Rose for all the mothers

This rose is for all the mothers
whose sons will not come home
from the war.
This is a rose for the mothers
whose sons will lose their limbs.
This rose is for the mothers
whose daughters learn to kill,
whose daughters close their wombs
because of the blood they've shed.
This is a rose for the mothers
who want to forget vengeance
and seek to learn forgiveness.
This rose is for the mothers
whose daughters have lost husbands,
whose husbands are torn by shrapnel,
by nightmare murders, by broken speech.
This is a rose for the mothers
who would study peace and compassion;
who refuse to study war.
This rose is for the mothers
who close their ears
to murderous lies.
This rose is for you.
This rose is for you,
pray to practice the beautiful path.
Pray to study peace.
Pray to walk with compassion.