The sources of this poem

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December 1999, New Year's Eve was approaching and I thought of the dawning of a new century and a new millenium. This poem was in part inspired by the first pictures of the earth taken from space. For the first time we could see the whole earth in one picture, one planet for one race, the human race. In the simplest possible terms  Making or Breaking sets out the choice before each of us. Further comments follow the  poem.

 

MAKING OR BREAKING

 

We inherit the world,

the whole of history,

our place on earth,

our place in time,

our fortune, good or bad,

pure chance.

 

Now,

in one picture,

we see our entire planet:

one world,

one race,

one future,

bound together

for the first time.

 

Ours

for the breaking

 

or making.

 

 

David Roberts

 

12 December 1999

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A violent or a peaceful world – the note that accompanies the poem, Making or Breaking, in the collection of Kosovo war poetry:

The promoters of narrow patriotism, nationalism and racism suffer from a moral short-sightedness which leads to the kind of misery and horror we have witnessed in Yugoslavia in the last 10 years of the 20th century. Not only Serbs in Kosovo but Albanians too acted on racist motives, but NATO nations, too. Leaders who base action on racist attitudes lack a vision of the world appropriate to the needs of their people and the world as a whole.

 

All races are in a minority. All need the support and co-operation of others. All could make better use of their time and talent if they directed their energies to co-operative problem-solving, rather than the harassment and extermination of others they have picked on to blame for their troubles.

 

The fate of the people of the world is linked. We prosper or die together. We have a choice.

 

The dawning of a new century

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As a new century approached, one hundred years before my poem was written, Thomas Hardy had taken another view, a far more poetic response. See his poem, The Darkling Thrush.

Kosovo War Poetry by David Roberts is published in paperback  by Saxon Books .

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About Kosovo War Poetry (link).

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An oft studied poem from Kosovo War Poetry.

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The Pilot’s Testament

I seek no glory.

I bear no anger.

I hate no man.

 

 I do the unspeakable

on behalf of the ungrateful.

 

I bomb targets chosen by others.

 

I have surrendered my will

to a higher authority.

I trust the cause to be right

and the methods appropriate.

 

There is no place for questioning.

 

There can be no other way.

 

I do my duty.

You can rely on me.

I will not let you down.

 

Though my task may be dangerous,

neither fear nor doubt

will prevent me.

 

Consider me.

Physically and mentally

my ability is exceptional.

 

My judgement and reflexes

are trained to perfection.

 

I am chosen from the elite,

the very best.

 

Many accord me

great respect.

 

I possess power beyond imagination.

Like a god I roar through the heavens,

miraculous,

immaculate,

invulnerable,

supreme,

the earth beneath me,

the whole of creation

available to me,

awaiting my quick shot

of death and destruction.

 

My victims are unaware of me.

 

I am unaware of my victims.

 

They go about their lives

not knowing only a few seconds remain.

 

 We are arriving

at the appointed time and place.

 

At a touch I fix their fate.

 

 Moments later,

in mid conversation,

a flash,

and they are gone.

 

I cannot pretend it was difficult.

 

Their will was done,

and I, merely an instrument of death.

I did my duty,

but I accept no guilt.

 

I come down to earth

as a man among men,

unmarked, unrecognised,

unremarkable, unnoticed:

 

I easily blend.

 

 I am not available for comment.

 

I am not an item of news. The story is elsewhere.

 

 I return to my family

as if nothing has happened.

 

 David Roberts   

15-22 December 1999