ON THE SUBJECT OF PEACE

“Peace”, is an over-used, much-maligned word

Consisting of five letters, one more than “Love”

Strange, don’t you think? Small monosyllabic words

Fit in well to a sentence of hope and optimism

“Peace” is not an armed truce, with weapons drawn 

on both sides; it is not the period between conflicts

That is measured in threats and silence. Non-communication

Is an act of war, as are empty treaties - saying one thing

But effectively meaning another. The elderly can talk of peace

As a personal achievement; it is. Peacemakers are essential

To the process and challenge of making peace a reality

Peace is not merely the absence of conflict. Peacemaking

Is the active process towards mediating and resolving conflict

On a daily, moment-by-moment basis. That’s the hard part.

To find two opposing parties willing to actively look for solutions

And a basis of understanding, as the option for warfare

Making peace is the continual process to continue to mediate

And resolve difficult situations, to make allowance for spikes

In the process. Making war is a choice, too easily made

In the heat of anger, hurt or disillusionment. We had no choice

The participants might say. Not true, it's worse than a lie

It’s surrendering to their anger and despair. Peace as an experience

Is difficult for an individual. Is it more difficult for a collective?

Peace, in that situation, becomes a verb, a challenge to the participants

To discover and embrace their humanity. Dare we avoid it?

I mentioned two other little words in this account: Love and Hope

They are our rewards, our reason for doing and being

Who would have thought it? Our lives are guided by simple words

Love, hope, peace; freedom.