Peace

The benign Other of war
immemorial fixation of our tribe:
I have seen it gloss
the lips of tyrant and butcher 
in the aftermath of conquest 
and as badge and flag of objector 

But what of the world’s conundrums
battles over gold, oil and markets 
what of the indignant victim and insistent invader
when we declare war in the name of peace 
or declare peace as a synonym of belligerence 

what of lexicons 
battles over meaning
the raising of flags
over desolate uninhabitable land

when a moment
a word or glance that stays 
is peace enough?