KOSOVO WAR POETRY contains
Thirty anti-war poems, plus information needed to make sense of the war
Essential background to understanding the conflict and the poetry: The key
facts of the build-up to the war, the misjudgements, deceptions, and the
disastrous outcome for most of the war’s participants.
Powerful poetry and satirical verse explore the propaganda, the human
suffering, the moral arguments, and NATO’s “humanitarian” bombing
campaign.
COMMENTS
“Congratulations. Kosovo War Poetry shows the true situation in the Balkans,”
member of Iris Society of Serbian Poets, Belgrade. (Comment based on the
selection of poems on the web site.)
“Brilliant, especially The Pilot’s Testament” Bruce Kent, Peace Campaigner.
“A wonderful anti-war book . . . I urge everyone to read it,” Alice Mahon, MP, Chair of the
Committee for Peace in the Balkans.
“A remarkable collection of poems . . . expressed uncompromisingly . . . a minor epic.”
Ronald Mallone in Day by Day.
"Powerful and moving." Tony Benn.
"I didn't like all of the poems, but some hit their targets . . . and did make me think
again about that whole sorry and continuing business. In class, this book could
become part of a collection which moved the consideration of war poetry beyond
the classic texts and challenged young adults with other models and contexts which
might develop their own explorations in writing. It also offers a fascinating text in
terms of the interplay of genres." - - Gordon Hodgson, in National Association of
Teachers of English web review on yahoo.co.uk.
From an American Soldier - two letters
1.
Hi! I know you do not know me but I was a female soldier stationed at Guardian
base near Tuzla in Bosnia. I really enjoyed reading your poetry. Your exact words
are words I use to tell my peers, other United States soldiers or NATO troops who
didn't understand what they were doing there. Basically they didn't understand war.
I just want to say after being there I really began to understand war. My first reply to
myself when I saw all the bombed out homes was what could make a person hate
someone so much. The sad part humans have not evolved into full humans as I
called, in which they get emotionally hijacked by their losses and grief that they want
to hurt the very thing that hurt them. However, as my Social Psychology instructor
put it destroying others is only destroying yourself. As a consequence of being
there, and seeing all the things I saw, less than a year after I got out I suffered a
nervous break down.
Although, it may seem that soldiers may dehumanize people sometimes soldiers
are dehumanized as being people. For example, what impacts people more four
civilians have been killed or four soldiers?
Have a great day. Again I really enjoyed your poetry. I hope you don't mind that I am
using it on Tuesday to teach my college classmates what it feels like to be in war.
At least try.
Sincerely,
2.
12 December, 2000
Dear David Roberts,
Thank you so much for writing back. The class loved your poetry.
In response to your question. I am graduating with my BA in Psychology. This is my
final semester I took Child Development from a Global Perspective. That is the
class I used your poetry for. I wrote a research paper on children in war. In fact, I
didn't even realize I was a child soldier when I joined back in 1993, at the age of 17.
Again thank you for your kind letter.
See also item about public readings.
Where to buy Kosovo War Poetry
Main First World War Index
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