The day is long and hot
stretching out to sand
like the slit in a tank
in plain sight
offering no respite.
There may be blood
on unfamiliar hands.
Hearts beat in crosshatch
to a peculiar rhythm
the pace of unfamiliar lands.
Strange harsh voices coming
from behind barriers to progress
and silent curious children.
Masterly as usual Ray, brief and concentrated. We must have been writing about the same tragedy at much the same time.
Jennifer
The more powerful for its brevity, Ray.
I am sadly very ambivalent about all this strife in the Middle East, except for the effects it all has on the children. How can they ruin the young lives so badly in the name of their bloody religion. They are truly damned!
I love Ray’s brevity in this piece. Suffer the children etc........
Thanks for coming back Paul. In the UK at Portsmouth were fleets of wartime destroyers awaiting breaking, your comment just reminded me . That was in 1952. So much heavy metal wherever.
Thanks Keith and also Paul for your interest. The image in my head was conflict in any threatening middle east country It attempts to describe the claustrophobic atmosphere in a tank and the alien perception of an enemy. I hope that helps!
Thanks for the likes Jennifer Jordyn and Stephen.
Ray
Ray,
A poem which has stirred my imagination but exactly where to I shall soon discover.
Thanks for this
Keith
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raypool
Sun 9th Aug 2020 20:51
Yes Graham children will always be monstrously affected by virtue of their vulnerability and need for total support. They can of course be trained to hate for the same reason. ad infinitum.
Your comment is most welcome John, I tend to write short stuff mostly, if only to save energy.
Thank you Jennifer as always. Sometimes as with this one I start with an image and work it up - this began with just a hot day like a slit.
Thank you all Vautaw Jordyn and Stephen for your valued likes.
Ray