PEACE GAMES

The children in the yard
played war,
they played their war
loud and shrill.
From the window
I called them:
For once, play peace!
I hoped they would
make less noise then.
The children below
in the courtyard were enthusiastic:
«Let’s play peace!»
They roared
out of one mouth.
And deliberated,
what they would have to do
guessed and argued
once again,
and then called
a little one
up to my window:
«Uncle, how does one play peace?»

PETER SCHÜTT (Germany, 1939–)
Translation: Germain Droogenbroodt – Stanley H. Barkan

From. „Wenn das Eis geht, Ein Lesebuch zeitgenössischer Lyrik, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag“