Bob,
I have just imagined the War of Kalinga that the great Emperor Ashoka
fought, won, and, after the devastation that he saw, turned him into a
Messiah of Peace - the greatest follower of Buddha - 300 BC. The poem
does not describe the war, the scenes are imaginary, not factual.
The poem tries to emphasis the point that, although, in the final
analysis, experience is the only source of knowledge, an experience
of war can be avoided. The voice is emperor's inner voice, voice of
unpalatable truth, that leads to repentance and resolve.
The lifting of a white horse shows desperation to put an end to the war
and establish peace; the devastation, death, and suffering was too
ghastly - all white flags turning red due to blood all around!
I agree that poem is bit difficult to follow. I wrote it when I saw some
photographs (and was thinking on them) about the recent war. But after
reading it again now, I think it requires quite a few changes if it has
to be comprehensible. Shall try.
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