Our pets and the things
that we care about
Euthanized, when finally they
must go out
The animals too that
supply us with meat
They too we mercifully
treat
But we, our lives do not
matter
Our flesh, bones, brains
and blood
Splattered and scattered
Other’s having their bodies
injured and maimed
Not because they did
anyone wrong
Rather the cycle of
violence to prolong
In the name of religion
and ideology
And like pawns in a game
of chess
We are sacrificed at
others behest
While each side on the
other violence inflict
By virtue of arms the world
to bring to its heels
For the one death flies unseen
in the skies
And to the other strapped
to the chest and thighs
No safety at a funeral
saying to a loved one goodbye
Or at a concert satisfying
the soul’s delight
Each side gloating on the
mayhem inflicted on the other
For we no longer belong to
the human race
Neither are we any longer
brothers
There is no prospect of
the violence to cease
Or hope of a negotiated peace
The cycle of violence will
continually grow
Each attempting to deal
the other a deadlier blow
And we to our own our
lives matters
But unfortunately not to
the other© Prince W Bradford 2017