Credo
Stephen Oliver

When you mix hatred and anger you
get men hiding in mountains and other men
with fresh uniforms who oppose them.
The communicable distance between each

is covered by bullets and by bombs.
The motivating principle (idea) if ever it
existed, evaporated—conflict became
the thing within and of itself sustained

at all costs, undeniably, at great cost.
The conflict, voracious, self-consuming.
A monster whose incremental appetite
made you momentarily forget those two

words, hatred and anger, too busy as
you were consuming, feeding that monster.
These words held hostage by your every
thought allowed you to swallow the lie whole.

November 1, 2003