As children they grew up together

Bonded by friendship so deep

The passage to love was marked

By effortless consummation.

Their love was godly.

Fate forged shackles with no key.

 

But families fractured

Communities convulsed

Countries disintegrated.

Upon great tables in small rooms

Politics scissored flags - land - people -

And stitched up new nations.

 

The flags flapped smartly as flags must do.

The land groaned sodden with despair.

The people reacted madly and fought fiercely

Unsure where bonds of brotherhood drew the line -

If bonds of brotherhood could draw a line.

The strong bones of tradition crumbled

Shuttled into shallow graves

Prey to the dogs of war and the wolves of commerce.

 

The people were manic their hearts unhinged.

In blind aggression they surged against each other

And counted not who was the foe.

Weapons cracked bombs exploded knives flashed

Flooding blood - blood - blood -

In crowded markets and hothouse hotels

Through pressing queues and pulsing streets

In restless bedrooms and tousled cribs -

Everywhere.

Vengeance was the only balm.-

 

And then one day - as people ran like rats -

Through acrid smoke and shrapnel rain

With Fate's brutal clarity

Two contorted faces faltered

Glazed eyes blazed into recognition.

The lovers fell upon each other's breast.

Around them frenzied bodies swarmed screaming

And crushed them in a locked embrace.

They fell

Their lips tasting only joy their eyes brilliant

In the last exultant look

Of the Beloved.