The following poem was written in 1999 in connection with the conflict in Kosovo. In 2005 the author decided that it was not a good idea to have written the poem in such a negative form, soit was re-wrote it as There will be peace. Readers can choose which version they prefer. The new version follows the old.

There will be no peace:

till attitudes change;
till self-interest is seen as part of common interest;
till old wrongs, old scores, old mistakes
     are deleted from the account;
till the aim becomes co-operation and mutual benefit
     rather than revenge or seizing maximum personal or group gain;
till justice and equality before the law
     become the basis of government;
till basic freedoms exist;
till leaders – political, religious, educational – and the police and media
     wholeheartedly embrace the concepts of justice, equality, freedom, tolerance, and reconciliation as a basis for renewal;
till parents teach their children new ways to think about people.

There will be no peace:
           till enemies become fellow human beings. 

David Roberts

22 July 1999

 

Prayer for Remembrance Day

For those who were killed in battle,

For those who gave up their lives to save others

For those who fought because they were forced to,

For those who died standing up for a just cause

For those who said war was wrong,

For those who tried to make the peace

For those who prayed when others had no time to pray
 
 

For those creatures who needlessly die

For those trees that needlessly are slaughtered

For all of mankind 
 
 

let us quietly pray:
 
 

May your God hold them in peace

May Love flow over the Earth and cleanse us all

This day and for always.