Men and The Goddess

I’ve written about Memorial Day in my journal over the past few days. I took much of the weekend “off” to regroup, rest, recover, rejuvenate my reasons. I’ve thought about my poetry work, how it has been absent for some time. I am feeling reenergized to continue. Maybe my muse is returning; or maybe I’m beginning to listen more closely, to the silence.

Memorial Day seems to have become a day to celebrate wars. The wars of my time on the planet have been stupid, usually fought to a draw, or worse; always at a great loss of life. Today I’m celebrating my life, my family and the inner wars (I’ve termed them journeys) that take far more intelligence and courage to wage.

War is Stupid

A day to remember–
I remember a Mother,
Transplanted to this country
By her Mother.
She was a toddler;
Not free.

I remember a Father,
Removed from school
By his Father
To work the farm.
He was a teen;
Not free.

They fought no wars
But for their inner
And Family wars.
It is they who fought
For me.
They set me free.

Wars are fought
For territory, power, money.
Freedom is the cry of the victors;
Liberty, justice, the “Americal way.”
It’s all a fool’s way;
War is stupid.

The real heroes
Take inner journeys:
The territory of Peace is
Within the human heart;
The power to sustain the journey is Love;
The reward for the courage is Joy.

Fight no wars for me–
For my freedom, liberty, justice.
Take an inner journey of courage.
Find Peace within.
Let Love wash away all fears.
Find the Joy in human hearts.

You will find this is enough.

©2026 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.