Falling-in Behind William Stafford's Guidon

Protagonists can so easily vindicate an antagonist

on the primetime television news,

while announcing the death of thousands

without shedding a tear;

but I will fall-in behind another guidon. 

Our bugle cry is silent,

yet we still shed tears for the fallen

while keeping hope for the enemy. 

Hope not for their peaceful submission,

but for our complete surrender

thinking violent vengeance is the only solution.

Hope that our leaders will look

into the faces of the dead

and find not reconciliation but regret. 

Hope that a yellow ribbon will

symbolize the liberty of freedom of equality

through universal protection from bullet and bomb. 

Hope that the granite

standing ready

to bear the names of the dead

will no longer be needed,

and that the bugler forgets his sad song.

Our parents didn’t teach us all to fight;

tonight, if but a few

can stretch the bounds of imagination,

to reach out an unarmed loving hand to all,

all shall not be lost.