instructions against war

put down your flaming, burnished spear
unmask your vicious threats
reveal your white-hot rage for fear
cast off your harsh regrets

pry open all the locked-up doors
behind which hatred cries
dig up the shame under your floors
make naked all your lies.

lay bare the demon in your dread
lay waste of all your fury
don't wait 'til all of us are dead
we're in that much a hurry.

evict each dirty, shadowed greed
put out each fiery ember
strip off the terror in your need
and let us both surrender.