Being Generation X

Wars were fought and won
and fought again
in the name of right and religion
an excuse for hatred
and xenophobia
under the guise of virtue and good
the holy word
has never been understood by men
only mistranslated to serve their gods:
greed and power and oppression
while the truly virtuous
must know their places
and never seek to move
without permission
wars were fought
regimes were toppled
and replaced with friendlier hostility
for a bottom line
and a ledger book
in a prosperity gospel
twisted into politics
language on the losing side
as words are policed
and books are burned
or banned
and knowledge is rendered unacceptable
we awaken each day
anathema to the pulpit of hate
intolerant of the bile
that spews its dishonesty
we spend days
impatient
with small living
cogs that no longer fit any wheel
ready for the wars to stop – Caroline A. Slee