Recently Kate Anders asked me for a copy of an old poem of mine that I'd written for a Russian teacher who was present at The Conference of the Living Tree. Her husband had been a Soviet military officer. Somehow the subject of epaulets came up, as well as a quotation by the teacher, as well as the gift of a Red Army epaulet to me. Somehow--delayed reaction--all this reminded me of a W. S. Merwin poem that appeared in The Writers' Almanac some months ago...Anyway, I've pasted my poem and Merwin's below, in case that provides you with a head-jog or two of your own.

Love,
Gary Thomas


Blessed Are the Peacemakers


May all epaulets become bookmarks.

--Yelena Nikitina


May all warriors learn to read

the Art of Peace, and memorize

and recite the poetry of hope inside

each moment.



May all children dream of friends

they have not met, but will,

because the warriors have taught them well.



May we all become children,

and teach each other

how to reach each other's dreams

and share our hopes,

and read our poetry

and live each together as Artists of Peace

each moment.





Gary Thomas

18 January 2004

for Yelena in peace, hope, and friendship




When the War is Over



When the war is over

We will be proud of course the air will be

Good for breathing at last

The water will have been improved the salmon

And the silence of heaven will migrate more perfectly

The dead will think the living are worth it we will know

Who we are

And we will all enlist again



W. S. Merwin

The Lice © Copper Canyon Press, 1993.