Laments of the War Dead, Poem Example

The oppressive quality of the world

Is only heightened by the oppressive quality of men.

I stand as one of them.

As one of those who contribute to the suffering of men.

Given his tools.

A rifle, a knife, a gun,

And if so fortunate,

I am given sustenance.

In the form of some meager rations.

Our ambitions have shifted according to the demands of the times.

There is Ahmed, he wished to be a doctor.

There is Mustafa, he wished to be a poet.

Our ambitions have shifted according to their senselessness.

The roots of nature have been torn out from under us.

We have been guilty in contributing

To the tearing out of these roots.

All of us together,

As a band of companions, as a band of collaborators.

Standing amidst these torn out roots,

There we see the victims of our acts.

Yes, they were nevertheless acts, some will say

Committed for the defense of the homeland

Committed for the defense of family

Committed for the defense of God.

And they were acts also, we could incline to object,

Committed against the community of men.

Committed against the community of nature.

Committed against life.

All that remains from this community is the empty visage

Of the victim, of the war dead.

All that remains from this community

Is my own vacant sentiment

Regarding my contribution to the desacrilization of the world.