Both sides declared their victory
and celebrated with parades,
though no one won, essentially,
and all the cheers and great charades
would mask the horrors and the grief
with smiles where there should be tears.

The truths grew fewer as belief
increased our doubting through the years.
The darkest questions faded fast
as answers vanished in the past.
Nobody knew how much was lost,
but many paid the greatest cost.