War And Love

Hot-faced
from a pickle of warring words
I step away

They say war’s 
not the answer, but if
one wars for love

of something else
If one puts oneself between
hate and the beloved

And if a weapon’s close at hand
why not strike back
They say it kills your soul

breeds more violence
sickens the air but
then one walks away

And there is another chance
and another
and the beloved lives on

As do you
hot faced but cooling
tool discarded

What is done once
can be done
only once

There’s no reason
to become addicted
Do it and step away

for the beloved’s sake
Do not become comfortable
but do not hesitate to do

the necessary
for the beloved
That’s your being there — so be