Are wars really won and at what cost?

One side gains control but what about all the people lost.

Both sides have lists of the slain

And lists of people I perpetual pain

Both sides of lands stripped bare

That will take many years to repair

So why do we see war as a cure?

When it makes both sides more poor

There can be many answers to a dispute

Both sides should talk long and hard before they decide to shoot

Ken Jones, Katikati.