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

paul Batou

49 years old

I am  a native Iraqi artist .A 1982 pharmaceutical graduate of the university of Baghdad , But my most enduring interest remained the world of art . I did not bother to apply for the art school in Baghdad because the school was closed to the baathist party members only “the government “ . while in pharmacy school I was inspired by many teachers and artists. My first art show in Baghdad was in 1980 , opening a door that would lead my work to be featured in several galleries , later in 1982 I was forced to work as a pharmacist and a medic during the Iran-Iraq war for five years in the army , when it ended in 1989 , I left Iraq with my family and moved from Athens to Los Angeles. Here in the state I continue to create Art and write poems and recently I published my first book in 2007 “My last thoughts about Iraq” which I shared the Iraqi’s thinking and thoughts during the long years of war , Sanction the  fall of the great civilization of Mesopotamia .

Minor Dream

Minor Dreams

I am a kid,
Born in Iraq.
My dreams were minor,
A cup of milk or water to drink,
A crayon to color,
A pencil to write,
A book to read,
A toy to play with,
A friend to talk to,
A pet to love,
A father to listen to,
A mother to hug,
A bed to sleep,
A home to rest,
A light to see with,
A school to study at,
A song to listen to,
A country to grow in.
I am a kid,
Born in Iraq,
My dreams were sanctioned,
Shame on you all.

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