History is exhausted
but has to tell stories of
battle and blood and glory.
History wants peace
but has to choke on tales of
monsters and heroes, patriots and demons.
History wants to let go
but has to sing ballads of
death and whores and ghosts and sin.
History wants to take a nap
but has to revive
triumph and terror again and again.
History wants to move on
but has to scream out paroles of
victory, loss, grief and pain.
History wants to love
but has to spread
hate, injustice and tears.
History wants to heal
but the bandages are dirty and
the wounds infected with traitorous germs.
History wants to lay down its armor
but is forced to parry and strike
and assault with pride.
History wants to start fresh
but every new breath has been
someone else's last breath before
and every beautiful thing grew from
the rotten flesh of a dead thing before
and every love poem sprouts from
the dense peat of a blood coated moor.
History wants to die
but nobody is pulling the plug
because everyone is already dead.
By Sissi Mimm