What long lessons

 What long lessons 

What long lessons can we learn 

From a war too long in Afghanistan?

Make curséd war a last resort

Make sweet peace at pace. 

To see the good in Everyman

To understand our brother

To find a common theme

For the enemy is human. 

All wars must end in dialogue

You need only ask the Irish

Skilled in war and drink and song

We’ve learned at last to compromise. 

If we are to make it safely

Into the coming century

We’ll have to learn to live 

In blessed peace and harmony. 

I won’t be round to see it

It’s likely nor will you 

But we owe it to our children

To trace a path anew. 

It can be Jesus, it can be Buddha

Or anyone you choose

To follow on the way

That journey starts today.