Photo: weldbham.com
“War does not determine who is right – but only who is left.” Bertrand Russell
Never
Never have the vainglories of death
been so exposed as in the spectre of war
where truth is so relentlessly sucked dry
by the ghouls of righteous capital,
so cheaply purchased by the blood of innocents,
for those who would never near the fight
as to get their morals dirty
nor their boots,
they are the ones who would kill their own
for the sake of a few inches of sand
and forty pieces of silver.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Paul, pvcann.com
parallax 
Very powerful! And so true!
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Many thanks for that. Sadly true.
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True….
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Sadly so, thank you Nabeela
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My pleasure….
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Indeed. My grandfather fought in WWI, as yours may have. I did a post on that. Let me know if you’re interested, I’ll send you the link.
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Yes, mine did too, scarred for the rest of their lives. I would indeed like that link.
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There are two actually, 1916 and 1918. Some shots are shared, different outlook. There you go:
https://equinoxio21.wordpress.com/2016/06/08/1916-the-bride-wore-black/
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Many thanks for this.
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Pleasure Paul. And a nice week to you.
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You too.
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Just sent you the posts. Good reading. (And a good week-end)
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Thank you, I will.
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Preach
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Thank you Ruth.
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So true. My husband’s grandmother sent 4 sons to WW2 and there was never any communication. Can you imagine? They all came home
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Wow, that would be uncommon I’m sure, what a gift.
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Nicely done
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Thank you so much Ana.
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😎
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hear here! Didn’t know vainglories was a word, thanks.
Canon fodder comes cheap to the rich and powerful … but they will eventually pay the price
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So they must.
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Powerful and true!
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Thank you so much Richa
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Excellent, touching poem and all too true. Like yours and Brian’s, my grandfather fought in WWI, my father in WWII, and my fiance in 1969 died in Vietnam, so I’ve had my fill of wars … fought by brave men to feed the desires of cowards, in my book. Anyway, good poem!
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I’m sorry to hear that Jill – but thank you for sharing that.
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So true! The last line nailed it, and this “where truth is so relentlessly sucked dry by the ghouls of righteous capital,” was a perfect explaination, whats behind. Thank you Paul! Best wishes, Michael
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Very much so, appreciate your thoughts Michael.
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:-))
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Loved the honesty and truth in this, Paul!! Very powerful!! Seems the price of betrayal is paying more than the old 30 pieces of silver???
✨✨✨👍😊
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Yes, the price is high, betrayal is the real cost, well summed, thank you Charles.
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So many lost for the whims of a few. Powerful write, Paul.
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Yes, the greedy egos of the few, such a sadness.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Many thanks for that Charles 🙂
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A pleasure, Paul!!! ✨✨😊
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And we’re left with the eternal question of how to stop the ghouls of righteous capital.
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Yes, the real question, so true Liz.
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The glories, misfortunes, and deviousness of those in power.
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Yes, and of which we suffer.
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Looking at a photo of a dead great great uncle, nineteen years old, ‘Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten.’
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Yes, we must never forget, thank you for that.
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Here here – so true and so well crafted
>
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Many thanks Lyn.
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