When Screams the Soul

From that which our minds
can no longer grasp
our silent gazes
recoil –
we turn to look away,
failing to understand
and yet, somehow must
turn again
to look …
to perhaps one day
speak the unspoken
our eyes have seen,
the unbearable
none seem
to comprehend –
to bear witness
to the evils of war
the sound of rage
the futility of words
the color of pain
the silence of tears –
to forever
remember,
Remember.

Our hearts flinch
these darkened hours
when, suddenly
from history’s
playbook emerged
that we thought abolished –
burrowing
through some dark unsealed
passage,
some distorted time
warp,
came howling again
the vengeful winds of War,
riding the wings of
hatred’s dark victory
eager, rapacious and
unyielding
as they once more sink
their craven
bloodied claws
in the very heart of
freedom and
liberty

Humanity weeps
as we watch,
the terror stricken
hearts
the myriad torn
bodies
the mutilated
souls
a fragile reality now
fragmented
perhaps even soon
dissolved
as fearful masses flee –
young bodies
just this morning
cuddly and warm
this evening, on grey
cement rubble
lay, lifeless and cold –
Cold.
precious life ebbs
away
towards another realm,
another place –
blissful innocence
joy and laughter
forever
obliterated –
by a tyrant’s
hate.

Images of misery and desolation
eternal testament –
stand
to man’s tyranny,
when nothing and no one
is spared
for bombs and bullet but
one single aim
know –
the young mothers pain
the little child cry
frail and elderly
their eyes of blue,
vacant and bewildered
within, a burning question
almost
a supplication –
when all around
the bullets fly,
when reason and madness
as one are fused
the tyrant’s will
the people’s plight –
one cannot see
where one begins –
or where
the other
ends

Words of strength and
hope spoken by
few at first
in a thousand hearts
now thrive,
COURAGE – extraordinary,
raw and unadorned
of a people and their leader –
the darkest nights
illuminates
and now, in multitudes
the world over,
it echoes and resonates
like a glorious chant,
a resounding hymn
at times also – like
a silent,
fervent
prayer

Please God,
as in Egypt of old
we beseech you
let these people
be free
show this Pharaoh’s
hardened heart
the road to choose,
to right his wrongs
to clearly see
which path to take
to end this war –
so once again
when spring
returns
and life begins
anew –
violins can play
friends can hug
children can laugh
mothers can love
lovers can kiss
soldiers can live.