In April of 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, German bombers, under Hitler's orders, bombed the Spanish village of Guernica, a Basque stronghold. Hitler, of course, sided with the conservative Nationalists. Many hundreds of civilians were slaughtered. Pablo Picasso painted the greatest anti-war canvas ever produced in response to this attack.

Guernica is a huge painting, all in black and white, almost 12 by 26 feet and depicts the dying moments of many figures - I doubt even an epic poem could describe all of it. I have chosen to focus on one figure, a mother holding her dead infant. This figure is on a button I bought in the 1960's that has as its caption - What about the children? From the 1950's until the early 80's, Guernica was displayed in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, where in the 60's anti-war vigils were held. It is there I bought the pin that I still wear.

This cinquain is not intended to provide a full description of the painting or even of this one figure. It is meant to capture the spirit of Picasso's observation on the horrors of war.

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