Poets Against War continues the tradition of socially engaged poetry by creating venues for poetry as a voice against war, tyranny and oppression.

Jeff Warzecha

22 years old

Jeff Warzecha's recent work has appeared in The Connecticut Review and Chopper Journal.

Notes from a Friend

Notes from a Friend
                             Baghdad

While bathing in yesterday’s boredom,
A grenade dropped from the sky
(A gift from Allah,
One of the prisoners later said.)
With no time to launch it back,
We fell to opposite sides,
Mirroring the way sand and rock have formed
A crater when we come back today.
Inside the dried hue of blood—-American,
An Iraqi child—-of those who could not
Jump back,
Who were at ease
Eating with civilians
Or soldiers
In the market.
Things like this happen all the time.

Putting down his letter,
I notice there’s a note
(Meant for another soldier, another son)
Folded in the envelope,
Accidentally come to America—-
How do we choose
Who will tell his mother?

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