terrible gods

At what point will it end?
Must all the Palestinians die?
Must all the Jews die?
Must everyone die and pay a price
for ancient Saints and Messiahs?

Shall we make ourselves extinct
for ghosts of discrimination, and
criminals of the cloth?

Is this need to recognize omnipotence
of such a value that we feel it necessary
to exterminate one another?

What of this thing called peace
and those leaders of revolution who
praise it so?

Let them build bigger bombs
and I will light a candle in remembrance
for those who lay down their arms.

Let them sacrifice nations to greedy gods
and I will pray to the sun
that we might burn quickly
and be forgiven our sins.

Let them make profit from their wars
while we give tidings to the poor
and pay the greatest price for the illusion
of victory.

Dig endless graves in sterile soil
for the children who die
for getting in the way
of the battles we fought
for gods of innocence.