sad over the cries

Sad over the cries.                    timothy r gates, 10/16/2013

innocents fallen under,
necessary, so it's said, swords --
"Pro-lifers" and "Pro-choicers,"
could start a new club.
No more "collateral damage"
No more hungry children
No more violated weeping babies,
waiting for mommy and daddy to come home.
"But we've trained these soldiers
to kill!"
Maybe when we stop making excuses
Maybe when we stop needing to rebuild bombed countries
Maybe when we stop regrets and anxiety,
lamenting yesterday's horrors and tomorrow's coming plagues --
sadness over abortions and adoptions will be buried.
Or,
sides can continue their fundraiser support groups.
Some soldiers dream of peace,
weaponry obsolete.
Some police officers dream of walking a beat,
tasers, guns, and vests antiquated.
Some activists dream of a cause helping people with names,
checks and donations not primarily for their directors' paychecks.
Tears may be wiped away,
furrows being icons
No more crying of innocents,
sharing in their lamenting -
I am baptized
by people with
faces and names,
breathing the same air.
Rising up out of these waters,
we gasp, we inhale,
we exhale.
Angels might know happy tears, here.