Poets Against War continues the tradition of socially engaged poetry by creating venues for poetry as a voice against war, tyranny and oppression.

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Betsy Fagin


from thirty-five victories:

the people demand protests
agitations. the people are not protected
are not your provenance.
I know what has come to pass. refuse
me this, our history.

we are not complete fools
a strategy in fact, certainly.
to build problems of war.
the people anyone, how can they
forget? by deluge? with strategy
this afternoon, maybe we can discuss it.
   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...   ...people discuss.
universal. demand. at the very least.
a discussion feeling, in our bodies...   ...   ...

I have decided clearly from
nightmares & the truth that with
my feet upon this earth, everything
history  an empty cup,  the truth.
yes.   sweetly  inquietude
exacting, happily like this at
home & as you are speaking.
radically different next time.
hanging out of windows...   ...   ...

bring your battle to the table. this is
foolish. everything of power struggle
to say that is true, a history &
the way we live now. with reason?
suggesting a destiny a flood some
practical solution? community-based,
participatory? equally. right now
the decision, the lies are being made
easily, with facility– that’s just it.
speak of an embrace, a type of love...   ...

recuperate the people, the children, often–
orange seeds, apple trees this will suffice–
hanging garden wonders spring up
in the middle of deserts as cathedrals, of face of faith.
for enjoyment. begin this. it is our function
we are the ones who, having (been) promised
having made this, entirely complicit.


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