KILL OR CURE?

Vic o’Bradford

Two newborn babes in the hospital ward,

Which will wield scalpel and which will wield sword?

Today they’re identical; both we must cherish.

But soon one will strive long to see others perish.

Who shapes an infant soul, gives it direction?

Who, in this evil world, gives us protection?

Who shall determine which route each will go –

One to heal, one to kill; how shall we know?

Is there a mark upon each tiny head?

Is there identity there in the bed?

Both sleeping soundly, neither awake,

Yet one will give life, the other, life take.

What knowledge have we at this tender age

Who’ll travel in peace, who’ll smoulder in rage?

One will learn medicine, painkillers employ;

The other, explosives, our lives to destroy.

They seem so alike now, but look close and well…..

One suckling’s from God and the other’s from Hell.

One takes his nourishment near Heav’ns’ gate;

One sucks his milk from the cauldron of hate.

So who marks one ‘terrorist’, ‘devil’ and ‘killer’;

Whose hand is it resting on life’s dreadful tiller?

Who names the other child ‘healer’, ‘physician’;

Who occupies such an exalted position?

Oh God, we know you, eternal, alerted,

But sometimes it seems that you’ve almost deserted.