Thanks for the notes. Yes you're allowed to use whatever language you like. Use whatever you feel is most effective for the poem. Oh, and on conceive just for reference I meant that in two ways as it applies to war and love. I meant understand and well that other meaning that would imply that they lack sexual maturity. I'll consider the other changes, but I'd like to keep that part of the train of thought.
The secret of poetry is cruelty.--Jon Anderson