"War is always an acknow- ledgment of failure."-- Dominique de Villepin, former Prime Minister of France
Blog-sister Maureen, Writing without Paper, challenged us to join the Blog Carnival poetry prompt of PEACE and to make a contribution to Haiti relief based on comments to our poems. So here is my offering, based on an actual comment made to Louise, Recover Your Joy, by someone who had experienced war coming to his life way too much. I will contribute $2 to the Vassar Haiti Project for every comment left here today.
Peace ... please.
"And then war came ..."
Spoken by a child, simply.
Like sunrise.
Like rain.
And then war came ..."
From the heavens.
From the earth.
From the very air.
"And then war came ..."
Buildings fell down.
People died.
There was no food.
"And then war came ..."
Songs stopped.
Books burned.
Rivers ran red.
"And then war came ..."
and the child
was
gone.
About the image: it may be a stretch but this street scene reminds me that art is one thing that bridges the dark and the light.
I like it ....
ReplyDeleteJoyce, this is a beautiful and haunting poem. The last stanza sent a chill down my back.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear friend. I know Andrew at Vassar Haiti Project will be delighted you are participating.
I love this poem. Told like a child's heart would tell it. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maureen... chills!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this and for joining the Haiti challenge!
Touching poem. I am glad to be participating with you and others in helping raise money for Haiti!
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to peace, I'd like to go back for seconds ... Thanks
ReplyDeletePERFECT image, and love your comment on it. So glad we are doing this together!
ReplyDeleteA haunting poem- glad to help raise support for Haiti too.
ReplyDeleteSo very moving....the simplicity allows one's personal images to fill the mind....so many children...war....may we someday have peace.
ReplyDeleteJoyce -- Sam will be honoured and moved by your poem, as am I.
ReplyDeleteVery haunting -- in its elegant simplicity it stirs my soul.
Thank you my beautiful friend.
Thank all of you for your lovely comments and for your involvement with the Haiti relief project. I'm delighted to send a check to the Vassar Haiti Project today and feel proud to have been part of this project.
ReplyDeleteJoyce, thank you, girlfriend! If you like, put a note in addressed to Andrew Meade; he knows we're doing this and is very touched. The project is very small and every small act is a gift of hope for the artists and families the VHP touches.
ReplyDelete