Civilization (Poetry)

Have we learnt nothing
from the poetry
and works of art or
history books full
of horrors of war?

The sheer destruction —
empires that tumbled
cities unnumbered
wiped from the planet —
what was it all for?

A despot’s mad whim
an inhuman sort
without a conscience
devoid of sane thought
wicked to the core

Greedy men listen
and follow like sheep
contemplate killing
and then soundly sleep
enlightened no more

than wild creatures are
faux cultured skin shed
their primitive eyes
see nothing but red
so fight tooth and claw