The War Works Hard

How magnificent the war is!

How eager and efficient!

Early in the morning

it wakes up the sirens

and dispatches ambulances

to various places

swings corpses through the air

rolls stretchers to the wounded

summons rain from the eyes of mothers.

It produces the most questions

in the minds of children

and urges families to emigrate.

The war continues working, day and night.

It inspires tyrants

to deliver long speeches

awards medals to generals

and themes to poets.

It contributes to the industry

of artificial limbs

provides food for flies

adds pages to the history books

achieves equality

between killer and killed

teaches lovers to write letters

accustoms young women to waiting

fills the newspapers

with articles and pictures

builds new houses

for the orphans

invigorates the coffin makers

gives grave diggers

a pat on the back

and paints a smile on the leader’s face.

It works with unparalleled diligence!

Yet no one gives it

a word of praise.