A firework sparks to shatter the crinkled sky,
Gunfire in the valley.
*
A sparkler’s ember in the wet bog lies,
The landmine waits endlessly.
*
Explosions echo in the emptiness of night,
Old homes, evacuated buildings.
*
Faces of amazement, lit up like fireflies,
Heads bloodied with machetes.
*
Dogs barking running from the dancing fire,
Children hiding from murdered mothers.
*
Night’s silence marking the end of the day,
Days ending marking a night of blood thirst.
*
Today’s the day we celebrate,
Tonight we fear for tomorrow.
*
Tonight effigies are burnt and heroes made,
Tomorrow is filled with sorrow.
5 Comments
November 4, 2008 at 10:28 am
I am amazed this has no comments, I have always seen this analogy with fireworks. I am gonna dig over your blog Tom and get back to you, are you Brit then?
November 4, 2008 at 11:09 am
Thanks – I’ll try to make sure I keep posting – yes I’m a Brit living in London…interested to read any other UK poem sites if you know of any?
November 14, 2008 at 8:04 am
I found your site via Poets Who Blog. I like the stark images in this and the juxtaposition of fireworks and war,
November 14, 2008 at 9:14 am
Thanks crafty green I’ll have a pop over to your book shelf as I hadn’t read you before.
November 15, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Hey mate, saw this through your site and thought i was gonna have a look and then take piss.
But instead, genuinely, pleasantly surprised.