News and Rumours of Public and Private Wars

News and Rumours of Public and Private Wars

They say that the first casualty of war is truth,
but they'll say anything. I mean, tell that
to the dead people. They are still dead,
regardless of what the media say.
All armies kill people, and all armies lie.

Like you, probably, I'm still at war
with people who are long dead: family,
and the mafia of ill-dressed teachers
during my short, short childhood,
and their system of violence
with no trial or appeal.
They're all dead now.
But not forgotten,
damn them.

Can the living do any better? Albert Camus said,
20th Century Man fornicated and read the papers.
21st Century People don't read the news,
but watch serial killer vids to relax.
I do myself. The news is a series
of horrible rumours. Oh, we get
stuff right - support the invaded,
not the invader. But we don't
know what to do. A new honesty,
perhaps, in our helplessness.