questioning a criminal war, a poem
by j. b. gerald 

justice is
with or without judges in black and white
missing in a criminal war
even when truths are killed justice
is and if we ever stumble into that
(was ever a war not criminal)
if led there always by the same
are these thoughts right or wrong:
vote out politicians with a hate problem
remove those who support a criminal war
remove investment in arms production
understand arms investment as a crime
the record of your stocks is indelible
if powerless to stop the criminal war
speak out
with access to stopping it stay silent
keep record of the atrocities
for when justice returns
hold back demonstrations until they overwhelm
organize brothers and sisters
even when police and military
a general strike can paralyze the war machine
if people are blinded learn ways
to make things not work
in direct action sacrifice few
the signature of resistance is valuing life
deflect credit for successful actions
to chance mistakes natural causes age
always offer the enemy a way to change
take care of the poor & homeless the refugees
oppressed longer and more capable
remember fighters veterans need forgiveness
remember resistance is in the service of children
remember each of the flames that will never go out
remember the people decide a war is criminal
and when the children are victims
that's how you know
just thinking

 

 

"questioning a criminal war, a poem"
by john bart gerald
graphic by julie maas
first posted night's lantern, march 14, 2026.