*Ø* Blogmanac | Poets Against the War


Anthology of Poets Against the War
Published by Nation Books

September 1, 2003 -- The Poets Against the War anthology is now off the press and being shipped to bookstores nationwide. The book is a representation of the variety of American poets' voices speaking out against the recent attack on Iraq, from those sent in response to Sam Hamill's initial request for poems and statements by friends and colleagues, to the website archive of the more than 13,000 poems that inspired
this web site.


THE WAR GOES ON
(and so does poetsagainstthewar.org)

More than ever, we need to speak out against war, share our poetry, and take action to end this war -- which is not over, despite the words of the Bush Administration. More than ever, we need to demand that the actions of the US be constrained by the legal sanction and moral approval of the international community and the United Nations, that the US refrain from further immoral, unilateral and preemptive wars, and that the US take full responsibility for repairing the enormous damage caused by its military assault on Iraq. The war we must oppose is the one against Iraq, but also the war against human rights, against immigrant communities, against the poor. Poetry, and the truth-telling it demands, is a powerful resource in this struggle for a peaceful, healthy and sustainable world community.

As of August 1st, we've reopened the PAW Web site for publishing new poetry against the war. Click on Submit a Poem to add your voice.


SAM HAMILL'S OPEN LETTER, JULY 4th, 2003

"All I ask is that, in the midst of a murderous world,
we agree to reflect on murder and to make a choice.
After that, we can distinguish those who accept the
consequences of being murderers themselves or the
accomplices of murderers, and those who refuse to
do so with all their force and being. Since this terrible
dividing line does actually exist, it will be a gain if it be
clearly marked. Over the expanse of five continents
throughout the coming years an endless struggle is
going to be pursued between violence and friendly
persuasion, a struggle which, granted, the former
has a thousand times more chances of success than
does the latter. But I have always held that, if he who
bases his hopes on human nature is a fool, he who
gives up in the face of circumstances is a coward. And
henceforth, the only honorable course will be to stake
everything on a formidable gamble: that words are
more powerful than munitions." -- Albert Camus

For the past six months, it has been my privilege to serve as founder and primary spokesman of Poets Against the War. Our accomplishments have been bold and vivid, subtle and modest. Both the electronic anthology of 13,000 poems and the now best-selling print selection from it have made history. Our actions in creating national and international days of poetry readings against war have also been historical firsts. We have established a worldwide network for poets opposed to George Bush's threat of worldwide "pre-emptive" war and his creation of a United States that is in fact and deed a rogue nation. We have joined with other anti-war and human rights organizations to broaden and deepen our opposition to this administration's policies as more and more people become aware of the terrible consequences we all face. All of this, and much more, has been accomplished because poets gave their art and hearts and money to make it work.

The war, however, has only just begun.

CONTINUE