Love Poem: I Hate War
Hi-Dong Chai Avatar
Written by: Hi-Dong Chai

I Hate War

I hate war

I hate war
War kills
War maims
War widows
War orphans

It leaves a deep scar
Not only on the land
That takes years to heal
But also in the hearts of those
Who are affected by the war

I am one of those
Who carry a deep scar
To this day
More than sixty years later

During WWII under Japan
I lost my brother, my best friend
He left home
As a vibrant 15 year old boy
To save his father from Japanese prison
He returned home
As a worn out 18 year old man
He died a year later from his injury

When he died
Light went out of my life
Nothing has been the same
Since then

I often ask 
Why do we fight?
Why do we kill?
Isn’t it more fun
To play together instead?
To sing together instead?

I picture a scene
Where people of diverse cultures
Hold hands across vast continents
Over deep oceans
Form a giant circle
Look at each other with broad smiles
Sing a might song of brotherhood

Wouldn’t it be wonderful
If that day comes
In our life time?