Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan
Like Abraham we offer up our young
lying them upon the altar of war.
Our purest, our strongest, our best
all so ripe for the killing.
When first presented & placed in our arms
to be examined by shaking hands
no thought of sacrificial lamb crossed our minds.
Now our creations take up arms
that we have placed into their willing hands.
I tell you this
If I had known I gave life to
nothing more than war fodder
I would have pinched his nose shut
& covered his mouth with my hand
until his sweet life ebbed away
instead of having my child brought home
swaddled in our country's flag
resting in this metal cradle.