Thieves of Life

From the chimneys
of the arms factories
rises smoke
those who would take the sustenance
from the table
teach contentment

those who eat their fill speak to the hungry
of wonderful times to come

those for whom the contribution is destined
demand sacrifice
their words - public monuments
demented speech woven with reason

and the dark sound made when dying
is erased by the rising shouts of victory

those who lead man
into this abyss
speak of the need for strong leaders
ruling's to difficult for ordinary men
when the leaders speak of peace
everyone knows that war is coming
when the leaders curse war, hunger, death
mobilization orders have already been written out

and the dark sound made when dying
is erased by the rising shouts of victory

the same leaders repeat;
peace and war are of different substance
but their peace and their war
are like wind and like storm

war grows from peace
like son from his mother
he bears the same distorted features

when they speak of peace
know that war is coming
when they curse war, hunger, death
they are heading into this abyss
eagles of war
gluttonous vultures
their war kills
whatever their peace has left over

when it comes to marching many do not know
that their enemy is marching at their head
the voice that gives them the orders is the enemy`s voice
and the man who speaks of the enemy is the enemy himself