War in grade three

In a world where people fight
where folks think it okay
to hit, shoot, slander and hurt
protecting culture, customs, religions, thoughts.

I think I may be able to trace this
to a time when I was young
for a senior in the 6th grade
had an idea for which he needed a brigade.

He hated trading cards
this distortion of the young heart
that requires us to buy gums and chips
so we can chew and collect wrestling slash cricket cards.

So what was his strategy
seek and destroy
steal and confiscate
thrash and tear, let the young hearts bleed.

We would show interest
we would say wow let me hold it
and then we ran and tore it
tossed up bits in the air which slowly fell on young hearts.

Young hearts are so impressionable
they can easily be taught to love something
which is absolutely worthless
we need to bleed these hearts and make them see.

But later I thought to myself
am I not a young heart that got impressioned
why hate the people who liked
something worthless maybe, but should I hurt them?

So I decided to trade cards myself
as a third grader it was a brave act
for the sixth grader thought it was treason
and yelled from across the school van- I will get you.

Years later now I see
why wars are fought and peacekeepers shot
why conflicting thoughts lead to hate
damn those sixth graders let's kill them all.

Wait a minute did I cross my own line
you who holds a gun, am I no worse than you?
will I ever resolve my hate for sixth graders and be free
or will I forever be stuck in grade three?