The Common Man
When plastered billboards scream with slogans
'fight for your country, go to battle'
When media's print assults your senses,
'Support our leaders' shrieks and rattles...
And fools who don't know any better
Believe the old, eternal lie
That we must march and shoot and kill
Murder, and burn, and bomb, and grill...
When press begins the battle-cry
That nation needs to unify
And for your country you must die...
Dear brainwashed friend, my neighbor dear
Brother from this, or other nation
Know that the cries of anger, fear,
Are nothing but manipulation
by fat-cats, kings who covet riches,
And feed off your sweat and blood - the leeches!
When call to arms engulfs the land
It means that somewhere oil was found,
Shooting 'blackgold' from underground!
It means they found a sneaky way
To make more money, grab more gold
But this is not what you are told!
Don't spill your blood for bucks or oil
Break, burn your rifle, shout: 'NO DEAL!'
Let the rich scoundrels, kings, and bankers
Send their own children to get killed!
May your loud voice be amplified
By roar of other common men
The battle-weary of all nations:
WE WON'T BE CONNED TO WAR AGAIN!
poem by Julian Tuwim
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Sonnet: War is Inevitable at Times
When war is thrust upon a nation poor,
When peace-loving a country has to fight,
When brother is pitted against brother,
Where is the question of what’s wrong or right?
How long can you see innocent blood-shed?
How long can terrorists hold us ransom?
How long can one maintain a cooler head?
If life’s unsafe, what’s the use of freedom?
When war is inevitable- proceed;
When security is at stake- fight on;
When dignity is lost- we fight indeed;
When threatened, the battle-dress we don.
No nation rests when trumpets call to fight;
No nation sleeps when war-clouds grow by night.
5-29-2002 by Dr John Celes
poem by John Celes
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The Battle Cry Of Freedom (Southern Version)
Our flag is proudly floating
On the land and on the main,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Beneath it oft we've conquered,
And we'll conquer oft again!
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
CHORUS: Our Dixie forever!
She's never at a loss!
Down with the eagle
And up with the cross!
We'll rally 'round the bonny flag,
We'll rally once again,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Our gallant boys have marched
To the rolling of the drums,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
And the leaders in charge cry out,
'Come, boys, come!'
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!-CHORUS
They have laid down their lives
On the bloody battle field,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Their motto is resistance -
'To tyrants we'll not yield!'
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!-CHORUS
While our boys have responded
And to the fields have gone,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Our noble women also
Have aided them at home,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!-CHORUS
poem by Anonymous Americas
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Warriors
The soul speaks from a warrior's spirit
Chants of war, execution of arts
In gruesome battle, one fears it
Death is when war starts
Agony cries god is pain
Brutality lords the field
Innocence killed hearts slain
Other hearts to ferocity yield
Strange calm, war mediation
Prayers to the brave
Tears in formation
Bodies march to the grave
Acts remembered, bodies burn
Ancient drum rolls
Human valor they earn
The valor of dead souls!
Archangels of war's path
Passion engulfs nature's law
The heart of war's wrath
The most dangerous organ man saw
Fight, fight, fight
Violence man's only right
Kill, kill, kill
The enemy and blood shall spill
Into earth's soil
Man's real home
Man's bloody ego
To live in loam
With souls dead long ago
Total war
What man's malice is for
poem by Kevin Michael Murphy
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The New Crusade
LIFE is a trifle;
Honor is all;
Shoulder the rifle;
Answer the call.
'A nation of traders'!
We'll show what we are,
Freedom's crusaders
Who war against war.
Battle is tragic;
Battle shall cease;
Ours is the magic
Mission of Peace.
'A nation of traders'!
We'll show what we are,
Freedom's crusaders
Who war against war.
Gladly we barter
Gold of our youth
For Liberty's charter
Blood-sealed in truth.
'A nation of traders'!
We'll show what we are,
Freedom's crusaders
Who war against war.
Sons of the granite,
Strong be our stroke,
Making this planet
Safe for the folk.
'A nation of traders'!
We'll show what we are,
Freedom's crusaders
Who war against war.
Life is but passion,
Sunshine on dew.
Forward to fashion
The old world anew!
'A nation of traders'!
We'll show what we are,
Freedom's crusaders
Who war against war.
poem by Katharine Lee Bates
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The Battling of a Nation
The inevitable battle strikes the awesome nation,
We call this town a nation of strength, the battle.
Itself the battle climbs, to put on an action of wounds,
The unavoidable victory is theirs, the defeat even theirs.
The battling may become a studied nation,
The work of bright light, a final lunch and an act of carnage
That belittles us if we were a nation of strong acts.
The battle shall learn more from the defeated,
The vanquished are celebrating an ion and atom,
The defeated are celebrating an awesome molecule.
poem by Naveed Akram
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Promised
what,
Is it to say-what i am going to say?
I don't know.
But
the died dreams
will not wish canan lands,
blood of the child,
who doesn't know-
who are you,
and who he was him self.
Ever-It is their plight,
to be cruzified.
Since the god
decided to throw them
to deserts.
But that old truth,
older than the holly lands,
older than books,
and the prophets.
Our father,
my, your, and their-
his seeds on two wombs,
brother-we are one,
Think before you take the gun,
and before the cries of
innocent childen.
Before you fight for your religion/nation.
your brother is
killed by your arms,
she is your sister,
who begged to her child.
You may be jew,
you may be muslim,
or christian,
but you are killing your own blood for centuries.
For what?
Which god told you-
that this is for the faith?
He didn't called us
Jew, muslim or christian.
Dear my brother,
shall we stop?
For our children,
for their dream to live.
poem by Muhammad Mirash
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Blood Of The Kings
Brothers the battle is raging
Choose your side
Sing with us the BATTLE HYMNS
into glory ride
hail to england
the sign of the hammer's our gide
Forever we're fighting the world Side by side
On a crusade
The world we bring
Four Kings of Metal
Four Metal Kings
Death to the false ones
Dance on a string
'Till the blood on your sword is the blood of a king
'Till the blood on your HAND is the blood of a king
Our armies in England
song performed by by Manowar from Kings Of Metal
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Real Losers
one is the soul of the country one is the wealth
both seem not to know how best to give to the country
one says one is the real son of the country
the other says he is equally a son of the country
for he helps build up the country, feed the nation
and develop it blood and sweat
]
one insists he is the real master
the other says he wishes to have similar status
both go on and on until they forget there is
a country to be fed, to be built, and both
end up in the drain, soul and wealth
so much to fight over in a country
without much of a country to gain in the end
my pity, my pity
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Presidential Stand
the world economy has gotten out of hand
president OBAMA is the first to take a stand.
he told the republicans: i will do whatever
i have to do 'with or without you'.
we can not stand idlely by and see our nation die.
there will be controversy on what will
and what will not work. but if we do nothing
to help the economy.
'it will show we failed in our history'.
the president has problems galore
and different solutions he has in store.
he is doing what no president has done before.
by grabbing the bull by the reins
and riding it all the way.
will he fall or will he stay?
we must help him make the corral smaller
so that he does not fall to the ground.
then no solutions will be found.
our nation and all the world is watching him
and if we don't help, it's a crying sin.
what will it take for this nation to see
he's the first black president in our history.
it seems like he's fighting a losing battle
with very little support from his peers.
who are still living in fear.
the politicians think:
what if i help and it does'nt work?
i will be the political jerk. i will get so much slack
and there won't be any turning back.
but! if his plans do succeed, on his plans i can feed.
i can ride the waves to the top, and knowing that i will not flop.
the public always remembers the bad
and very rarely the good.
either way it will go into our history books.
of the stands that we took.
i would prefer to be remembered as the afterthought
briefly in their minds, rather than not at all.
because i did'nt have the gall
to stand up for something thats right
and help him to continue the fight.
so it is up to all of us, and 'in him we'll put our trust'.
no one person can do it all by themselves
and we know this very well.
for everything that he has fought
as politicians we should all give our support.
we must do whatever it takes
to help the country, before it's too late.
poem by Louis Rams
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Nation Against Nation
Listen to the rage of nations
Anger spilling through the barrel of the gun
Hear, the wrath of leaders
Ending in bloodshed and sorrow
They take their pride to the battle ground
And they shoot humility out of the world
They invest wisdom into doom
And in the end, we solve folly.
They bury their heroes with respect
Followed by the sound of riffles
As if this is all there is.
But; when pride rises against pride
And nation against nation,
Love and truth will carry the day.
poem by Timothy muggaga
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Young Henry
Air -- "Drummer Boy of Waterloo"
Young Henry was as faithful boy
As ever stood on the American soil,
And he did enlist, without a doubt,
When the rebellion was broke out.
He was his parents' only son,
And only child he was but one,
That was a girl aged seventeen,
Henry called her his May Queen.
Young Henry said, "Dear sister May,
What do you think my friends will say?
For now my name is on the roll,
And I down south will have to go."
"I hear my country's call," said he,
"For all her sons of liberty,
And I, forever, will prove true
To that dear old flag, red, white and blue."
"I love my father and mother dear,
I leave you, May, their hearts to cheer;
When I am gone, pray do not mourn
If I should never return home."
His sister then to him did say,
"My only brother, blithe and gay,
Our country calls, calls from afar;
May God protect you through the war."
Their father hearing all was said,
It made his noble heart grow sad;
"My children, I love both of you,
And yet I love my country, too."
"My son, if I was young again,
I never could at home remain,
And see my native land, now free,
Dissolved and made in slavery."
Young Henry left his father's home,
And left his friends for him to mourn,
A captain of a little band,
He marched away from Michigan.
In the battle of Fredericksburg,
Above the battle roar was heard,
"Fight on! fight on! brave boys," he cried,
"I am shot and wounded, and must die."
They placed his head upon the grass,
So he could see his brave boys pass;
"Go tell my father, Henry's slain
To keep him from the rebel's chain."
They dug his grave beneath that spot,
They wrapped him in his soldier's coat,
And while the battle drums they heard,
They laid him low at Fredericksburg.
poem by Julia A Moore
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War, The Plight Of Man
The fires of war are burning, they burn forever bright
The horns of war are blowing, they summon warriors to fight
Two armies come to battle, a clash of sword and shield
And when the fight is over, blood and death shall coat the field
A test of soul and bravery, for glory wariors fight
They come to fight for honor, to test their strength and might
On fields of death and glory, the weels of war stil turn
The horn of war still blowing, the fires of war still burn
Until the world has ended, war shall be man's plight
Until no blood is left to spill, men shall come to fight.
poem by Tim Vallie
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Oh kings so deaf (Please just DIE)
First, I do not expect this one to gain popularity among readers, this intended for the Arab world, only an Arab can understand the frustration caused by what is going on in Gaza..
------****------
Gaza Gaza on this map you see
Another land that is not free
Crowded with people fighting death
Fighting to take another breath
Killed for not taking the bow
In front of a rifle deadly glow
From this day Gaza is red
Like the Blood that was shed
A new, real & burning holocaust
To kill the innocents at all cost
No aid from the desert kings
Busy kissing boots & things
That I can not mention here
Kings of filth, kings by fear
On the land on your western sides
Lies the coward who always hides
Closing his gates from helping you
Knowing his people hates him too
All around Gaza fall the silence
That can not hide that violence
In your land, far and around
The People never forgot the bound
People will keep rocking this ground
To help you there, to stop the sound
Of gun fire & the stuka’s cries
To stop the fire & the smoke that flies
Hear me now.. Kings of our demise
Enough with you, it is time to rise
Sacred you aren’t nor are you divine
You live by stealing the rights of mine
Open the gates of our frontiers
Blood cries for blood, tears for tears
Eye for an eye, hear our cry
Oh kings so deaf, please just DIE
poem by Haytem Fakroun
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All's Fair In Love and War
Who said war is civilized,
What idiot made these rules,
It was probably politicians,
That bunch of sad old fools.
Our enemies wear no uniforms,
We are dressed and on display,
While we advertise who we are,
They just go on their merry way.
We train them in the art of war,
Treat them as our friends,
Then they turn round and murder us,
Their evil then transcends.
They blow us up without a thought,
We're told, oh that's allowed,
But if we dare retaliate,
The enemy cry out loud.
There needs to be an inquiry,
Killing us is so unjust,
If you're allowed to fire back,
You won't see us for dust.
Terrorists are all around us,
They could even be you or me,
It's time our so called leaders,
Were brought out here to see,
Our enemies send in children,
We are not allowed to shoot,
We know they're going to kill us,
But our enemies are so astute.
When we kill our aggressors,
The world is in a fury,
We're then charged with murder,
Then put in front of a jury.
If they murder our brave forces,
It's just another dead,
Then when we defend ourselves,
The world goes off its head.
They can murder us for fun,
Yet no one says a word,
No courts or cries for justice,
It really is quite absurd.
If we could fight the same as them,
These conflicts would never last,
The enemy would cry foul,
Then get the hell out fast.
But we must fight a ‘'civilized war'',
We must ask before we kill,
We must follow Geneva convention rules,
While our enemies do what they will.
We must be given equality,
To fight this brutal foe,
If we can fight the same as them,
Then very soon they'll know.
We are not an easy target,
Now we can fight the same as you,
There are no rules of war now,
We can kill just as you do.
You'll no longer know your enemy,
So you'd better watch your back,
For when you least expect it,
That's when we'll attack.
Then soon you'll hear them crying,
This war's no longer fair,
We don't know who our enemies are,
Because of what they wear.
When they see there are no rules,
No restrictions on how we can fight,
They won't know what hit them,
That's when they'll see the light.
They'll then shout out that's not allowed,
Your tactics we abhor,
But we'll just say we're copying you,
‘' All's Fair In Love And War''.
At A Dinner To General Grant
JULY 31, 1865
WHEN treason first began the strife
That crimsoned sea and shore,
The Nation poured her hoarded life
On Freedom's threshing-floor;
From field and prairie, east and west,
From coast and hill and plain,
The sheaves of ripening manhood pressed
Thick as the bearded grain.
Rich was the harvest; souls as true
As ever battle tried;
But fiercer still the conflict grew,
The floor of death more wide;
Ah, who forgets that dreadful day
Whose blot of grief and shame
Four bitter years scarce wash away
In seas of blood and flame?
Vain, vain the Nation's lofty boasts,--
Vain all her sacrifice!
'Give me a man to lead my hosts,
O God in heaven!' she cries.
While Battle whirls his crushing flail,
And plies his winnowing fan,--
Thick flies the chaff on every gale,--
She cannot find her man!
Bravely they fought who failed to win,--
Our leaders battle-scarred,--
Fighting the hosts of hell and sin,
But devils die always hard!
Blame not the broken tools of God
That helped our sorest needs;
Through paths that martyr feet have trod
The conqueror's steps He leads.
But now the heavens grow black with doubt,
The ravens fill the sky,
'Friends' plot within, foes storm without,
Hark,--that despairing cry,
'Where is the heart, the hand, the brain
To dare, to do, to plan?'
The bleeding Nation shrieks in vain,--
She has not found her man!
A little echo stirs the air,--
Some tale, whate'er it be,
Of rebels routed in their lair
Along the Tennessee.
The little echo spreads and grows,
And soon the trump of Fame
Has taught the Nation's friends and foes
The 'man on horseback''s name.
So well his warlike wooing sped,
No fortress might resist
His billets-doux of lisping lead,
The bayonets in his fist,--
With kisses from his cannons' mouth
He made his passion known
Till Vicksburg, vestal of the South,
Unbound her virgin zone.
And still where'er his banners led
He conquered as he came,
The trembling hosts of treason fled
Before his breath of flame,
And Fame's still gathering echoes grew
Till high o'er Richmond's towers
The starry fold of Freedom flew,
And all the land was ours.
Welcome from fields where valor fought
To feasts where pleasure waits;
A Nation gives you smiles unbought
At all her opening gates!
Forgive us when we press your hand,--
Your war-worn features scan,--
God sent you to a bleeding land;
Our Nation found its man!
poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes
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My Country Lied
I lack the urge but have the skill.
My country taught me how to kill.
I had no choice could not refuse
nobody asked me for my views.
They said my country needed
to subjugate the enemy.
I was still young, green and naïve.
That I was sure I should believe
that what they told me must be true.
That it was something I should do.
But I discovered in due course
we were fighting to enforce
on those with just cause for dissent.
A very unjust settlement,
the promises my country made
and did not keep. We now forbade
their self determination.
The right of every nation,
it was battle we must lose.
The people have the right to choose.
To be an independent state
no longer seen as second rate.
Which they achieved eventually
they were not just a colony.
On looking back it seems to me
my country lied apparently.
An abuse of authority
I will not forget easily.
I lack the urge but have the skill.
My country taught me how to kill.
Though I can say with confidence
I’d only kill in self defence.
23-Jun-08
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Tommy Gun
Tommy gun
You aint happy less you got one
Tommy gun
Aint gonna shoot the place up
Just for fun
Maybe he wants to die for the money
Maybe he wants to kill for his country
Whatever he wants, hes gonna get it!
Tommy gun
You better strip it down for a customs run
Tommy gun
Waiting in the airport till kingdom come
An we can watch you make it
On the nine oclock news
Standing there in palestine lighting the fuse
Whatever you want, youre gonna get it
Tommy gun
Youll be dead when your war is won
Tommy gun
But did you have to gun down everyone?
I can see its kill or be killed
A nation of destiny has got to be fulfilled
Whatever you want, youre gonna get it!
Tommy gun
You can be a hero in an age of none
Tommy gun
Im cutting out your picture from page one
Im gonna get a jacket just like yours
An give my false support to your cause
Whatever you want, youre gonna get it!
Boats an tanks and planes, its your game
Kings an queens an general learn your name
I see all the innocents, the human sacrifice
And if death comes so cheap
Then the same goes for life
song performed by by Face To Face
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Swiss Song, On The Anniversary Of An Ancient Battle
Look on the white Alps round!
If yet they gird a land
Where freedom's voice and step are found,
Forget ye not the band,
The faithful band, our sires, who fell
Here, in the narrow battle-dell!
If yet, the wilds among,
Our silent hearts may burn,
When the deep mountain-horn hath rung,
And home our steps may turn,
-Home!-home!-if still that name be dear,
Praise to the men who perish'd here!
Look on the white Alps round!
Up to their shining snows
That day the stormy rolling sound,
The sound of battle rose!
Their caves prolong'd the trumpet's blast,
Their dark pines trembled as it pass'd!
They saw the princely crest,
They saw the knightly spear,
The banner and the mail-clad breast
Borne down, and trampled here!
They saw-and glorying there they stand,
Eternal records to the land!
Praise to the mountain-born,
The brethren of the glen!
By them no steel-array was worn,
They stood as peasant-men!
They left the vineyard and the field
To break an empire's lance and shield!
Look on the white Alps round!
If yet, along their steeps,
Our children's fearless feet may bound,
Free as the chamois leaps:
Teach them in song to bless the band
Amidst whose mossy graves we stand!
If, by the wood-fire's blaze,
When winter-stars gleam cold,
The glorious tales of elder days
May proudly yet be told,
Forget not then the shepherd-race,
Who made the hearth a holy place!
Look on the white Alps round!
If yet the sabbath bell
Comes o'er them with a gladdening sound,
Think on the battle-dell!
For blood first bath'd its flowery sod,
That chainless hearts might worship God!
poem by Felicia Dorothea Hemans
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The Vengeful Poem
you ask if you can burn
a house
then to answer it
you burned one
the family house
where your mom died a week ago
was ashed
you father left
unable to stand you
you handed your arms
they will not take it
they confess
they still love you
when the police officer charged you with arson
they put you in a place where no one knows you
they still protect
as their own brother by blood
all that you have in mind is an escape
you want to burn another house
one day
you told the man next door that you can kill him
he told your brother
who asked you about your scheme
of your first premeditated murder
you said you want to try if you can really kill a man
with your bare hands
you have become uncontrollable
now a lesson must be given to you
you will be captured in this poem
it is inside a rectangular perimeter
there is no exit
now our world shall be calm
and it will be peaceful upon its bed of grass
because
this poem also knows how to kill
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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This Means War
(you get your head down, will you)
I want you to march
Eyes go right, shoulder arms
Left wheel turn, show your charms
Change your clothes, cut your hair
Aint no joke, aint no place for kids
When the flags are high, hear the battle cry
Treaty gone, see the bandits fly
Dig the trench, watch that blast
Shell shock come, coming fast
Name and rank on parade
Might get laid by a hand grenade
Do you know what it means?
This - means - war
This means war, this means war
I said this means war, this means war
This means war
(run for cover, hit the deck, call for your mother)
I need you to fire
Cock your gun, wet your sights
Get the bull dead to rights
Volunteers, one pace back
On the beach aint no place for kids
When the flack is high on a bomber run
You dont talk back to an ack-ack gun
Fire range, and youre in the blitz
Keep your head or youre blown to bits
Name and rank on parade
Might get laid by a hand grenade
Do you know what it means?
This - means - war
Whos going there, is it a friend or foe?
Propaganda time on the radio
Top brass shout as they clown around
Peace talks die in geneva town
Do you know what it means?
This - means - war
This means war, this means war
I said this means war, this means war
This means war
song performed by by AC-DC
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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