Explaining War to a 5-Year Old

This is a true horror story, Josh, even in poetic form.  Humanity should be appalled at what we've done to each other and the planet.  

Children must be so confused.

Confusion is the right word - children get told one message but the world (news) give another. Thank you again for the RL.

Well said Josh, love the dystopian contrast of a lilting rhyme to the utterly void of compassion the societal machine is comprised of.

Thank you Daniel - yes, you spotted the 'nursery-rhyme' element amidst the grunt of a dystopian reality.

They call it collateral damage like it's just some random thing when in fact peoples lives are lost. You've written something very powerful here Josh.
Good luck in the comp.

Thank you Wally - I have a private war on 'soft language' (collateral damage, friendly fire, neutralising, etc) - sometimes take my queue from the great George Carlin on 'euphemisms'
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuEQixrBKCc)

The "is" in the last line of your 1st Stanza seems like a cut & paste artifact ...?

The rhymes are very fast paced; this will sell really well to the children if recited by a high energy character.

Thank you Johnny - your comment actually helped me cut out 3 lines - it's much better now.

"explaining the war to a 5 year old"


'don't do what I do, just do what I say ..'

It worked for Elmer Gantry...and  it's still fully functional today...

Yes, the double message to children is confusing. But to adults (via our 'leaders'), it's a licence for degenerative behaviour.

Thank you Sky for your kind support - and RL. So much for 20 million dead in WW1 "The war to end all wars"

Nicely fits the five year old psyche, Josh, you scored there...
Felicitaciones, amigo...well done...hugs, Ely

Thank you Ely. (Several months ago I was working on my first ever poetry recital and you helped me with a suggestion about 'delivery'. It's actually happening tomorrow, after several delays to the event - yikes - but I feel ready now).

Dear J,

The nightmare and truth of this work is stunning. Your rhyming tempo is terrific. While a sad commentary of the truth, you’ve done an excellent job of it in terms of succinctly telling it like it is! Best of luck in the comp. Well penned! H🌷  

Thank you Honoria for your comment - it is genuinely appreciated; Josh.

Powerful ink Josh...tribalism is such a human thing...
Balance & Harmony...Harry

Thank you Harry, and for the RL. Tribalism, yeah, divide-and-rule wins the day nearly every time.

Thank you Skyblue2 - and for the RL. It's a shame that adults have created such a dysfunctional world that they are then challenged to have to explain the situation to a 5-year old. ("This world could be so beautiful", Freddie Mercury)

Damn...........!!

Unfortunately very true this well crafted spill

Thank you Tallen, and for the RL. Wish it didn't have to be true - perhaps that's one of the essential disappointments in growing older when you can look back 6 decades, aware of the huge sacrifices made in world wars, and see it's not getting any better - and indeed looks like it's heading for another conflagration. It would be really, really nice to have a more generalised uplifting message - but such messages tend to be found in the millions of small acts of kindness done every day by people you'll never find on the news.