WAR (a villanelle)

The war continues. Where now shall it lead?
The golden light I once glimpsed was false dawn.
We were not ready, we still need to bleed.

When all are bled near death, will that slake greed?
We watch the crucifixion of a fawn.
The war continues. Where now shall it lead?

I thought we were Humanity’s new breed,
but some behave more like the devil’s spawn.
We were not ready, we still need to bleed.

Can one benighted will have  guaranteed
That what the inner eye has glimpsed is gone?
The war continues. Where now shall it lead?

How deeply must pain reach, to wake up need
to spread your wings, o spirit, like a swan?
We were not ready, we still need to bleed.

To a new age our world will yet be freed.
The promise of the dove was no cheap con.
The war continues. Where now shall it lead?
We were not ready; we still need to bleed.
***
March 27, 2022