Holy War

                   by Yael Mayer

Their hands on hearts and heads are bowed in prayer
Then swords unsheath and raise in forward march
“We fight to bring God’s light into their dark!”
The battle cry, with confidence, declared.
This is the story of the Great Crusades
Of al-Gazawat and of Medina’s Siege
Of 80 years of war without reprieve
Of Cromwell and relentless Irish raids.
The Catholics had a holy mission- Truth.
The Heugenots must see their errant ways-
They sacrificed at St. Bartholomew
And from those dying lips they drew His Praise.
“I do God’s work!” you cry, with eyes ablaze-
Who says the Lord’s at all conscious of you?