribes, nations and empires
colonialism of land, resources
and for a while they worked
or gave the semblance of
so we bought into them
carried by the dream
yet it only stretched
as far as those with vision
would do the work, pay the cost
carry the peoples with them
build, create a reality
or at least try
new leaders arose
wrapped in power's hubris
the arrogance and ambition of
despot, dictator and demagogue
and of regular pragmatic politicians
who do the calculus of confrontation
the cost benefit analysis of slaughter
justification reasoned and considered
of decisions made in secure bunkers
firing up the propaganda machines
mobilize masses on the streets
wrapped in nationalism's flag
drums beat, the pipes skirl
old rhythms stir the blood
turbocharge social media
emergency laws enacted
overriding the constitution
sidelining the law, the courts
masked forces cruising streets
police, the military, vigilantes too
'them' facing a predatory violence
falling in love with war once more
god siding with the big battalions
so they claim, might deemed right
cranks up the production of death
drones, missiles, bombs, the web
and thus the helter-skelter slips
sliding towards the abyss
when will it be too late
to heed the prophets' words
turn spears into pruning hooks
and swords into ploughshares
even dare to love enemies
to learn war no more
when will it be
to late
12th January 2026
cf. Micah 4.3; Matthew 5.44
Stephen Cooper
