From: Nightsinger <sfxbk8@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us>
Subject: POEM: Shades of War: "Pax Babylonium"
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 18:18:41 -0400 (EDT)

Hi all, in case you didn't read my other notice . . . . this is a Round
Robinish type thing.  It will be (hopefully!) a collection of stories,
poems, and vignettes centering on the soldiers of the Army of Light.  It
willl tell of their stories, their reasons, their regrets, and
resentments, and hopefully, be a hell of a lot of fun.  If you want to
join and write a vignette, a poem, a story, and add it to the collection,
e-mail me (Jen) at [sfxbk8@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us]. 

Oh, and feedback, please!

Now a commercial . . . .

HEY YOU!  Yes, you!  Are you a writer?  How would you like to help Earth
and make big bucks at the same time?  Contact ISN and find out about jobs
writing propoganda.  Or, contact your local police station to get a job
writing confessions!  Tons of fun too! 

<lame, yeah, yeah I know>
===================================
Shades of War: "Pax Babylonium"  (01/01)
by Jen McElroy


here, take my heart . . . .

one starless night
they said he returned from
z'ha'dum
hell
the dead
his lover wept
no one saw
but they say she did
they said she prayed
a vengence at the
flame
for his return
that tears washed her
until she was a
clean bone
hollow--
souled
bodied
--starved
as she prayed
that she lead a revolution
in his name
but not ours

. . . . go on and eat it
you need the meat . . . .

one starless night
they said the two
carried a torch
chased the shadows away
ended this war
gave us back the galaxy
and they were heroes
but what about us?

one starless night
my brother died
as he dove into a shadow
and sent it careening away
that same night
eve sacrificed herself
on the pyre of vorlons
burning her mind
to find them all
and hide from the rest

one starless night
i wept
for my friends
crushed flowers
i wept for my enemies
who i kill
who had once been friends
that starless night is
eternal
in my heart

. . . . take it . . . .

pax babylonium
peace--
a thousand years forever
on babylon
and i
water the gardens
with my tears
i can sacrifice
but even i have only so much to give

here, take my heart . . . .


(c) Copyright 1997 by Jen McElroy