To my granddaughters who visited the Holocaust Museum
    on the day of the burial of Yitzak Rabin, November 6th 1995.

 Now you know the worst
 we humans have to know
 about ourselves, and I am sorry,

 for I know you will be afraid.
 To those of our bodies given
 without pity to be burned, I know

 there is no answer
 but loving one another
 even our enemies, and this is hard.

 But remember:
 when a man of war becomes a man of peace,
 he gives a light, divine

 though it is also human.
 When a man of peace is killed
 by a man of war, he gives a light.

 You do not have to walk in darkness.
 If you have the courage for love,
 you may walk in light. It will be

 the light of those who have suffered
 for peace. It will be
 your light.

from: A Timbered Choir, The Sabbath Poems 1979-1997

I should probably be sitting on my hands having already submitted a poem to you recently but I discovered this was not on your site. It has been pinned to the bulletin board next to my desk for quite a while. I was tracking down a poem by Denise Levertov which I found on minstrels. I then wondered if Mr. Berry made an appearance and discovered he did not nor could I find this poem anywhere on the internet. With all that has happened since his death, Rabin’s life and death are even more significant. And more tragic. The 8th anniversary of his death approaches and the poem’s sentiment could not be more timely.

Being a military veteran (retired, full career) and a pacifist contains some inherent conflicts and guilt. I’ve Berry’s poem by my desk for a year now and still nearly weep every time I read the first four lines. This poem speaks to me in all of the ways that give me hope. Hope in times like these when the cry of havock calls forth in my name, in all of our names. Hope when I feel so helpless to effect any change. And Hope that my actions in the second half of my life wiill create a light to burn after me. That my children and theirs can see just a little further in the darkness and make their contribution to the advancement of civilization.

Bill Schubert

Biography

http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?prmID=692

http://www.heureka.clara.net/art/berry.htm