Let There Be Peace Poem by C Richard Miles

Let there be Peace
Let there be peace but not at any price
So games of chance, rolls of the dice
Do not disdainfully dictate like all the rest
That some should rule, some be repressed.
Let lives be counted for their proper worth;
Let no human being brought to birth
Be sacrificed in vain for wounded pride.
Let not a single man, who died
In conflict, be dismissed as second-rate.
Even the enemy deserves a better fate
Than mere obliteration; it's a fact.
Let politicians show a bit of tact
When they, too quick to blame the other
For the mess, forget their brother
Man; for they should have the grace
To recognise each member of the human race
Is just like them, so fallible and weak.
Instead of being rash, they should be meek,
Try to say sorry and apologise
When they make a mistake and not tell lies,
For they are not such fools who seek for us to show
Some understanding for their faults. They know
Within their beings that it is the wise
Who know their limits, recognise
The times when they must take the blame.
They must know they're not in it for the fame
But that they're there to serve, part of the plan
That asks the powerful to do what they can
To help the poor, the victim and the underclass.
They must not let the sacred moment pass
When they can stand for good and not for bad;
Then peace may come, peace may be had
By all, regardless of their various views.
Yet peace does not make headlines and the news
Of evil that men do just seems to dominate.
Why can't they realise it's not too late
To change their minds and act for peace
So all may live together, wars may cease
If tolerance could rule, instead of fear
And though this time of peace seems not too near
Let all of us determine that one day
Peace will conquer war and peace will stay.